Boxing's Best Seniors - 10 Big Wins From Fighters Over 40

By Andrew Fruman

Given the phsyical demands and punishing nature of the sport, it's not surprising just how few boxers have been able to post significant wins in their forties. Glen Johnson will be looking to do just that tomorrow night in Hartford, and in honor of his bid, let's take a look at the fights that earned boxing's grizzled veterans exclusive membership in the over 40 club.

40 - Forty

Dick Tiger UD 10 over Andy Kendall – November 14, 1969 – age 40 (3 months)

Entering the bout as the world’s #1 light-heavyweight contender, the long time Madison Square Garden favorite pounded out a 10 round victory over #2 ranked Andy Kendall. Tiger staggered Kendall early in the fight, but the 31 year old from Oregon hung tough and while the judges’ scores were wide – 9-1 twice and 8-2 – the rounds were competitive. At one stage in the late going, Tiger brought the crowd to their feet with his impression of the Ali shuffle, explaining afterward, "I wanted to prove that I’m still young.”

Tiger fought once more, losing a 10 round decision to Emile Griffith the following June, before being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. He was just 42 years old when he passed away in December of 1971.

Carl Thompson TKO 5 over David Haye – September 10, 2004 - age 40 (3 months, 15 days)

Thompson was expected to bring nothing more than some name value to the list of the big punching upstart’s knockout victims. Instead, the tough as nails 16 year pro soaked up all kinds of punishment, before stopping the brash youngster - who had run out of gas - via 5th round TKO.

Bob Fitzsimmons W 20 over George Gardner – November 24, 1903 – age 40 (5 months, 29 days)

The former heavyweight and middleweight champion added light-heavyweight honors with his victory over Gardner. While historically significant, the bout provided few sparks with the 26 year old Gardner unwilling to exchange, and Fitzsimmons – who claimed to have broken both his knuckles early in the bout - fighting cautiously the whole way. The lack of action prompted referee Eddie Graney, the sole arbiter in the contest to call it the worst bout he’d ever seen.

41- Forty One

Bernard Hopkins UD 12 over Antonio Tarver – June 10, 2006 - age 41 (4 months, 26 days)

While Tarver was only a few months short of his 38th birthday, the one sided nature of Hopkins victory still makes it one of the more impressive performances on the list. From start to finish, Hopkins was in complete control of the bout, with Tarver - a 3 to 1 favourite - barely landing a significant punch.

Archie Moore KO 11 over Yvon Durrelle – December 10, 1958 – age 41 (11 months, 27 days)

Arguably the most impressive come from behind win of all time – and that much more astounding when the man that came back from the brink was a few days shy of 42nd birthday. Showing remarkable resolve, a badly shaken Moore somehow made it out of the first round despite being put down 3 times. After tasting the canvas again in the 4th, the ageless wonder managed to find his footing in the bout, eventually wearing the rugged Canadian down with an 11th round stoppage.

The two light-heavyweights met again the following year, with Moore knocking Durelle out in the 3rd round.

42 - Forty Two

Virgil Hill UD 12 over Valery Brudov – January 27, 2006 – age 42 (9 days)

Hill retired after his most impressive post-40 performance, a narrow points loss in 2004 to Jean Marc Mormeck, the class of the cruiserweight division at that time. Two years later, he returned to the ring to face the undefeated Russian. It was an easy victory for the 42 year old, who used his superior footwork to stay at long range, while moving in and out of his ponderous opponent on the way to a lop-sided decision victory.

Larry Holmes UD 12 over Ray Mercer – February 7, 1992 – age 42 (3 months, 4 days)

Before the bout, Holmes had pointed out Mercer’s lack of head movement being easy pray for his ancient, but still precise skills, but with the younger man coming off a vicious stoppage victory over Tommy Morrison, there were few believers in his chances. It turned out old Larry was on the money, as the 4 to 1 underdog made Mercer looking foolish at times, as he pounded his way to a unanimious decision win.

Holmes parlayed the win into a title shot against Evander Holyfield 4 months later. He made it competitive, especially in the early going, but had no answers when Holyfield chose to fight at long range. After the bout when asked if he would have done anything differently, the ex-champ drew some laughs when he answered, "I would have fought this fight in 1980."

43- Forty Three

Bernard Hopkins UD 12 over Kelly Pavlik – October 18, 2008 – age 43 (9 months, 3 days)

Having struggled over the late rounds in his loss to Joe Calzaghe, this was the bout that was finally going to send The Executioner into retirement. Instead, Hopkins put forth one of his most masterful performances, using his superior ring smarts to completely neutralize his 26 year old opponent's offensive talents, while responding with a steady stream of hard counters.

45 - Forty Five

Archie Moore TKO10 over Alajandro Lavorante – March 30, 1962 – age 45 (3 months, 17 days)

This was Moore’s last great performance, and perhaps the most impressive result for the over 40 crowd, as the 45 year old former light-heavyweight champ handed the world’s 3rd ranking heavyweight a one sided battering. Giving away 20 years, 4 1/2 inches in height and 14 pounds, Moore consistently got inside his bigger opponent, steadily breaking Lavorante down over the course of 10 one sided rounds.

