Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
www.fightnews.com
June 5, 2006
By Scott Foster
Photo: Ed Mulholland
For Bernard Hopkins, the finish line was clearly in sight. Monzon's daunting record of 14 consecutive middleweight defenses had been eclipsed by waging war through a tournament of champions, culminating with a battered, humbled Felix Trinidad laid out as the centerpiece at his feet. Some might have called it the crowing achievement, an ideal precipice from which to step down. Hopkins, however, viewed it simply as another vehicle he would utilize to to ensnare one last foe -- the elusive Golden Boy -- an opponent he was convinced would serve only to illuminate his own glory. The trifecta, it now appeared, was complete. Monzon, Trinidad, De La Hoya -- his rightful place alongside the greats in Canastota was assured.
Enter Antonio Tarver, a self described "legend killer," fresh off a career defining rubber-match with the pound-for-pound king of the 90's, Roy Jones Jr. As conqueror of his long time nemesis, Tarver was initially eager to face a myriad of current world champions, but opted instead to bulk his way up to heavyweight in search of another storied moniker -- boxer/movie star. Shortly after the filming of Rocky 6, the cagy Hopkins, keenly aware of the historic implications behind a middleweight vaulting into the light-heavyweight championship, made his motivation clear to Tarver's camp as their opponents began to fall by the wayside. Unable to lure Tyson out of retirement or Joe Calzaghe up from one division south, Antonio Tarver (24-3 w/18ko) eventually accepted the bout with Hopkins, intent on adding the feather of another "legend" to his light-heavyweight crown.
Hopkins, it seemed, would be taking a short detour on the road to Canastota.
"I chose to fight Tarver." Bernard insisted. "Tarver didn't choose to fight Hopkins. Yes -- he agreed to it -- but I chose to fight Tarver as my last fight. Calzaghe could have been on the table, or a going away fight with a respectable middleweight. Nobody would have criticized Bernard Hopkins. But that's not my style, so I choose the baddest man in the jungle to establish history and my legacy. I think it is a bold move, a shrewd move. It caught everybody off guard."
The lure for Hopkins (46-4-1, 32 KOs), it appears, is not just one of history, but rather a personal homage paid to a fighter who continues to inspire the blue-collar ex-champion. The lessons learned from Ray Robinson, of both style and substance, continue to fuel Hopkins in a way few can appreciate. Robinson's painful decline, stretched out over a decade for all to see, left an indelible image in the mindset of Bernard, aiding his present decision to walk away on his own terms, free from the burden forcing past champions back into the ring."
"Tarver says he is the 'legend killer.' Well, that's the only thing he's fighting for. I'm fighting for history." -- Bernard Hopkins
"What I did in the middleweight division," Hopkins admitted, "the motivation of fighting past all of that is only to make history. It now becomes, 'What are you chasing.' Well, I'm chasing a ghost. There's nothing else to chase after that. I'm not a cruiserweight -- I can't go there. I'm definitely not a heavyweight and I'm never going back to 160lbs. Most fighters that get back into the ring are not doing it for the right reasons. You get back into the ring because you were broke, you get back into the ring because you missed the crowd, or you get back in the ring because you are greedy. I can check every one of those off my list. I promise I will retire after this fight."
Hopkins only knows to dream big, and if he were to accomplish this task, one would be hard pressed to find another fighter within the sport more deserving of the mythical pound-for-pound ranking. A 157lb Sugar Ray Robinson boxed his way to an early lead on all scorecards before succumbing on his stool in the 13th round, both to Maxim's pressure as well the pea-soup humidity brought about by a freakish, New York heat-wave. No other fighter ever came so close, and so it has been for the better half of a century.
"To make the transition from middleweight to light-heavy," Hopkins explained, "it is a challenge that only one man came close to, Sugar Ray Robinson. To be mentioned with Robinson, Hagler, Monzon -- and then to go a step further and accomplish something that not even Ray Robinson could do? As far as I'm concerned -- in my era -- that will set me apart. That can only be matched -- and it will always be second. Even though it hasn't been done yet, I get chills. History is something that comes along only every now and then. This is the right time, the right opponent -- the right space in my life to attempt this."
