Hopkins Talks Tough At Wright Press Conference

Hopkins Ready To Solve The Puzzle That Is ’Winky’ Wright

Hopkins Talks Tough At Wright Press Conference


http://www.secondsout.com/USA/leadin...s=368&cs=21972



By Clive Bernath: Former middleweight legend Bernard ’The Executioner’ Hopkins aims to solve the ’Puzzle’ that is Ronald ’Winky’ Wright’ when the pair meet in a light-heavyweight clash at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas,Nevada on July 21.

Speaking at the official press conference to announce the fight in Las Vegas last weekend Hopkins, 47-4-1-(32), said: “I’m back and my record speaks for itself. I was champion for over ten years, had 20 defenses and a win over a man they said was the best light heavyweight in the world, Antonio Tarver. Winky Wright is a good fighter, but I’m a great fighter, and I’ll prove that once again on July 21st.”

“I’m glad that Bernard stepped up to the plate to fight me when no one else wanted to take the challenge and I respect him for that,” said Wright. “But that will all go out the window when we step into the ring on July 21st. I’m younger, faster, stronger and better than Hopkins and he knows it.”

Wright, 51-3-1-(25), has not been beaten since dropping a majority 12 round decision to Fernando Vargas in December 1999 and is widely regarded as the best defensive boxer in the world today 42 year-old Hopkins has promised that ’come July 21 ’the puzzle will be solved’

“Winky Wright is a helluva fighter,” said Hopkins. “ He has not been beaten in nearly a decade and is one of the best defensive boxers in the world today but come July 21 I will solve that puzzle.

“He(Winky) is also one of the most safety first boxers you can get, hell he plays so safe that when he goes out in his car he puts his seat belt on twice,”continued Hopkins.

“But you know we are all in a rush sometime. You know you rush out to the shops , you go to meet the wife or girlfriend and you forget to put your belt on. Then all of a sudden you run that red light and bang, you get hit buddy(Hopkins looks over at Wright), thats it, you getting hit.”

Hopkins also beefed up an otherwise civilized press conference by informing his 35 year-old southpaw rival to expect a hostile experience when their press tour gets underway.

“ Don’t you forget man we definitely ain’t friends,” insisted Hopkins. “I respect your record, man but thats all. You trying to stop me in my plans and my future so this is personal man, this tour ain’t gonna be no fun for you.

“You have not been in with a guy like me, man. You gonna get whupped by a 42 year-old man.

“Winky, listen?,” continued Hopkins, “No one is gonna understand man that you gonna get beat by an old man and he ain’t even got a cane.” ’It ain’t gonna happen,man, trust me?, replied Wright.

“Nobody wants to be known by getting their ass kicked by a senior citizen, you know what I can do and I got this thing about beating up on Florida boys(both Wright and Hopkins’ previous opponent Antonio Tarver are from Florida).”

“You know I never blow up between fights, I’m a gym rate,” said Hopkins. “I stay focused all the time. But the bottom line is that I cannot go and tell my wife my daughter or my friends that a guy called ’Winky Stinky’ beat me. I just can’t get beat by a guy called ’Winky’, you know what I’m saying?

“I have been taking this fight seriously for a long time. I ain’t taking this fight for no pay check. This is gonna be a technical fight to a point then your gonna see something special. Your only as good as your last fight. His(Wright’s) fight with Quartey(Ike) was great but my fight but my fight with Tarver(Antonio) was even greater.”

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The Hopkins vs Wright - Coming to Fight” promotion is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Winky Promotions, and will be televised by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.

May 8, 2007

Hopkins is so funny man!!! Like the seat belt comments clever!!

cc Wacko

Im not sure about this fight, surely BHop has to get old sometime?? When is the question i hope BHop wins cos i heard they want to match him with possibly the winner of Calzaghe v Taylor if that happens in September in Early 08!!

If Hopkins wins this fight and then as much as steps in the ring with Calzaghe next year he should have the utmost respect of every boxing fan out there.. He has nothing else to prove but he still wants the best fights he can get at age 42... The thing that I hate is that Calzaghe will probably never come to the USA to fight Hopkins, and Bernard damn sure has no reason to travel to the UK at this point in his career..