George Foreman KO10 over Michael Moorer – November 5, 1994 – age 45 (9 months, 26 days)

Having been away from the ring for a decade, Foreman’s remarkable return from a 10 year ring absense had appeared to have run its course with his 12 round defeat at the hands of Evander Holyfield 3 years earlier. Yet the big man stayed active and kept plugging away, before getting another crack at the crown - and this time, made the most of it. It wasn't easy, as Moorer appeared in complete control until a left jab, right hand combination flattened the 27 year old for the 10 count.

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Updated P4P: Pacquiao still Top - Mayweather Grabs #2 Spot

With the successful return of Floyd Mayweather Jr., it's time (okay, it was probably time last week, but we've just got around to getting the votes tabulated now) for The Boxing Bulletin to update our P4P rankings.

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

The two main questions facing our voters this time...

How far should Juan Manuel Marquez drop, and did Mayweather do enough to knock Manny Pacquaio off the top spot?

Also in action since our last update were Nonito Donaire, Ivan Calderon and Mikkel Kessler.

1. Manny Pacquiao (vs Miguel Cotto - November 14) The Pac-Man remains atop the Bulletin's P4P list simply because he is willing to take on all comers, and is out there not only to dominate, but destroy. 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (NEW, UD over Juan Manuel Marquez - September 19) "Money" looked like the same guy who retired almost two years ago. Not surprising really, considering his natural talent and obsessive work ethic. Now that he's back, the question is, who's next? Mosley, or the Pac/Cotto winner? 3. Bernard Hopkins This might be the last time you'll be seeing The Executioner on our list, as it's getting close to 12 months since he dominated Kelly Pavlik. Also, his future plans include a tune-up and then a possible match-up with Roy Jones. Neither fight does anything for is P4P status. 4. Shane Mosley Sugar Shane STILL can't get a big-fight, or even a suitable TV date. Unreal. He blasts out the scariest welter around and then sits out a year??? Seems like he'll have to face young Andre Berto to keep his name out there while the big money names decide whether they want some or not. Probably not. 5. Paul Williams (vs Kelly Pavlik - December 5) "The Punisher" is scheduled to face off against Kelly Pavlik for the Middleweight Championship Of The World, December 5th. I call this remarkable fighter Mr. Pound For Pound because he is a true threat to anyone from 147 to 160, and it says here that he'll be removing Mr. Pavlik from his throne when all is said and done. 6. Juan Manuel Marquez (down 4, lost UD to Floyd Mayweather Jr. - September 19) The magnificent Marquez probably came in too heavy, too slow and too old for the defensive genius, Mayweather. If he wasn't already declining going into that megafight, he is now. He showed all of the heart and guts that made him a future Hall of Famer in surviving 12 rounds, but was just outgunned. It's hard to figure out where he goes from here, but it was a helluva ride while it lasted. 7. Chad Dawson (vs Glen Johnson - November 7) "Bad" Chad has a lot of tools to work with, and now he has the support of the major networks, so the sky is the limit for the speedy southpaw. We'll get a better sense of exactly where he stands as a potential great when he laces them up for a second time against iron-willed Glen Johnson, who pushed him to the brink last year. 8. Nonito Donaire (up 1, UD over Rafael Concepcion - August 15) Since his demolition of Darchinyan, Nonito has done little. It's quite frustrating as a fan because he's a young, fast, exciting and well-schooled fighter who can create some buzz for the little guys in boxing. Perhaps the move up to 115 lbs will open some new doors for him. Maybe now's the time for Donaire-Darchinyan II? 9. Juan Manuel Lopez (down 2, vs Rogers Mtagwa - October 10) Juan Ma is another young fighter with the world at his feet. Great speed, accuracy and killer instinct are his main assets, but he's also developed some of the most shocking counter punching in the sport. We know he can dish it out, but can he take it? His promoter, Bob Arum, is planning a showdown between Lopez and undefeated Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa. That match-up should deliver some answers. 10. Miguel Cotto (down 1, vs Manny Pacquiao - November 14) Whatever your opinion of Cotto, you have to respect his schedule. He's faced off against 3 welters no one else wanted any part of in Mosley, Clottey and Margarito. You can make the argument that he didn't really "win" any of those, but to be right there with those guys is admirable. He's earned the paycheck that comes with fighting Pacquiao. Should be an all out war for as long as it lasts. 11. Ivan Calderon (Technical SD over Rodel Mayol - September 12) The tiny Puerto Rican is still regarded as perhaps the most pure boxer out there, but it looks like Father Time is catching up quickly. If he wants to remain a P4P player, he's got to sign a significant fight soon because he's starting to settle into a cautious matchmaking pattern. 12. Mikkel Kessler (TKO4 over Gusmyl Perdomo - September 12, vs Andre Ward - November 21) With the managerial issues hopefully behind him, Kessler is set to prove that he belongs among the elite. The first step is defeating Andre Ward in the brilliant 168 tournament hosted by Showtime. 13. Timothy Bradley (vs Lamont Peterson - December 12) While his last fight with Nate Campbell proved little, we were probably a little bit late in including "Dessert Storm" as one of the 15 best out there. At first glance, it's easy to miss a lot of what makes him a very difficult guy to beat. He doesn't have crazy speed, or monstrous power, but he is solid at every facet of the game. While it may not make him the most exciting fighter out there, he just may be the most dangerous guy at 140. 14. Carl Froch (vs Andre Dirrell - October 17) The hard man from Nottingham is proof that boxing is no beauty contest. There's nothing "pretty" about him, except his undefeated record. He's made up for athletic deficiencies against Pascal and Taylor with grit and conditioning. He'll need the same kind of effort when he meets undefeated Andre Dirrell in the first round of the 168 lb tourney. 15. Hozumi Hasegawa (NEW) Those who closely follow the Asian scene may be thinking "it's about time" the Japanese destroyer gets some P4P love. None of his last 4 opponents have seen the end of the 2nd round. Included among those is a fellow named Alejandro Valdez, who beat up Fernando Montiel just a few weeks ago. Just missing the cut... Vic Darchinyan, Lucian Bute, Rafael Marquez, Celestino Caballero & Wladimir Klitschko Also receiving votes... Kelly Pavlik, Jean Pascal, David Haye, Arthur Abraham, Chris John, Fernando Montiel, Glen Johnson & Tomasz Adamek Not ranked due to inactivity... Israel Vasquez To make our top 15, a fighter must have had at least 1 bout during the previous 12 months.