Beyond the inherent physical difficulties of a middleweight facing a light-heavyweight champion, Tarver's style brings with it several intangibles which might pose problems for Hopkins, the most obvious being his southpaw stance, typically troublesome to most orthodox fighters. With many fighters finding their jab ineffective against lefties, Hopkins has in the past dismissed with the jab and led with powerful straight right hands, controlling the distance with sharp, accurate punching. Southpaws, Hopkins argues, are tailor-made for the Philly born fighter.
"Southpaws try to line you up in front of them for their left hand, but it's the opposite, it's like looking in the mirror. You look in the mirror when you shadow box, and it's like you're fighting a southpaw. Well, I'm 10-0 against southpaws. They are the easiest style for me to fight. Keith Holmes in the tournament, the undefeated Joe Lipsey that I retired, Syd Vanderpool and all of the Allen fights -- I'd rather fight southpaws than orthodox fighters. I have always liked to throw my right hand, and the southpaw gives me -- body to head -- everything I want. And with a bigger target, 9 out 10 times I don't miss."
At 6'2'', Tarver looms as a large southpaw who exacerbates his height by fighting off his back foot, always looking to counter-punch opponents as they attempt to bridge the distance. This adds to his defensive package, allowing Antonio to stand directly in front of his opponent while remaining "dressed down" in defense. Timing, however, remains the key to distance. Bernard insists that even at this late stage in his career, his ability to gauge and then execute will separate the two fighters early in the bout. The cream, he promises, will rise to the top.
"I think my talent, my footwork and my overall skills are going to take Tarver out of his character, make him do things he hasn't done in the past," Hopkins surmised. "I've noticed things about Tarver's style since the amateurs, like how he fights off his back foot. To fight off your back foot, there is a second or two that you lose to get off that back foot and throw a good punch. That timing can be offset by a good fighter -- Trinidad had to be set to punch. To get off the back foot you have to be quick. When Tarver gets off his back foot, I'm not going to be there. And I won't be running -- I'll be to the left or to the right -- I'll force him to reset because I'll know the back foot is his guide. Tarver is going to find out that he is not in with a 'little' middleweight Bernard Hopkins, and when it comes down to it, he is going to look for a way to get out of the fight, one way or another."
Hopkins hints that Tarver's pre-fight bravado, going so far as to wager $250,000 that he will obtain a knockout before the end of the 5th, speaks more to Antonio's fears than it does his confidence. It is a bold prediction from Tarver, and one that he has rarely made in the past. Hopkins insists Tarver will stray from his normally defensive style, doubting his conditioning and strength at light-heavyweight after having to drop an estimated 30-40 pounds in their Vero Beach training camp. These issues harken back to Jones' struggle to make weight in the first stanza with Tarver, a bout in which Roy appeared lethargic and winded throughout the middle rounds, finding himself forced to sweep the championship frames to secure his title.
"Tarver is having a identity crisis," Hopkins proclaimed. "Tarver wants to be respected -- but he already is. The reason he wants you to think he's being disrespected is because it is a form of self motivation, he needs to create some sort of animosity with his opponent or the media because his 'picture is not on the right side of the TV.' Tarver has let everyone know what his game-plan is. If a man coming off bankruptcy puts up $250,000 saying he is going to knock me out inside of 5 rounds, I'm telling you right now he doesn't want to see the deep water."
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
tarver may very well be favorite, but im going with a hopkins win here....
a b hop decision is what im hoping for....
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
tarver may very well be favorite, but im going with a hopkins win here....
a b hop decision is what im hoping for....
CC. Me too buddy. We can't be wrong about Mayorga AND Hopkins. Good article, much like Vargas, Tarver has to try and motivate himself for fights, even if the motivations seem petty to others.
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hulk
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
tarver may very well be favorite, but im going with a hopkins win here....
a b hop decision is what im hoping for....
