Ring Legend Bernard Hopkins: I've Got Keen Eye On Unbeaten Kessler!

http://boxingconfidential.com/articles.php?id=869

When undefeated WBC-WBA Unified super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler defends his two title belts on March 24 in Copenhagen against unbeaten mandatory challenger Librado Andrade, millions of Americans will be watching the entire fight on Home Box Office.

Few of the U.S. viewers will be as keenly interested in the outcome as boxing legend Bernard Hopkins. The future Hall Of Famer will be observing Kessler, the smooth Danish boxer-puncher, and Andrade, the huge (6 foot 3 inch) Mexican fighter, for reasons both professional and personal.

Hopkins, who at age 42 returns to the ring July 21 against 51-3-1 Ronald "Winky" Wright, would dearly love to see Andrade upset Kessler. Hopkins is a vice president of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and an equity partner so, if Andrade wins, then BHop wins.

But BHop may also be a winner if Kessler remains unbeaten. You see the contracted weight for the Philadelphia veteran's July encounter with Wright is 170 pounds, just two pounds above the super middleweight limit. And Hopkins has abandoned plans to move up to the heavyweight division.

"I have heard a lot about this Kessler kid," Hopkins said. "I have been hearing about his skills mainly from people in the boxing industry. They say he has great talent and now he has a chance to win over America by fighting on HBO. You can't get a better, more important platform to display your abilities. But our guy is a hungry fighter who worked his way up the ladder. Librado isn't going to Denmark to see the sights. He is going to Copenhagen to put Kessler's lights out. We at Golden Boy really believe that Librado can go into the lion's den and win this one."

Hopkins, who jokes that he is "another George Foreman" fighting at such an advanced age, said the only thing on his own ring agenda right is the fight with "Winky."

"I am not planning ahead," Hopkins said. "I am planning on beating Wright, who I call "The Turtle" because of his tight defense. He is like a turtle in that he only sticks his head out of his shell when he thinks there is no risk, no danger. I know how to beat that defense. I will get him out of the shell, believe me.
"So I am taking things one fight at a time. But I will take on Joe Calzaghe or anyone else who the public thinks is a great fight for me."

If Kessler wins, does that include him?

"Why not," Hopkins said. "I never say never in this sport. But I will be watching him and Librado on HBO, rooting for our Golden Boy guy, and then we'll see who proves himself to be the better fighter."
So spoke a true boxing legend.