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Pacquiao... Cotto... And Why You're A Fan

Jeff Pryor takes a look at what draws us to the fighters we cheer for.

Photos © Ray Kasprowicz

Why is Manny Pacquiao the boxing worlds current must see mauler? How does Miguel Cotto cram his crowd into Madison Square Garden?

When it comes to sports fans, the boxing variety are among the most vociferous and voracious. Part of that is the stakes in the ring, which are greater than any other sport. Part of it is that boxing is the sport where there are no barriers between the fan and the athlete.

There is no helmet to hide their face. No pads to obscure their figure. No closed huddles or secret hand signals. No bandages for an injury.

The playing area isn't a hundred yards long or a field of ice. It's a couple dozen feet. The ring is intimate. The ring is mic'ed up. If someone has something to say, we hear it. The camera's don't show us ten men, or twenty two scurrying around. Just two; in close up.

And from all that, we have more access to them over the course of thirty six minutes of action in a twelve round fight than we do for other athletes over the course of a whole season. We see them fight, we see them think, we see them bleed, we see their eyes. To paraphrase Joe Louis... you can't hide in the ring. In fact, you can only show. Show your talent and skill. Show your heart, determination and will. And show whether you've got what it takes, on the night, in those moments.

All of those factors connect us to boxing's participants in a way that can be more powerful than other sport. But what locks us in to a particular fighter over another? What makes a fighter your fighter?

A couple of traveling Ricky Hatton fans showing their support in Las Vegas this past May.

Sometimes it can be as simple as the fighter being from the same geographical region as you are. Who doesn't want to root for the hometown fighter and see "one of their own" move out into the world, to find success and in some way represent us. The geographical pull is so strong that in fact, many a fight fan finds themselves rooting for a fighter they ordinarily wouldn't care for at all. Maybe you hate brash young trash talkers... but this loud mouth kid is from your home town. Maybe you despise safety first technicians... but hey, this is a good guy from just a couple burgs over.

Miguel Cotto, one of the sports premiere leading men, draws big at the Mecca in New York, in large part because of the strong contingency of Puerto Rican's that reside in and around the city. If he were the pride of Uruguay would his name light up the marquee on Seventh Avenue quite so often?

In the beginning your choice in fighters is often merely a chance of fate. That first fight that hooked you on boxing, there's a good chance one of those men, in that moment of your personal history, became a fighter of great interest to you.

Just imagine, a few years ago there where fans cheering for Jermain Taylor just because he was from Arkansas, and there were those for Cory Spinks, just because he was from St. Louis. And there was probably even someone who tuned into their fight, got their first taste of professional boxing and latched on to one of those fighters based on their performances that night. Well okay, maybe that last bit defies reasonable possibility. But you see... the points been made.

These, of course, are examples where by there is little choice involved in the selection of which fighters you are following. They are thrust upon you by chance or proximity. For the most part however, we choose those fighters we like, consciously or unconsciously.

To my mind there are principally just a handful of attributes that color our choice in boxers. Boiled down to a word, the determining characteristics tend to be displays of skill, athleticism or spirit. Each of us responds to one of these more than the other two. While every fighter has these three qualities in some measure, the memorable fighters tend to be overloaded in one particular category.

And there are variations within each trait.

For instance there are other attributes that tend to go hand in hand with great skill. Usually, for one, great dedication to craft. A level of professionalism, whereby you feel they take the sport seriously. They're probably in shape. Their fights probably don't devolve into all out action, because there is a certain level of restraint and control. They're smart. They are thinking out there. Precision, timing, studying, adjusting. Machines.

Then there are athletes. Perhaps blessed with blazing speed or bludgeoning power. Lightning reflexes or towering size. The fights could be suddenly explosive or eye opening, though they might be less consistent overall. Big KO's or flashy combos. The razzle, the dazzle. The specimens that were born and not created.

And then there is spirit. A warrior who may not be the fastest, the biggest or the most skilled, but they are a fighter through and through. Courage and determination. When attacked, they attack. When knocked down, they get up. More pure in a way; more animal.

