Hopkins to face Shumenov next... classic Bernard move

[FinitoElDinamita]

Picking on the weakest link as always... I know a lot of you are going to make excuses for this guy, talking about his age and shit but that's bullhonky .. regardless of age, if one is a titleholder and is performing at a high level, u fight the best or else step off the plate and let the young hungry lions fight for the title..

He's gonna fight Beibut shumenov.. smh

[palmerq]

Shumenov is also a title holder isnt he he isnt a mug... good choice from bernard

[Spicoli]

Anyone who attempts to sweep up the alphabet trinkets and beat 'champions' rather than schooling meaningless mandatories (again) should be encouraged to do so. I'd rather see Kovalev and Stevenson get busy but this will give Hopkins leverage for the winner...in an ideal world we hope...and should he win of course.

[IamInuit]

Anyone who attempts to sweep up the alphabet trinkets and beat 'champions' rather than schooling meaningless mandatories (again) should be encouraged to do so. I'd rather see Kovalev and Stevenson get busy but this will give Hopkins leverage for the winner...in an ideal world we hope...and should he win of course.

^^This.

[p4pking]

Exactly, as long as Stevenson and Kovalev aren't fighting each other we should still be hoping for that to happen first. Take those two guys aside, and Hopkins-Shumenov is as meaningful as any fight in the division. You can't call it a bad matchup or anything, Shumenov is good and will bring it.

[Hulk]

Exactly, as long as Stevenson and Kovalev aren't fighting each other we should still be hoping for that to happen first. Take those two guys aside, and Hopkins-Shumenov is as meaningful as any fight in the division. You can't call it a bad matchup or anything, Shumenov is good and will bring it.

Exactly this is a good matchup. He's 49 years old what the fuck do you want him to do? He's fighting another titlist and he owns a world title himself. If he beats Shumenov then he'll hold two world titles and set himself up nicely to face Stevenson or Kovalev. I think he would beat Kovalev, I don't know about Stevenson though.

[Silkeyjoe]

I think the problem is he should be fighting Kovalev or Stevenson rather then Shumenov. He's 49 so how much longer can he wait for the fight? I personally would like him to fight both this year depending on results. If he beats Kov then fight Stevenson. If he loses either retire. If he wins both maybe fight Ward and then retire.

[p4pking]

Hopkins would need to spoil and keep the pace low to beat Kovalev or Stevenson, while those two against each other is pretty much guaranteed to be an explosive fight. Why would anyone not want to see that first?

[Hulk]

50 is the magic number. If Bernard can win or defend the title against a respectable opponent at the age of 50 then my God he's done the unthinkable.

[Spicoli]

What's the deal with two wba champions? Thinks should Hopkins win they mandate he fights a Jurgen Brahmer(?) for full recognition or risk strip before he thinks about a Kovalev etc

[Hulk]

What's the deal with two wba champions? Thinks should Hopkins win they mandate he fights a Jurgen Brahmer(?) for full recognition or risk strip before he thinks about a Kovalev etc

What's the deal with ovaltine? The box is round, the glass is round. They should call it roundtine.

[mikeeod]

Great fight for Hop. He looks phenomenal against straight ahead, strong punchers, n struggles with fast, mobile, volume fighters. I think he schools this guy n then hopefully Kovalev. I don't think he matches up well with Stevenson, but would live to see him beat the other two and unify all the titles (I think Kovalev has a good chance of upsetting Stevenson). If Hop accomplishes that I think he is easily in the discussion for greatest fighter of his generation (based on actual accomplishments, not talent vs Floyd, PAC...etc). Hops style isn't as exciting as it used to be, but at 49 years old the guy is amazing.

[Dia bando]

Hopkins will old man him, holding hitting acting and a win a decision the rose-tinted brigade,
tell how wonderful Hopkins is. When in truth it will be a shit fight LIKE ALL HIS FIGHTS ARE,
many of you will rant and rave, please will someone KO him.

[Hulk]

Great fight for Hop. He looks phenomenal against straight ahead, strong punchers, n struggles with fast, mobile, volume fighters. I think he schools this guy n then hopefully Kovalev. I don't think he matches up well with Stevenson, but would live to see him beat the other two and unify all the titles (I think Kovalev has a good chance of upsetting Stevenson). If Hop accomplishes that I think he is easily in the discussion for greatest fighter of his generation (based on actual accomplishments, not talent vs Floyd, PAC...etc). Hops style isn't as exciting as it used to be, but at 49 years old the guy is amazing.

I feel the same way about Hopkins chances against Kovalev and Stevenson.

[p4pking]

I think Kovalev is just a better fighter than Stevenson and no worse equipped to fight Hopkins. Stevenson isn't exactly a Calzaghe, he's pretty much a one handed fighter and Hopkins has always had a lot of success against southpaws.