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As most boxing fans will no doubt already be aware, Bernard Hopkins is ready and willing to move up to heavyweight and challenge WBC ruler Oleg Maskaev next June. Apparently the idea of retirement didn’t last very long as an attractive option for the restless Hopkins, and he now wants to make the most audacious move of his entire career.
Bernard actually joked about his future some time ago. When asked if he really was done after his superb upset win over Antonio Tarver for the light heavyweight title, “Nard responded by asking a question himself. “What am I gonna do?” he demanded, “move up to cruiserweight!” Well, now he has put his mind towards doing something else entirely more risky. As a result, if he manages to be successful in his heavyweight title challenge the history books will be filled with nothing but glowing praises for the man from Philly in the
coming years.
It’s a dangerous challenge he has set himself, for sure, but then the great ones are considered great for the very reason that they dared to be. The forty-one (and counting) year old Hopkins, if he can defeat the man who won the title from Hasim Rahman, will have to be looked at as a very special fighter indeed.
Perhaps one of the top ten of all-time.
Yes, Roy Jones also made a successful modern day move up to heavyweight, having won his first world title at middleweight. And James Toney is still campaigning at the weight also. But for Hopkins, at his age, to become the holder of a major belt at heavyweight will be something else again. Can he do it?
Bernard says he needs until next June to properly put on the weight for the fight. But doing so should not be a problem for him, especially if he uses the same man who helped him get ready for the light heavyweight fight with Tarver.
The vastly experienced Mackie Shilstone was the fitness expert responsible for seeing to it that Hopkins’ body put the required additional pounds on the correct way. There is no reason to think he will not be able to do so again.
The real problem with the fight taking place without a hitch lies with the champion, however. Is Maskaev capable of remaining champ for another nine months? He acquitted himself extremely well in his win over Rahman, in his title wining effort. But still, was that performance a final glory filled one for the man from Russia?
At thirty-seven , he is no spring chicken himself, which is no doubt one of the overwhelming reasons B-Hop chose to fight him as apposed to one of the other belt holders among the big
guys. It is very possible that Oleg could lose his next fight. If so, the fight Bernard has set his ambitious mind on will disintegrate. For I do not believe he will go after either Wladimir Klitschko or Nikolay Valuev.
Bernard’s shot at a heavyweight title will be against Maskaev or it won’t happen at all. Hopkins is not stupid. He didn’t get where he is today by being foolish and he certainly isn’t going to act that way now. And for him to get in a ring with either Klitschko or Valuev would be extremely foolhardy.
Let’s be straight, B-Hop’s career as a heavyweight is a one fight deal only. If Maskaev loses, the assault on the heavyweight division is off, end of story.
Hopkins wants to put something special on his fighting resume, something that will add even more glory to his legacy. One could argue that he has already done so with the upset win over Tarver. But Bernard wants more. I can’t help but hope the fight with Maskaev happens for him. If it does I will be rooting for the man from Philadelphia.