Of course every fighter pulls elements from across the spectrum of these strengths and weaknesses, but all can be nudged into one category or another in the final analysis. Likewise each fan of the sport tends to have a certain continuity in the fighters they are drawn to most and my feeling on this is that they tend to gravitate towards the type of fighter they themselves would be, were they to make there way into the ring. In other words, we see and respond to character traits we share.

I tend to admire technicians. They weren't supermen to begin with, but they put in the work and made themselves into what they are through dedication and determination. Bernard Hopkins and Juan Manuel Marquez (pictured) come to mind. I can see myself, in the way they've gone about their careers. I'm a cerebral kind of guy... and these men think. They think about what they are doing. They think about what their opponent is doing, will do, might do... They are cool and calm. Analyzing before, during and after the fight. Like finely tuned watches, they know when the time is right to make their move. And the time is right, because they have diligently prepared for it beforehand.

Doesn't mean I don't greatly admire or root for a guy like Carl Froch who has shown grit, sheer aggression and a throw caution to the wind rambunctiousness that Hopkins or Marquez rarely have dug up in their careers. Or that I don't marvel at Andre Dirrell's laser strikes and athletic arsenal. Thing is I just don't relate to the mindset or talents of each on a personal level.

The special fighters are those that bridge the different categories and become someone that everyone can appreciate and see themselves in. I think of Manny Pacquiao who has gotten his greatest level of universal acclaim and recognition, just as he's bridged the gap between all three categories I laid out above. He entered our consciousness as the dynamic athlete, showed his spirit when tested and has now rounded out his profile by dedicating himself to fine tuning his skills. He is a complete fighter in every sense of the word and in that light it's no wonder everyone loves him; he appeals to every type of fan.

Someone like Arturo Gatti crossed over in to most fans adulation because he was so extremely over the top in one of those categories; spirit. One imagines that if someone had come to him before a fight and could tell him he would be badly cut over both eyes, his hand would be hurt, and he'd be knocked to the canvas at some point... he'd still choose to head into the ring. Such was the belief in himself that no matter how grim, or stacked against him he felt the odds, he could persevere.

Likewise, if I were ranking the three categories in terms of how many fans appreciate each. Clearly spirit would be number one, because it is something we all have, to a lesser or greater extent, in us. You don't need any special knowledge of the sport to spot courage or willpower. Athleticism comes next, because it's exciting, awe inspiring and even if we aren't world class athletes, we certainly wish we were... and hey, just being naturally better than someone without having to work quite as hard... who doesn't fancy that. Skill brings up the rear. Not that most don't appreciate it, just that it lacks the flash and drama of the other two, for the most part.

With all this in mind, what has led us to a particular fighter is very apparent. In a way it's like the question posited in the film "Pulp Fiction", There's two kinds of people in this world, Elvis people and Beatles People. Now Beatles people can like Elvis. And Elvis people can like The Beatles. But nobody likes them both equally. So somewhere you have to make a choice. And that choice tells you who you are.

As this implies, there is no getting around the fact that we are drawn to certain pugilists naturally because of who we are. Just as we are drawn to the sport as a whole because of who we are. Some may be enticed by the violence and aggression of it. Others may like the artistry of the sweet science. Some may like the nostalgic quality of the sport and it's far reaching history.

For me the psychology of the fighter is the sports thoroughgoing appeal. The mindset you must have to compete in the ring. Shelving fear of injury, pain, embarrassment, failure... the ongoing struggle to triumph over those elements, on a second by second basis. Competing not just against the man across from you, but also against yourself. Watching for the subtle cues in a fighters demeanor as he wins those internal struggles, or begins to succumb to them. That's what the sport is for me.

The sport gives you what you bring to it, and the fighters you've chosen, often choose you.

Now lets watch some guys, punch each other in the face.

e-mail Jeff Pryor Read more!

The Boxing Bulletin Pound-For-Pound Top 15

By Lee Payton

Photo © Justin McKie

It's time for another update to The Boxing Bulletin's list of the best fighters in the world.

With none of the top 5 in action since our last vote, there are no changes to the upper third of our list, but Vic Darchinyan who was number 6 last time has slipped all the way down to 15 after his unanimous decision loss to Joseph Agbeko.

There are also a couple names appearing for the first time as Timothy Bradley (pictured) and Carl Froch have cracked our top 15.

Bradley got a boost from his abbreviated and controversial victory over Nate Campbell this past weekend, while Froch benefited from my instruction to our writers to go with their gut this time out. I think it usually takes most P4P lists a little bit of time to catch up with the current reality, as past accomplishments are given too much weight relative to present ability.

Also effected by those instructions have been Ivan Calderon who slipped from 8 down to 11, and Juan Manuel Lopez who jumped from 10 up to 7.

