By Sean McDaniel: British fight promoter Frank Warren is speaking with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer about the possibility of matching the winner of the October 15th fight between Tony Bellew and WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly against 46-year-old WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO’s) for a fight that would likely be taking place in early 2012.
Hopkins will be 47-years-old by then, and there’s the question whether he’ll still even be champion. Hopkins faces former two-time light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KO’s) on October 15th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, but Hopkins could lose that fight. A lot of boxing fans see this as easy win for Hopkins, but I’m not sure about that. I see Hopkins as a fighter that has been matched against a lot of fighters of late that go with his style.
Dawson is a much different breed of fight compared to the likes of Roy Jones Jr., Enrique Ornelas and Jean Pascal. It doesn’t matter that Dawson lost to Pascal last year, it’s still going to be a very tough fight for Hopkins. Any wheeling and dealing Warren can make with Schaefer could end up being meaningless if Hopkins loses. Hopefully, Warren is also speaking with Dawson’s promoter about facing the Cleverly-Bellew because Hopkins is too old to be putting all your hopes on him against a skilled fighter like Dawson.
“I’m in discussions with Hopkins’ promoter Richard Schaefer about a potential fight with the winner, Warren said in an interview at the BBC Sport. “So it’s a massive incentive for both guys.”
I don’t like either Cleverly or Bellew against the likes of Hopkins or Dawson. I see those guys getting beaten easily. Cleverly was staggered in his last fight against replacement opponent Aleksy Kuziemski last May. Imagine what Dawson or Hopkins would do against a hittable guy like Cleverly. Bellew, a fringe contender at best, isn’t even worthy of mention for a fight against Hopkins or Dawson. I can’t see those guys wanting to waste time on him even if he beats Cleverly. He’s unknown and very, very average.
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