I prefer my boxing crisp and clean

[bcollins]

Boxing isn't my sport? Why? Because I've never liked Hopkins' ugly style? There's been plenty of boxers I've enjoyed watching over the years that exemplify the "sweet science." And yet they manage to win and excite at the same time.

Trinidad is an exciting fighter that exemplifies the sweet science...but Hopkin's old ugly style broke him down just fine. It might not be pretty - no, it isn't pretty - but it still works.

Against Tito he threw combinations and fought the perfect fight. But every other fight I've ever seen him fight... he uses all the tactics I mentioned before that make for ugly fights. And lately he seems to be involved in nothing but controversial decisions after ugly fights. It gets old.

A lot of that is due to age, probably - he has to rely on that craftiness to be competitive. I agree - I like the flashier, cleaner fighters too, but I still enjoy watching Bernard simply because he's a great enough fighter to still be competitive in his 40's using tactical boxing.

By the way - I didn't mean anything personal by the Tito reference. That's just one of Bernard's fights that came to mind where he beat a more exciting fighter.

[TitoFan]

Trinidad is an exciting fighter that exemplifies the sweet science...but Hopkin's old ugly style broke him down just fine. It might not be pretty - no, it isn't pretty - but it still works.

Against Tito he threw combinations and fought the perfect fight. But every other fight I've ever seen him fight... he uses all the tactics I mentioned before that make for ugly fights. And lately he seems to be involved in nothing but controversial decisions after ugly fights. It gets old.

A lot of that is due to age, probably - he has to rely on that craftiness to be competitive. I agree - I like the flashier, cleaner fighters too, but I still enjoy watching Bernard simply because he's a great enough fighter to still be competitive in his 40's using tactical boxing.

By the way - I didn't mean anything personal by the Tito reference. That's just one of Bernard's fights that came to mind where he beat a more exciting fighter.

Hey no sweat, b. While I was devastated about Tito's loss to Hopkins, I have to admit that B-Hop fought a near perfect fight. And while we're at it... I'd have to say that there's things I admire about Hopkins, just as there's things I can't stand about the guy.

For instance, on the plus side: The guy IS 43 years old and stays in terrific shape. In boxing a fighter starts to be called "old" when he's 35, never mind 43. Also, he's his own man and doesn't bow to the Don Kings of the boxing world. He's very shrewd at managing his own career. On the other hand, I think he goes overboard in promoting his fights and just gets too disrespectful. Whether it's a tactic or not, IMO it doesn't justify some of the things he says or does. And on his boxing style, well... I just can't get too excited about seeing him fight, with all the clutching, lunging and just general ugly boxing style. But... whatever it takes to win, I guess.