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July 21 is rapidly approaching. With all the excitement that July has already provided us, such as Vic Darchinyan being upset for his IBF/IBO flyweight titles at the hands of Nonito Doniare, Travis Simms dropping his WBA version of the 154 lb title to Joachim Alcine and Wladamir Klitschko getting the redemption he sought for almost 3 years by disposing of Lamon Brewster in 6 rounds to retain his IBF/IBO heavyweight titles, we can hardly ask for more. For once, my fistic viewing compadres, we do not have to.
In just about 10 days, Bernard Hopkins, 47-4-1 (32), will put his Light Heavyweight Ring Title on the line against Winky Wright, in a fight that will be one for the ages, or so I am hoping.
On one side of the ring, we will have the longest reigning former middleweight champion and currently best light heavyweight in the game looking to put the icing on the cake of a long storied career. With nothing left to prove as a professional, Hopkins currently is fighting for his place in history. Not that he needs to, considering his record defenses of the middleweight crown added to his lengthy reign. It is more of a personal satisfaction on where he will stand in history that fuels the 42 year old champion for Philly.
Across from him will be Winky Wright, 51-3-1 (25), one of boxing’s pound for pound best in the world and perhaps a defensive master like none other to ever grace this sport as a professional. Wright is the man who has conquered modern era greats Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley (twice) and Ike Quartey.
Add that with his string of top caliber opposition who have also suffered an L in the record column such as Bronco McKart, JC Candelo, Robert Frazier and Sam Soliman. Throw in some world and undisputed titles at 154 lb and what do you have? A hall of fame bound opponent that has never been beaten soundly in the ring or come close to being dominated.
As a matter of fact, he had a draw with Jermain Taylor, the current undisputed middleweight champion and the man who not only beat Hopkins twice, but ended his 11 year reign.
As with every fight, each fighter has his predictions and every fighter has trash to talk. Bernard Hopkins has never been short on either. Today on the Teleconference, I had the chance to hear what the Philly legend had to say about this fight, his career and more. Read it first here on SaddoBoxing.
Boxing Press: Bernard, how is training with Freddie Roach?
Bernard Hopkins: “Training with Freddie is great. We are at the “Bucket Of Blood” as we call it. It is Freddie’s Gym here in Los Angeles. I am feeling good. The time difference is adjusted so when it comes fight time I am not going to be feeling as though I am tired due to my body thinking it is three hours later.”
BP: Are you impressed with Freddie and his work rate? The fact he can conduct business and even work mitts?
BH: “All the things Freddie does keeps him going. He lives in the gym. Freddie even sleeps upstairs. You don’t become two time trainer of the year for nothing. When the athlete wants to make the trainer shine, it sa’s something. It makes it great.”
BP: When you announced you were coming out of retirement, there were two names you mentioned you wanted to fight; Joe Calzaghe and Oleg Maskaev. Beating those two would have made history. Were you disappointed that those fights never came off?
BH: “No, not disappointed, surprised. I tried to make the fights with Oleg and Calzaghe happen. Calzaghe did not want to fight and Oleg had other things going on. I made history already at middleweight. I have the most defenses of any middleweight champion. That is a record that is going to stand a long long time. I don’t need Oleg or Calzaghe. It’s not my fault Calzaghe won’t fight in America.”
BP: Bernard, you are at a point in your career that you can pick and choose who you want to fight. You are not pressured to fight any certain opponent. You are a point that you don’t have to prove anything. How does that feel?
BH: “It is a luxury. I don’t have to be forced into fights. I don’t have to be in fights no one cares about. I am happy with the Ring Title. I don’t have to pay sanctioning fees. I am fighting the best. I am not picking and choosing my opponents like Roy Jones. Fighting the Rick Fraziers, fighting gym teachers, fireman and cops. I want to beat the best.”
BP: Bernard, what do you think of comments Winky Wright made about you being a dirty fighter?
BH: “What am I gonna do, argue and plead I am not dirty? Anything I do, he can do back. He is going to act like this is a friendly fight? He is a Bitch! He can call me dirty. I am not going to sit here and say bad things about him. He does things he should not do as well. What about the four inch waist band he wears to protect his ribs? I am not going to get into that and I am not going to sit here and defend myself.”
BP: You know Bernard, many critics are saying even though you and Winky are two of the best fighters of this generation, this is not going to be an exciting fight. It is going to be defensive. Can you comment on that?
BH: “You have and you can’t please them. There are always going to be critics no matter what. They said the Tarver fight was going to be boring. Well, if beating Tarver every round and almost knocking him out is boring ,then I guess it was. I am going to stop Winky Wright. He has the best defense in the last 10 years, but I am going to stop him. I want you guy’s to write that. Remember those comments. People are going to miss me when I am gone. Just remember those comments the day after the Wright fight and he was knocked out.”
BP: Right now Bernard, you are the underdog. Wright is the betting favorite. What do you think of that?
BH: ‘I like being the underdog. I am like that cartoon character with the glasses and cape. I have always been the underdog, even in my personal life. I don’t know why I am not the favorite. Why is that?”
BP: What about Wright’s claims that he will come forward after you? Have you seen anything in Winky’s style that has changed to show that to be true?
BH: “If they say he is coming forward, then he is doing the opposite. I remember Winky from his old Washington D.C days. Winky used to be a boxer back in the times when he fought Bronco McKart. Winky adopted the defensive style because his balance is awful. He and Jermain Taylor have the worst balance in boxing. That is why their KO percentage is so low.
“I am going to force Winky to run. He hasn’t had to do it in so long he has forgotten how. five or six weeks training in the gym won’t do. He will do what comes natural. I am going to bring the heat. Force him to revert to his old days. Make him the boxer puncher. Then I am going to knock him out!”