CC. Me too buddy. We can't be wrong about Mayorga AND Hopkins. Good article, much like Vargas, Tarver has to try and motivate himself for fights, even if the motivations seem petty to others.
clicked you back. too right! we've gotta get one of them right! ;D
it is a good article and hopkins was talking a lot of sense. its good that hopkins is going in against a 37 year old who can't work over 12 full rounds....it all works to hopkins advantage....
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
CC,very enjoyable read. Maaaan,I so hope and I think boxing fans need B-Hop to win or else imagine how big Tarver's mouth will get?!?!? I'm hoping for Bhop ko but I'll be honest,I see Tarver winning unfortunately >:mad :-\
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
CC,very enjoyable read. Maaaan,I so hope and I think boxing fans need B-Hop to win or else imagine how big Tarver's mouth will get?!?!? I'm hoping for Bhop ko but I'll be honest,I see Tarver winning unfortunately >:mad :-\
I see B-hop winning myself, not just sayin that cus I love B-hop and hate Tarver. People forget that despite Tarver's big mouth and brave talk, he is boring and inactive. Also, he ALWAYS fades in the late rounds, 10-12. Plus I think him losing that weight is gonna hurt him, let him see what Roy had to go thru. I don't see B-hop KO'n him really, but I can definitely envision a Hopkins UD win. Or SD win.
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Yeah but it depends which B-Hop it is Hulk because I agree,Tarver is not at all good and had fooking RJJ thrown SOME punches,a handful in their third fight,he could have won BUT,look at how B Hop was against JT!!! It could be one of the most boring fights of the year!!! It all depends on Bhop,how active he is,how his stamina is with that weight etc.
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
Yeah but it depends which B-Hop it is Hulk because I agree,Tarver is not at all good and had fooking RJJ thrown SOME punches,a handful in their third fight,he could have won BUT,look at how B Hop was against JT!!! It could be one of the most boring fights of the year!!! It all depends on Bhop,how active he is,how his stamina is with that weight etc.
Yeah, I pretty much expect it to be a dramatic fight because of the high stakes, but not an exciting one. I just hope B-hop does more than he did in the Taylor fights, even though he should have won those damn fights and got screwed. I know goin in that it probably ain't gonna be a barn burner but I been a Hopkins fan since the second Echols fight, through his great win over Tito, the beginning of his somewhat boring style with Allen and Eastman, his beatdown of Joppy, his anti climatic stoppage of the golden boy and his BS losses to the new golden boy Taylor. And so I will be a Hopkins fan till the end.
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
Yeah but it depends which B-Hop it is Hulk because I agree,Tarver is not at all good and had fooking RJJ thrown SOME punches,a handful in their third fight,he could have won BUT,look at how B Hop was against JT!!! It could be one of the most boring fights of the year!!! It all depends on Bhop,how active he is,how his stamina is with that weight etc.
CC right back fella
i think tarver has been chosen for a number of reasons....JT was young and in physically top condition wheras tarver is lazy, 37 and can be very inactive himself...
hopkins likes to really try and lay it on from the 6th onwards and i just dont know if tarver will be able to work at the pace hopkins will begin to pressure him with...
tarver says he is going to KO hopkins in 6....i doubt he will land clean on hopkins in those 6 rounds...he will probably waste energy trying to hit a very evasive target...
the championship rounds will be where it is won or lost and i just think that even at the age of 41, hopkins is better conditioned than tarver....
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
Yeah but it depends which B-Hop it is Hulk because I agree,Tarver is not at all good and had fooking RJJ thrown SOME punches,a handful in their third fight,he could have won BUT,look at how B Hop was against JT!!! It could be one of the most boring fights of the year!!! It all depends on Bhop,how active he is,how his stamina is with that weight etc.
CC right back fella
i think tarver has been chosen for a number of reasons....JT was young and in physically top condition wheras tarver is lazy, 37 and can be very inactive himself...
hopkins likes to really try and lay it on from the 6th onwards and i just dont know if tarver will be able to work at the pace hopkins will begin to pressure him with...
tarver says he is going to KO hopkins in 6....i doubt he will land clean on hopkins in those 6 rounds...he will probably waste energy trying to hit a very evasive target...
the championship rounds will be where it is won or lost and i just think that even at the age of 41, hopkins is better conditioned than tarver....
