Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Hopkins: I'm a late bloomer!
May 16, 2007
By Matt Richardson
http://www.fightnews.com/richardson235.htm
Like a villain from an 80's slasher film, you can never discount Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins was supposed to have officially retired from the ring after dethroning Antonio Tarver last June for the unofficial light heavyweight championship. Less than a year after that shocking win however Hopkins has now decided to leave his semi-retirement to take on former junior middleweight champion Ronald "Winky" Wright in a catch weight fight of 170 pounds. The 12-round bout, which will take place on July 21st at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada was announced two weeks ago with the first stop of the press tour taking place Tuesday in New York City.
"You're only as good as your last fight," the 42 year-old Hopkins explained when he came to the podium at the ESPN Zone in Times Square. "I'm a late bloomer. You're just starting to see a new Bernard Hopkins in a new body."
"A lot of people ask me why I chose (to fight) Bernard," Wright, 35, said. "I say I didn't chose Bernard, he chose me. The only thing left was Bernard. I run away from no challenge."
"The one thing you won't see is a boring fight." Chris Lighty, the CEO of Winky Promotions said in response to buzz that the fight would be too defensive oriented. "We had no problem giving a brutal beating to our friend (Jermain) Taylor and we're going to do the same thing to Hopkins."
"Bernard has all these crafty things he does but come July 21st I'm going to be on his ass from the first round," Wright, 51-3-1, 35 KO's, said. "I come to fight."
"I am numb to what Winky and his business partner says," Hopkins responded. "I'm a chameleon. I can do everything (in the ring). I'm undefeated with southpaws; ten and 0 with nine knockouts. And I love to beat up Florida boys because they're spoiled with the sun." The "Executioner", 47-4-1, 32 KO's even nicknamed his opponent "Winky the Twinky," squeezing the cake in his hand to show the damage he would do to his naturally smaller opponent. "I guarantee that you won't see Winky again after July 21st."
"It's a very interesting and intriguing fight," former Hopkins knockout victim turned Hopkins trainer John David Jackson said in his assessment of the fight. "A lot of people sleep on this young man (Wright) but he can fight. It's going to be a very, very good fight." Jackson will be co-training Hopkins with Freddie Roach, who was not in attendance for the press conference. Nazim Richardson, Hopkin's former trainer, is still in recovery after suffering a minor stroke.
With or without Richardson is his corner however Hopkins remains the same confident fighter he always was regardless of the abbreviated retirement from the ring. "There's no puzzle in boxing that I can't figure out," he said. "My goal is to top last year with Tarver. He's going to say his thing, I'm going to do my thing and at the end of the day we'll see who's telling the truth."
TICKET WATCH
Priced from $850-$50. 4,200 seats have already been sold albeit without an under card officially announced. Expect announcements regarding that in the next few weeks.
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Hell yeah!!! Very very nice read & good banter already.
Yep...I got my ticket & am reat-tuh-go! ;D
Honestly, I'm more excited about this one than I was for Oscar vs Floyd...well...maybe not 100%...but 95%...or more like 80%.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh who am I kiddin...I just can't wait to get back to Vegas, baby!
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
These are good fighters who are ageing can't see it been a classic it could turn out to be a good fight but i just see it been a bore
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Quote:
Originally Posted by tysonbruno
These are good fighters who are ageing can't see it been a classic it could turn out to be a good fight but i just see it been a bore
Hopkins has got better with age and i agree Wacko im looking forward to this one aswell two great fighters who are exceptional boxers and this has all makings of a good fight Winky throws alot of punches and is always in punching range and Hopkins can also stand in punching range like he did with Tito i think people will be shocked when this fight finally takes place.
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Sounds like a :bananasex: fest to me
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
God i love Bhop... Nobody talks like Bernard... He comes out with constant classics and controversy..
I got Bernard for this one.. Hes like a fine wine.. Gets better with age
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
God i love Bhop... Nobody talks like Bernard... He comes out with constant classics and controversy..
I got Bernard for this one.. Hes like a fine wine.. Gets better with age
I disagree, going with Winky by UD.
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Im going with Wright because im not buying in to the Tarver win for Hopkins it was a weight drained Tarver who in my opinion is'nt that good anyway just because he beat Jones twice and Hopkins lost twice on trot to Taylor thats the Hopkins of today forget the Tarver win Wright wins this ;)
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
God i love Bhop... Nobody talks like Bernard... He comes out with constant classics and controversy..
I got Bernard for this one.. Hes like a fine wine.. Gets better with age
i agree with youCC. hopkins UD
nice tito video also ;)
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bzkfn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
God i love Bhop... Nobody talks like Bernard... He comes out with constant classics and controversy..
I got Bernard for this one.. Hes like a fine wine.. Gets better with age
I disagree, going with Winky by UD.
i think the catch weight will be too much and wright will be disposed of similarly to the way trinidad was years ago; broken down and then KOed late. we will see though. bhop was lookin pretty old in the last interview i saw him in!!!
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Quote:
Originally Posted by diamonddavestafford
i think the catch weight will be too much and wright will be disposed of similarly to the way trinidad was years ago; broken down and then KOed late. we will see though. bhop was lookin pretty old in the last interview i saw him in!!!
:coolclick: on the weight factor...but I sure as shit don't believe that Winky will be disposed of similarly to the way Tito was. Winky Wright aint the kinda fighter that is a one trick poney & he sure as shit aint one to be broken down and knocked out late.
It'll go the whole brutal & tactical 12 rounds.
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ds91
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
God i love Bhop... Nobody talks like Bernard... He comes out with constant classics and controversy..
I got Bernard for this one.. Hes like a fine wine.. Gets better with age
i agree with you CC. hopkins UD
nice tito video also ;)
Always a pleasure Ds91 :)
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bzkfn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
God i love Bhop... Nobody talks like Bernard... He comes out with constant classics and controversy..
I got Bernard for this one.. Hes like a fine wine.. Gets better with age
I disagree, going with Winky by UD.
9 rounds to three for Winky Wright. Many of Winky's critics are going to say that his greatest victories (Trinidad, Mosley, Quartey, and soon Hopkins) came against greats that were beyond their prime, but in all actuality all of them returned from setbacks to reach greatness again. Hopkins will be his new trophy.
Re: Winky: "Come July 21st I'm going to be on Hopkin's a** from the first round!
I love Winky, he's my favorite fighter, his match with Tito got me into boxing. I'm rooting for Winky all the way, that being said, if I was to bet on this fight, I'd have to take B-Hop by UD or mabye even a shock TKO. Winky is jumping weighs too high, too quickly, and he has never been hit by a 170lb'r, and Hopkins can punch. At 160, I'd take Winky all day, but the weight jumping might just catch up to him, though I hope not.