1. Manny Pacquiao (vs Miguel Cotto - November 14) He's used to this spot by now. Negotiations for a fight with Miguel Cotto are currently ongoing, although it seems certain that the fight will get done. Pacquiao is the fastest fighter on this list. Thinking about it, I'm struggling to come up with someone who ever had faster fists. 2. Juan Manuel Marquez (vs Floyd Mayweather - September 19) Boxing's Maestro is set to show off his stuff against slippery former P4Per, Floyd Mayweather. Don't be surprised if he adds Money's '0' to his trophy case. 3. Bernard Hopkins Hard 'Nard can do it all, even well into his 40's. Apparently, he's ready to square off with the winner of the Dawson-Johnson rematch next time he steps into the ring. A true master in all things fistic, including picking his big money (and glory) spots. 4. Shane Mosley Perhaps the hardest hitter on this list. Shane is nothing more than a tank these days. He's got brutal power, a titanium chin and a willingness to war. That seems to be enough to scare the big names away. 5. Paul Williams(vs Kelly Pavlik - October 3) Many feel Paul Williams is the most dangerous guy on the block. They may be right. The details haven't been finalized, but word is he'll be doing battle with Kelly Pavlik in October, and in my opinion he should probably be the favourite. 6. Chad Dawson (up 1, vs Glen Johnson - November 7) Bad Chad is in for another gut check against a guy who gives you no choice but to fight. Will it be the same thing we saw last year, or has the young man learned a thing or two along the way? If he can convincingly beat Glen Johnson, he could very well find himself in the top 5. 7. Juan Manuel Lopez (up 3, vs Rogers Mtagawa - October 10) The big punching Puerto Rican is here more on style and potential than anything else. One of the very best things about this fighter is how often he fights compared to the others on the list. When the next big fight comes, he'll be ready. 8. Nonito Donaire (up 1, vs Rafael Concepcion - August 15) Finally seems to be getting his career back on track. This is a guy who has all the physical tools, he just needs the opportunity to prove his worth. We haven't forgotten what he did to Darchinyan, but the memory is getting a little fuzzy. 9. Miguel Cotto (up 3, vs Manny Pacquiao - November 14) Some would argue that he is the most vulnerable fighter on the list right now based on how he looked vs. Clottey last time out. The opponent deserves a lot of credit for that, but there might be something to the Margarito theory. He has a massive opportunity in front of him in Pacquiao... 10. Fernando Montiel (up 1) Another guy who can do plenty in the ring, but whose career has been rather frustrating. He's got a lot of miles out of the win over Martin Castillo, but you wonder how long that will last. It seems further away with each list we do. 11. Ivan Calderon (down 3, vs Rodel Mayol - September 12) Had a tough one last time out. He can clean that up with a rematch that is on the table. Probably the best pure boxer on here. He hits and doesn't get hit as well as anyone in the sport. 12. Mikkel Kessler (up 1, vs Gusmyl Perdomo - September 12) We rejoiced when his participation in the Super Six tournament became official. It's recently come out that some old promotional issues have resurfaced, but let's all hope he remains a part of the awesome event. 13. Timothy Bradley (NEW, TKO3 over Nate Campbell - August 1) The Campbell fight was far too short to get a real handle on, but it's possible that we were too late in adding him to the top 15. What he lacks in power he makes up for in conditioning, quickness, a solid jab and a good head on his shoulders. Those attributes combined mean more than the ability to end things quickly. 14. Carl Froch (NEW, vs Andre Dirrell - October 17) The Cobra is going to make you earn it. There is no easy way out against him. He'll be there for 12 and he swinging to take your head off. He takes on young, undefeated Andre Dirrell in the first round of the 168 lb tourney. If he's a true P4P player, he'll introduce the newcomer to a whole new realm of pain. 15. Vic Darchinyan (Down 9, Lost UD to Joseph Agbeko - July 11) Vic manages to stay on the list after his failed attempt to add a title at 118 lbs. However, that doesn't erase his quality work to this point. He can still be a beast at 115, and could also probably beat some other top bantamweights not named Agbeko. Just missing the cut... Celestino Caballero, Lucian Bute, Rafael Marquez, Wladimir Klitschko & Kelly Pavlik Also receiving votes... Hozumi Hasagawa, Glen Johnson, Jean Pascal, David Haye, Ricky Hatton, Tomasz Adamek, Chris John, Joshua Clottey, Arthur Abraham & Juan Diaz Not ranked due to inactivity... Israel Vasquez & Floyd Mayweather To make our top 15, a fighter must have had at least 1 bout during the previous 12 months.

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The Boxing Bulletin Pound-For-Pound Top 15

With nearly two months worth of fights in the book since our last P4P list, we decided it was about time to update our top 15.

With many of the top names inactive since our last update, there isn't too much movement, but you'll notice there are some changes in position from #6 on down, as well as the reappearance of Rafael Marquez who returned to action after more than a year off.