Excellent analysis bro. Good points,Tarver has some of the worst stamina I have ever seen for a professional boxer,I mean that round Mcgirt told him to throw all he had at RJJ,he threw punches for 1 minute and then nearly fell over himself!!Pathetic. Yeah, I think Bhop should bide his time,avoid getting into a war with the naturally bigger man then come on strong like he does, towards the end. The only problem,I don't want him throwing away too many early rounds which is a possibility a la Taylor fight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hulk
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
Yeah but it depends which B-Hop it is Hulk because I agree,Tarver is not at all good and had fooking RJJ thrown SOME punches,a handful in their third fight,he could have won BUT,look at how B Hop was against JT!!! It could be one of the most boring fights of the year!!! It all depends on Bhop,how active he is,how his stamina is with that weight etc.
Yeah, I pretty much expect it to be a dramatic fight because of the high stakes, but not an exciting one. I just hope B-hop does more than he did in the Taylor fights, even though he should have won those damn fights and got screwed. I know goin in that it probably ain't gonna be a barn burner but I been a Hopkins fan since the second Echols fight, through his great win over Tito, the beginning of his somewhat boring style with Allen and Eastman, his beatdown of Joppy, his anti climatic stoppage of the golden boy and his BS losses to the new golden boy Taylor. And so I will be a Hopkins fan till the end.
I agree with most of that,I mean obviosuly I have not been a fan of boxing for long but since I have,I have many of B-Hop's fights and I love his style from the older,more aggressive/crushing style to the thoughtful,scheming executioner. He is the wiliest fighter around,I mean look how old he is and he still imo beat the young hungry lion Taylor in the first although he definitely lost the second.
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
Yeah but it depends which B-Hop it is Hulk because I agree,Tarver is not at all good and had fooking RJJ thrown SOME punches,a handful in their third fight,he could have won BUT,look at how B Hop was against JT!!! It could be one of the most boring fights of the year!!! It all depends on Bhop,how active he is,how his stamina is with that weight etc.
CC right back fella
i think tarver has been chosen for a number of reasons....JT was young and in physically top condition wheras tarver is lazy, 37 and can be very inactive himself...
hopkins likes to really try and lay it on from the 6th onwards and i just dont know if tarver will be able to work at the pace hopkins will begin to pressure him with...
tarver says he is going to KO hopkins in 6....i doubt he will land clean on hopkins in those 6 rounds...he will probably waste energy trying to hit a very evasive target...
the championship rounds will be where it is won or lost and i just think that even at the age of 41, hopkins is better conditioned than tarver....
Exactly , for the 1st 8 rounds I can see this being a chess match . Tarvers flurries vs Hopkins ringcraft . I reckon in the last 3 rounds Tarver will up his work cuz he has to . He'l be exhausted by the end but he should have more in the tank than B-Hop . Hopkins has always left alot in reserve but I think he knows what he is capable of at this age and he wont be able to do anything about it when Tarver pours it on .
Its a tough 1 to call and ive never rated Tarver but I think he steals this 1 on points . He showed abit of grit against Johnson but I dfont think B-hop can push him as hard as Glencoffe did . It wont even be that physical early on so age , weight and strength should give the edge to Tarver
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
"Tarver is having a identity crisis," Hopkins proclaimed. "Tarver wants to be respected -- but he already is. The reason he wants you to think he's being disrespected is because it is a form of self motivation, he needs to create some sort of animosity with his opponent or the media because his 'picture is not on the right side of the TV.' Tarver has let everyone know what his game-plan is. If a man coming off bankruptcy puts up $250,000 saying he is going to knock me out inside of 5 rounds, I'm telling you right now he doesn't want to see the deep water."
I hate to say this but this is true. Tarver is already respected he just want the people, the media and everyone else that he's not respected. I don't know if it's an effective way to motivate yourself at this point of his career. Also, he was bankrupt? Didn't know that. CC for the info. :coolclick:
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
tarver may very well be favorite, but im going with a hopkins win here....
a b hop decision is what im hoping for....
