Will this be Hopkins last fight?

As much as he is hard to bet against, age will certainly catch up with him at some point. With this in mind I have a feeling that Pascal will deliver a comprehensive victory. He has impressed me ever since seeing him against Froch and in my opinion improving . Hopkins is obviously a spoiler and this has added longevity to his career and makes him tricky for any opponent, but I think that tonight will be the last time we'll see him fight. Boxing is a sport but is also a show and Bernard is not pretty to watch. With that in mind, at this stage in his career I respect what he has achieved but will not be sad to see him quit.

Anyone else have some thoughts on this?

Nah there's plenty of soft opposition with big names out there if he loses, and if he wins well............

I don't think he'll quit until he gets knocked out or takes a serious beating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CFH

I don't think he'll quit until he gets knocked out or takes a serious beating.

---

I agree, i think it's going to take a serious beating for him to retire. If he's competitive in this fight loses a close decision i expect him to keep fighting. I keep doubting him and he keeps proving me wrong, i expect the same tonight.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CFH

I don't think he'll quit until he gets knocked out or takes a serious beating.

---

I agree I don't think he's retiring anytime soon. He should be competitive enough in this fight to be able to shout robbery if he loses and keep fighting on.

I am actually worried that it will be somehow competitive. What the sport does not need is two Evanders who don't know how to quit.

I dont know why but I get the feeling that a shift in GBP is in the offing. One thing to never under estimate about a Hopkins is not only his craft...but his massive ego. I think if he losses, he'll stay out. Eventually his newer slower pedestrian sneak and clutch style will be forced and some young free swinger will call his bluff and storm him,insist on a knock out. Do a Taylor ( whom he had ready to go and let off the hook 1st time Imo). For the longest he has counted on beating you partway mentally before he even climbs thru ropes. He's studied the hell out of Pascal no doubt. He's spotted something to take this fight. Its a mental game more then physical and when that goes,so will he.

I think this might well be the fight to finally finish off the career of Hopkins. He has looked poor in his last couple of fights and it looks as though his stamina and legs have started to go. Pacal might well win this one decisively and I hope so too. There is no good reason for us to keep watching a 45 year old spoiler. It is never entertaining and it's a shame because once upon a time Hopkins was fairly interesting to watch.

I take back much of what I said above, Hopkins has wiped out what he did in those previous performances. He looked a mess after the two knockdowns, but stayed calm and outworked a much younger fighter.

No, probably not his final fight based on what we saw there.

completely agree, it was a good performance by the man.

He's definitely not about to retire now.

I want him to rematch Pascal, and put on a boxing clinic and then bow out as a champ again.

Well...not by a long shot apparently. Do believe he had Pascal in a bit of "awe" prior, that damn mental game game of his is on another level. And he really really turned back the clock physically. What can you say? Simply amazing what he displayed at 4FN5 yrs old!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CFH

I don't think he'll quit until he gets knocked out or takes a serious beating.

---

I agree. After last night's performance...he'll be back.

We're never getting rid of him ;D

Well if he fought like he did last night I don't think we'd want to see him retire. I didn't think he was still able to keep up a good workrate all throughout the fight. I guess we should just give up on trying to predict when bernard is done or anything of the sort, he's defied the odds far to often. Would love to see a rematch.

It probably would have been had he got the decision he deserved. :mad:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pugilistic

It probably would have been had he got the decision he deserved. :mad:

---

Hopkins strikes me as a fighter who will not quit and go out when he is good and ready. He has this attitude that thinks people are against him and he will not do what most people want him to do and retire.

$ hell $ to $ the $ no $

i don't think so. in contrary, i think hopkins is just starting to enjoy boxing at his age.lol

Once again I will ask the forum: Hopkins vs Cloud who ya got?

Tavoris Cloud has a title and with Pascal-Dawson II apparently next up why not make this fight?

IMO if Cloud can handle Hopkins' style then he's one dangerous S.O.B....I see Cloud (if he is going to lose) losing to a boxer, but after what Dawson showed vs Pascal I don't think Bad Chad has it in him to keep Cloud at bay, Hopkins might as he's cagey in his old age.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bilbo

He's definitely not about to retire now.

I want him to rematch Pascal, and put on a boxing clinic and then bow out as a champ again.

---

That would be a fitting way for someone of Hopkins' ability to go, but I don't think he would retire if he beats Pascal should the rematch happen. He'll carry on until he gets hurt. I can't believe this is the man I picked ODLH to beat because he would be too young and fresh for the ageing Hopkins.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Once again I will ask the forum: Hopkins vs Cloud who ya got?

Tavoris Cloud has a title and with Pascal-Dawson II apparently next up why not make this fight?

IMO if Cloud can handle Hopkins' style then he's one dangerous S.O.B....I see Cloud (if he is going to lose) losing to a boxer, but after what Dawson showed vs Pascal I don't think Bad Chad has it in him to keep Cloud at bay, Hopkins might as he's cagey in his old age.

---

Tavoris Cloud as i've said time and time again is another Jeff Lacy, yes he may have more punch variety. But he only fights in spurts normally, and even an old Glen Johnson was able to outwork him in quite alot of rounds. B-Hop would embarrass Tavoris Cloud, as would Chad Dawson.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ICB

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Once again I will ask the forum: Hopkins vs Cloud who ya got?

Tavoris Cloud has a title and with Pascal-Dawson II apparently next up why not make this fight?

IMO if Cloud can handle Hopkins' style then he's one dangerous S.O.B....I see Cloud (if he is going to lose) losing to a boxer, but after what Dawson showed vs Pascal I don't think Bad Chad has it in him to keep Cloud at bay, Hopkins might as he's cagey in his old age.