Photos © Ray Kasprowicz

1. Manny Pacquiao The Filipino Fighting Machine looks unstoppable right now. In May he added The 140 lb World Title to his collection with a spectacular 2 round destruction of Ricky Hatton and made himself the biggest star in boxing. Reported to be up next for Pacquiao is another P4Per in Miguel Cotto, who will have a significant size advantage over the Pacman when they meet. 2. Juan Manuel Marquez (vs Floyd Mayweather - September 19) Marquez proved that fighting the Pacquiao even over 2 contests was much more than a style thing when he became the first to knock out both Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz. The World's Lightweight Champion now has his sights set on Money. He'll be taking on former P4P #1 Mayweather in September at 144 lbs. He's the best Floyd has fought in years. 3. Bernard Hopkins He's got it all. Perhaps the most complete fighter to come along in the last 2 decades. We haven't seen the old master since his complete handling of Kelly Pavlik last year, but it seems like he's shopping around for a farewell. 4. Shane Mosley Old Sugar Shane has some of the same stuff that made the old version of Sugar Ray Robinson so great. He's hitting like a truck right now and still has that granite jaw. You're not going to beat this guy with firepower. Sadly, he's stuck in a familiar spot- coming off a huge win with nowhere to go for another splash. 5. Paul Williams You know what's scary about The Punisher? He hasn't even reached his peak yet. His mix of size, energy, body attack and will make him a dangerous opponent for anyone from 147-168. If he continues to improve, we could be looking at the future of P4P. I certainly think so. 6. Vic Darchinyan (up 1, vs Joseph Agbeko - July 11) Darchinyan wasted no time rebounding from his first loss to Donaire. He got right back on the horse, took on the best available opponents, and that's why he's as high on the list as he is. In July we'll see his special brand of violent offense against a rugged bantamweight, King Kong Agbeko. 7. Chad Dawson (up 1, UD over Antonio Tarver - May 9) Bad Chad has rare athletic talent that makes you think of a prime Roy Jones. He's loaded with gifts and appears to have a good head on his shoulders. The man knows his game, but he'll dig down and scrap with ya too, as we saw in his fight with Glen Johnson. We get to see it again later this year! 8. Ivan Calderon (down 2, Draw vs Rodel Mayol - June 13) Iron Boy dropped a couple of notches after his 6 round technical draw against Rodel Mayol last month. Despite being so good for so long, he'll have to do better in his next outing to keep his name on the list. Still, no one else on here does the "hit and don't get hit" thing better than this guy. At 34, he's lasted longer than most fighters around his weight thanks to his impeccable defensive skills. 9. Nonito Donaire (up 1, vs Rafael Concepcion - August 15) He destroyed #6, but hasn't done much since. Donaire is scheduled to fight for some interim strap in August against a guy he should definitely beat. Far from inspiring stuff. He's young and full of talent, but he'll need to get a little busier against better opposition if he's to keep moving up the list. 10. Juan Manuel Lopez (up 2, TKO 9 over Olivier Lontchi - June 27) Lopez has had all the right moves so far. Earlier in the year he went loco on the cranium of Gerry Penalosa, and just pounded out the formerly undefeated Olivier Lontchi last Saturday night. While guys like Marquez and Vazquez are far more grizzled, and perhaps more respected, there are many who would pick the young stud to upset either man in the ring. 11. Fernando Montiel Montiel made his debut on the P4P lists with a shocking blowout of Martin Castillo at 115 lbs a year and a half ago. Since that time he's moved up to bantamweight, but hasn't really done much more. At 30 years old, now is the time to make a serious move if he's going to make some good money and create a legacy. 12. Miguel Cotto (down 3, SD 12 over Joshua Clottey - June 13) Cotto did just enough to eek past Clottey, and his reward is 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao later this year. Many feel that perhaps Cotto has fallen off a little since the Margarito fight. While it's possible, I think you have to give Clottey's defense a lot of credit for shutting the Puerto Rican down. Either way, he's going to need all his ammo to deal with Manny. 13. Mikkel Kessler Maybe the most frustrating situation in boxing. Kessler sits atop the absolutely loaded 168 lb division, yet he doesn't fight. Think of all the fun to be had at super middle right now... he might miss out on it because of some managerial issues that have kept him on the shelf for way too long now. UGH! 14. Rafael Marquez (NEW, TKO3 over Jose Mendoza - May 23) The younger Marquez got back into the ring after a year or so, stopping his first opponent in 3 rounds. We're still not exactly sure where he's at, but his deadly power makes him dangerous for anyone. While a fourth fight with Vazquez is possible, I'm not sure it's for the best or if I'll be able to watch. The trilogy is as perfect as it gets in boxing. Let's leave it at that for their sake. 15. Celestino Caballero His last effort was not his best at all. The struggle to make 122 lbs finally caught up with the lanky Panamanian bomber, who is now moving up to 126. Perhaps he's not the most popular choice in this "what have you done for me lately" business, but you can't argue with his overall resume. I think he'll do just fine at featherweight, and I'm looking forward to his debut there. Caballero-Gamboa anyone? Just missing the cut... David Haye, Lucian Bute, Glen Johnson, Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham & Timothy Bradley Also receiving votes... Wladimir Klitchko, Ricky Hatton, Nate Campbell, Kelly Pavlik, Chris John, Jean Pascal, Hozumi Hasagawa, Joshua Clottey & Juan Diaz Not ranked due to inactivity... Israel Vasquez & Floyd Mayweather To make our top 15, a fighter must have had at least 1 bout during the previous 12 months.

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Breaking It Down: Hopkins vs Trinidad Revisited

Welcome to The Boxing Bulletin's new feature series, Breaking It Down.

In this first edition, Michael Nelson revisits the 2001 middleweight title contest between Bernard Hopkins and Felix Trinidad, and takes a look at just how the masterful Hopkins made it look so easy.

My friend looked at me with a skeptical eye when I said that Bernard Hopkins was going to knock Oscar De La Hoya out. "You always pick against De La Hoya," he noted.

Can't say the man didn't have a point. I had been tabbing De La Hoya to lose in nearly all of his major fights since 1997.

After trying to convince him that I was picking Hopkins more because of his tactical brilliance than my personal biases, he asked me for evidence.