I'm not sure if Hopkins can win... Even if he was the same man who fought Trinidad. Winky is that good. IMO this fight is 60-40 in Wright's favor due to the age, but Bernard's prime vs. Winky now I still think is 50-50 or maybe 55-45 for Hopkins. Its going to be a close fight regardless.

nice read cheers wacko CC

hopkins is a funny and great guy and he will prove his greatness when he beats winky and solves the puzzle

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Originally Posted by Taeth

I'm not sure if Hopkins can win... Even if he was the same man who fought Trinidad. Winky is that good. IMO this fight is 60-40 in Wright's favor due to the age, but Bernard's prime vs. Winky now I still think is 50-50 or maybe 55-45 for Hopkins. Its going to be a close fight regardless.

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This is a fight that has grown on me. The weight does favour Bhop. He will be the bigger man. But it has been a long while still since he beat Tarver. 42? What kind of age is that? I want Hopkins to win, but I do really more so want him to stay retired. Whats he going to do? Fight on until he is 50? Or retires after a loss on the way to 50?

Hopkins is fighting a Winky beyond his weight parameters and thats the interest factor on this fight coupled with Hopkins age.

Hopkins career is pretty random at the moment and is following no particular direction. I find it confusing.

B-HOP by split decision :)

Bhop said some funny crap about the seatbelt and being beat by a guy named Winky. But Bhop is a pretty safe fighter himself. He definitely would have won against JT if he would have taken some risks. Especially the 2nd fight. I want Bhop to win, but if his activity is like the JT fights I don't know if he can pull that out. Winky throws alot of punches so if it comes down to work rate I don't think BHop has the advantage.

I think WInky is going to take this one, but I'm rooting for old man Hopkins :D

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Hopkins is so funny man!!! Like the seat belt comments clever!!

cc Wacko

Im not sure about this fight, surely BHop has to get old sometime?? When is the question i hope BHop wins cos i heard they want to match him with possibly the winner of Calzaghe v Taylor if that happens in September in Early 08!!

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:coolclick: back babe.

Honestly...there's no way that I want to see anything other than a draw outta this fight.

These are two of my top 5 favorite fighters of all time...I hate for either to lose...but you know someone's gonna.

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Originally Posted by p4pking

If Hopkins wins this fight and then as much as steps in the ring with Calzaghe next year he should have the utmost respect of every boxing fan out there.. He has nothing else to prove but he still wants the best fights he can get at age 42... The thing that I hate is that Calzaghe will probably never come to the USA to fight Hopkins, and Bernard damn sure has no reason to travel to the UK at this point in his career..

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:appl: :coolclick:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Hopkins is so funny man!!! Like the seat belt comments clever!!

cc Wacko

Im not sure about this fight, surely BHop has to get old sometime?? When is the question i hope BHop wins cos i heard they want to match him with possibly the winner of Calzaghe v Taylor if that happens in September in Early 08!!

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Winky isn't getting any younger either....and hasn't he had more fights than B-HOP? B-HOP is a freak of nature....I don't think Winky is....this fight pits some of my favorite fighters against each other...I'm pulling for B-HOP...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Taeth

I'm not sure if Hopkins can win... Even if he was the same man who fought Trinidad. Winky is that good. IMO this fight is 60-40 in Wright's favor due to the age, but Bernard's prime vs. Winky now I still think is 50-50 or maybe 55-45 for Hopkins. Its going to be a close fight regardless.

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In his prime hopkins would win fair easily... yeah i know styles make fights etc etc but winky drew with Taylot (even if u give it twinky it was close) hopkins in his prime was much better than Taylor is now and was when he fought winky, that ther eis no question about, hell i think had hopkins gone into the fight the way he did Tarver he would of beaten Taylor.

I still think this is a bullshit fight, that winky is well undersized and hopkins should be fighting other people without question. He has picked a guy with a big name who well get big money with as little risk as possible...

Now should hopkins win i will give him some credit yes, even at this weight winky wont be a push over and can/will cause hopkins some problems and could possibly nick it (depends how hopkins has aged since tarver fight) I just don't see this win as being that big a deal in the grand scheme of things... for whomever wins;