Gonna agree with you ..on a B-HOP win but I think he gets the TKO in the 11th....Tarver runs out of gas and Hopkins goes in for the kill....
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintymen
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
"Tarver is having a identity crisis," Hopkins proclaimed. "Tarver wants to be respected -- but he already is. The reason he wants you to think he's being disrespected is because it is a form of self motivation, he needs to create some sort of animosity with his opponent or the media because his 'picture is not on the right side of the TV.' Tarver has let everyone know what his game-plan is. If a man coming off bankruptcy puts up $250,000 saying he is going to knock me out inside of 5 rounds, I'm telling you right now he doesn't want to see the deep water."
I hate to say this but this is true. Tarver is already respected he just want the people, the media and everyone else that he's not respected. I don't know if it's an effective way to motivate yourself at this point of his career. Also, he was bankrupt? Didn't know that. CC for the info. :coolclick:
click right back
tarver hasnt even been what i would class as an active boxer lately anyways and even then we know he has been lazy in the gym.....only the money is pushing tarver on, it sure isnt heart or consistency....
tarver has ability but hasnt made the most of it IMO....he lost to johnson and jones before eventually beating them....
tarver annoys me....
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
CC,very enjoyable read. Maaaan,I so hope and I think boxing fans need B-Hop to win or else imagine how big Tarver's mouth will get?!?!? I'm hoping for Bhop ko but I'll be honest,I see Tarver winning unfortunately >:mad :-\
Yeah, if Tarver wins, he would turn into this...
http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/image_bin/malignaggi.jpg
(notice even Showtime spelled his name wrong lol)
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by killersheep
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
CC,very enjoyable read. Maaaan,I so hope and I think boxing fans need B-Hop to win or else imagine how big Tarver's mouth will get?!?!? I'm hoping for Bhop ko but I'll be honest,I see Tarver winning unfortunately >:mad :-\
Yeah, if Tarver wins, he would turn into this...
http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/image_bin/malignaggi.jpg
(notice even Showtime spelled his name wrong lol)
holy shit!! thats frightening!!! :o :coolclick: ;D
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by killersheep
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
CC,very enjoyable read. Maaaan,I so hope and I think boxing fans need B-Hop to win or else imagine how big Tarver's mouth will get?!?!? I'm hoping for Bhop ko but I'll be honest,I see Tarver winning unfortunately >:mad :-\
Yeah, if Tarver wins, he would turn into this...
http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/image_bin/malignaggi.jpg
(notice even Showtime spelled his name wrong lol)
holy S***!! thats frightening!!! :o :coolclick: ;D
Click back
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by killersheep
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
CC,very enjoyable read. Maaaan,I so hope and I think boxing fans need B-Hop to win or else imagine how big Tarver's mouth will get?!?!? I'm hoping for Bhop ko but I'll be honest,I see Tarver winning unfortunately >:mad :-\
Yeah, if Tarver wins, he would turn into this...
http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/image_bin/malignaggi.jpg
(notice even Showtime spelled his name wrong lol)
hahahaha,CC. It would be great if Miguel and Hopkins won,what a triumph for us fans! I mean there are only a handful of Tarver and Malignaggi fans right?
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
Quote:
Originally Posted by killersheep
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
CC,very enjoyable read. Maaaan,I so hope and I think boxing fans need B-Hop to win or else imagine how big Tarver's mouth will get?!?!? I'm hoping for Bhop ko but I'll be honest,I see Tarver winning unfortunately >:mad :-\
Yeah, if Tarver wins, he would turn into this...
http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/image_bin/malignaggi.jpg
(notice even Showtime spelled his name wrong lol)
hahahaha,CC. It would be great if Miguel and Hopkins won,what a triumph for us fans! I mean there are only a handful of Tarver and Malignaggi fans right?
Tarver has a handful of fans, but Malignaggi's fan club is only Malignaggi and Collazo
and another CC for you
Re: Hopkins: "Im chasing a ghost"
I really realy want Hopkins to pull this one out and retire however i think beating Tarver is a very tall order at this stage and im going for a Tarver decision, i just dont understand what Hopkins has to proove, his legacy is truly cemented as it is.