I went to the Hopkins DVD set I had accrued a few years prior. There were a number of fights I could have pulled out - the fourth round destruction of the quicker, but smaller Joe Lipsy. The relentless pounding of Glen Johnson. The revenge exacted on Robert Allen after a lackluster no contest (Bernard's 'Montel Griffin II' moment). The cunning performance against KO artist Antwun Echols.

But anything other than Hopkins' masterpiece against Felix Trinidad on September 29, 2001 wouldn't have sufficed. For one, Hopkins was the underdog against a known commodity, future hall of famer, and consensus top three pound-for-pounder. He was forced to be on his 'A' game.

Two, it was a rare fight where the ring intelligence displayed was so stunning, it was apparent to those who don't watch boxing on a regular basis. Far from just running around and pot-shotting, Hopkins would outmaneuver Tito from the outside and pick him apart with jabs one minute, then outmaneuver him on the inside and pick him apart with uppercuts the next.

Let's take a look at some of the nuances that helped make my friend see the light.

:58, Round 2 - Hopkins makes his presence felt for the first time in the fight. He lands a hard counter jab, circles Trinidad without moving out of range, and lands two more hard jabs within 6 seconds. In contrast to the skittish dance around the ring Oscar presented Tito with, there's little wasted movement. At the five second mark, Hopkins lands a strong right hand that definitively gives him the round.

2:45, Round 4 - Hopkins comes out moving forward in an aggressive stance. As a consequence, he eats a counter left hand that snaps his head back, perhaps Trinidad's best punch of the fight. Hopkins decides to step back and lure Tito into traps, rolling his shoulders and landing a few of his own counter punches.

2:25, Round 5 - Naazim Richardson is calling for the 36 year old to take "the young boy to school". Bernard promptly abides. Hopkins' feints are getting Trinidad all out of sorts this round; Tito gets stuck with a jab, then bites on a feint and gets cracked with a clubbing right hand.

1:03, Round 6 - With his back to the corner, Hopkins persuades Trinidad into delivering a left hook by throwing a left uppercut and giving the impression he was open to a counter. He blocks the hook and counters with a right cross. It's not a hard punch, but old man Hops notes that Tito took the bait.

:46, Round 7 - Hopkins does a move that he's done in previous fights when he feints with a right hand and catches Trinidad out of position with a hard blow to the ear. He drops another right as soon as Trinidad regains position and slides to the side. It's a sequence that requires footwork and balance not many fighters possess.

:12, Round 8 - George Foreman, while clearly biased towards Trinidad for most of the night, makes a good observation: "All night, Trinidad has been trying to lay on Hopkins' left hand, and Hopkins seems to get his left hand out of the trap and hold Trinidad. If he's able to just lay on Hopkins' left hand once, he's gonna get him with the overhand right." Catching opponents coming out of a clinch had been one of Tito's bread-and-butter moves throughout his career. Hopkins neutralized it by pinning Tito's arms and stepping out of range before Tito could respond with a right hand. The times Trinidad did manage to lay on Bernard's left hand, Hopkins made sure to duck down and get his left up quickly enough to at least partially block the overhand right.

Whether inside, mid-range, or outside, Trinidad had much difficulty making solid contact on Bernard.

2:16, Round 10 - Hopkins revisits the maneuver he pulled in the 6th round by baiting Trinidad with a left uppercut, blocking the counter left hook, and dropping a right cross. He still doesn't throw it with full force, but it lands solidly enough to elicit a reaction from the crowd.

2:03, Round 12 - Hopkins baits Trinidad with another left uppercut, and once again, Tito bites. This time he puts all his weight into the cross and deposits him on the canvas. Felix struggles up at the count of 9, but his father saves him from further punishment. Just as Hopkins predicted.

The old professor would go on to have a few more great performances as an underdog in his career, and he may have one or two more inside of him yet. But whenever I'm asked about the purest example of the sweet science I can think of, the Trinidad fight will not be far from my grasp.

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Next Challenge for BHop: Adamek's Cruiserweight Title

By Lee Payton

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

Bernard Hopkins will try to add the World Cruiserweight Title to a personal collection that already includes undisputed gold at middleweight and light heavyweight, when he challenges champion, Tomasz Adamek of Poland. The deal is not 100% done, but there is an agreement to fight, probably in July.

Hopkins has already had an amazing career that is sure to get him an invite to Canastota, NY, as soon as he is eligible, so why fight at his age? Why not? He is still one of the very best in the world, and his skills tend to keep him from absorbing the kind of damage that most old guys take if they stick around long enough. In fact, he's so defensively sound that after 12 rounds, you're usually left struggling to remember him taking a clean shot.

He's a one of a kind fighter who is trying to do something special; be the only fighter in history to win undisputed titles from 160 to 200 lbs. That bit of history would look great engraved into his Hall Of Fame plaque.

Should the stubborn old geezer prevail in his bid for a third World Championship, he will have beaten Felix Trinidad, Antonio Tarver and Adamek to get there. Not bad, but there's room to nitpick.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. They have to fight the fight. And while I believe Bernard will just pull out the plan he used to embarrass Kelly Pavlik, the rugged Pole has demonstrated a refusal to surrender that will keep him in the fight for as long as it lasts.