---

Tavoris Cloud as i've said time and time again is another Jeff Lacy, yes he may have more punch variety. But he only fights in spurts normally, and even an old Glen Johnson was able to outwork him in quite alot of rounds. B-Hop would embarrass Tavoris Cloud, as would Chad Dawson.

---

Its good that you bring up Glen Johnson because right now I think he's better than Hopkins and I always wondered why a rematch between them wasn't made.

The blueprint to beat BHop is set: win early rounds (1-5) then win 2 more late rounds and bingo bango mathematically BHop is out 7 rounds to 5.

After seeing Pascal hurt BHop I have more hope for Cloud, but of course you guys think he's Jeff Lacy when he's obviously done more than Lacy ever has and vs better opponents too

IMO Hopkins beats all the young guys at 175, including Dawson, Cloud, and Pascal (again)

I do think Cloud gets hit way too much, but he's never shown ill effects from it other than swelling maybe a few cuts, but he hasn't to my knowledge really been hurt by anyone. I just think given the age of Hopkins a come forward no matter what type of fighter like Cloud could really hurt him. Cloud needs to move his head and improve his defense, but I think he's good enough to unify 175.

You put Pascal in with Cloud I think Cloud mops the floor with him, same with Dawson...those guys couldn't handle his pressure. Hopkins is the only one I think that could trouble Cloud and that's because B-Hop is a cagey fighter, he knows when to attack and when to lay back, he knows how to wear someone down and his power is usually underrated by his opponent.

i don't think Cloud can hurt him for two reasons, IMO Pascal never really even hurt Hopkins, one KD was cause of a shot behind the head and the other was a flash KD, he was never really hurt, and Cloud throw's too many winging shots, he didn't impress me at all in his last performance and i'd actually give Hopkins the edge in handspeed meaning he'll be able to counter every time Cloud would miss, frustrating him and making him fight even sloppier than he did last time out

i'd pick Hopkins for a UD win over Cloud

I'm stuck on when Pascal actually 'hurt' Hopkins??? Going by the belief that a guy is only as good as his last fight I think Hopkins is too deep for still developing Cloud. He'd have a early rush but with his straight frontal attack I think Hopkins would leash him into some hurtful shots, frustrate him big with breaking his momentum.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ICB

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Once again I will ask the forum: Hopkins vs Cloud who ya got?

Tavoris Cloud has a title and with Pascal-Dawson II apparently next up why not make this fight?

IMO if Cloud can handle Hopkins' style then he's one dangerous S.O.B....I see Cloud (if he is going to lose) losing to a boxer, but after what Dawson showed vs Pascal I don't think Bad Chad has it in him to keep Cloud at bay, Hopkins might as he's cagey in his old age.

---

Tavoris Cloud as i've said time and time again is another Jeff Lacy, yes he may have more punch variety. But he only fights in spurts normally, and even an old Glen Johnson was able to outwork him in quite alot of rounds. B-Hop would embarrass Tavoris Cloud, as would Chad Dawson.

---

Its good that you bring up Glen Johnson because right now I think he's better than Hopkins and I always wondered why a rematch between them wasn't made.

The blueprint to beat BHop is set: win early rounds (1-5) then win 2 more late rounds and bingo bango mathematically BHop is out 7 rounds to 5.

After seeing Pascal hurt BHop I have more hope for Cloud, but of course you guys think he's Jeff Lacy when he's obviously done more than Lacy ever has and vs better opponents too

---

Glen Johnson better than B-Hop right now ? i don't think so bro. But that's your opinion and i respect it, but i couldn't disagree more.

As for your other comment's well it isn't that easy, because Joe Calzaghe who's very active probably lost the first 4 rounds vs B-Hop.

And plus Tavoris Cloud's workrate is very suspect he only fights in spurts, so what makes you think he can do that ?

Im not so sure he's done more than Jeff Lacy, i mean Tavoris Cloud has a slight edge. For beating the better known names, although some of them were old.

I think at the moment he's pretty much where Jeff Lacy was, before he fought Joe Calzaghe. I'd like to see him in with a boxer before i make any final judgements.

But too me he looks quite one dimensional, top that off with suspect stamina. And i can't see him beating some of the top boys.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ICB

Glen Johnson better than B-Hop right now ? i don't think so bro. But that's your opinion and i respect it, but i couldn't disagree more.

As for your other comment's well it isn't that easy, because Joe Calzaghe who's very active probably lost the first 4 rounds vs B-Hop.

And plus Tavoris Cloud's workrate is very suspect he only fights in spurts, so what makes you think he can do that ?

Im not so sure he's done more than Jeff Lacy, i mean Tavoris Cloud has a slight edge. For beating the better known names, although some of them were old.

I think at the moment he's pretty much where Jeff Lacy was, before he fought Joe Calzaghe. I'd like to see him in with a boxer before i make any final judgements.

But too me he looks quite one dimensional, top that off with suspect stamina. And i can't see him beating some of the top boys.

---

Glen Johnson has done pretty damn well for a long stretch of time and at multiple weight classes. Johnson has a reasonable chance at winning out the Super Six...I mean he's never going to be the favorite but he's got as good of a chance as anyone else.

Tavoris Cloud's "stamina issues" are nothing more than him loading up on his punches and some of the shots he hit Glen Johnson with would have put down most any light heavyweight. I agree that he hasn
t fought a prime top notch fighter with pure boxing ability yet, but you never know how he'll react maybe he likes that better.

Perhaps if we see Cloud vs Cleverly or someone like that it would answer some questions for us...I'm giving Cloud the benefit of the doubt, knowing full well his lack of defense could be a problem for him.