Tomasz Adamek is a proven tough guy, who can't be in a bad fight. As a title holder at 175, he gutted out 2 bruising decisions over hard Aussie, Paul Briggs, and dropped the classy Chad Dawson in a losing cause. I couldn't possibly do justice to his incredible title-winning victory over Philadelphian, Steve Cunningham in one of 2008's very best fights. If you have seen it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't... find a copy!

The champ brings his own set of advantages to the dance, of course. The most obvious being size, strength and brutal power, especially in his brick of a right hand. It's a fight-changing punch delivered with impressive accuracy and speed from a short distance. In many of his highlight reel moments, a blow that travels a mere 6 inches does the damage. It will certainly be the hardest blow the Hopkins has ever tasted.

Assuming Adamek can land one.

In most cases bigger, stronger, more powerful, with a sturdy beard is more than enough, but in Hopkins, he's facing a tactician who has made a career out of taking away the other guy's favourite weapon. I see Tomasz doing a lot more searching than punching in this one.

Is it just me or is it crazy that the former Middleweight Champion is considered by most to be a virtual lock to beat the best 200 lber in the world... at 43. Some fighter.


While you're here...

Golden Boy Promotions' "Lightweight Lightning" is looking like a very attractive fight card, even without La Hiena, Jorge Barrios. I've had a soft spot for Jesus Chavez for years now. Remember when he fought Erik Morales for about 10 rounds with just his left arm?! If anyone deserves a break, it's him, but I don't think Michael Katsidis will have much sympathy.


I know the winner of the Sam Peter-Eddie Chambers fight will probably receive a high ranking by one of the sanctioning organizations, but I have to question this decision by Peter's management team. Surely they could have found an easier target. I mean, what's the point of having a big punching heavyweight if you don't get him someone he can hit?


Word is everyone's favourite TV fighter, John Ruiz, is in line for another shot. The WBA loves this guy. Over the last 10 years (!) he's either held their belt, been the #1 contender for their belt, or fought in an eliminator for their belt. It hurts me that Evander Holyfield is being sucked into the black hole that is their rankings. Spare me The Real Deal vs. Drummond/Chagaev/Ruiz IV.

e-mail Lee Payton

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New Boxing Bulletin P4P List

As expected, Shane Mosley's victory over Antonio Margarito this past Saturday night has caused a slight shake-up on The Boxing Bulletin's P4P list. Sugar Shane is in and the Tijuana Tornado is out.


1. Manny Pacquiao
2. Juan Manuel Marquez
3. Joe Calzaghe
4. Bernard Hopkins
5. Israel Vazquez
6. Rafael Marquez
7. Shane Mosley
8. Paul Williams
9. Ivan Calderon
10. Chad Dawson
11. Miguel Cotto
12. Vic Darchinyan

Also receiving votes: Ricky Hatton, Nonito Donaire, Mikkel Kessler, Glen Johnson, Fernando Montiel, Arthur Abraham

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Naazim Richardson: Words of Wisdom

By Michael Nelson

Within the course of a little over three months, Naazim Richardson's training has culminated into two dominating, all-time performances. And while his pupils, Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley, are first ballot hall-of-famers with a deep depository of championship experience and knowledge, they were also both 4-1 underdogs against men who were supposed to effectively end their careers. My guess is you'll have to reach deep into the archives to find another trainer who achieved a similar feat in such a short period of time.

Although Naazim Richardson is a relatively new face to most boxing fans, those who have followed Bernard Hopkins' career closely should be familiar with him. He has been the booming voice heard throughout nearly every fight of Hopkins' career since the late 90s (working as a 2nd assist to lead trainer Bouie Fisher).

"Pop that chain, X! He don't know what to do with the jab!", he constantly screamed during Hopkins' fight with Felix Trinidad. Listen closely during that legendary performance and you can hear Naazim call for a right uppercut in the 10th round, prompting Hopkins to blast Trinidad with several of them, including the one that staggered him at the end of the round.

Similarly, you can hear him Naazim call for a body shot during the 9th round of Bernard's fight with Oscar De La Hoya, shortly before Oscar fell for the count from a left hook to the liver. There are countless other examples of wisdom being splayed from the sharp eye and tongue of Naazim during a Hopkins fight.

But it wasn't until he became the main trainer for Hopkins, and then Shane Mosley, did the splendor of this virtuoso strategist fall under spotlight. Let's take a look at some of his most poignant moments in the corner.

"You can't let him steal the play from you… everytime he swings, they score it for him, whether (the punches) hit or not."

"You're doing enough to beat the man, now you need to do enough to beat the politics."

"Stay up in the pocket like a quarterback, and fire. Step up in the pocket, I need you ten yards down… X, they're gonna give him this fight!" – Naazim during Hopkins vs. Taylor II

In a fight where his man lost, Naazim provided not only astute insight, but stole the words from Hopkins fans viewing the event around the world. Sure, I and perhaps the majority of observers, thought Bernard was doing enough to beat Taylor in their rematch fought in December of 2005. But we knew that the judges gave Jermaine every close round in the first fight, and that was likely going to be the case here. We knew that Jermaine threw the showier, more eye- catching punches, whether they connected solidly or not. And we understood that Jermaine was annoited the leader of the new school, and thus likely to be given close decisions against men who were
thought to be near retirement.

So when Richardson implored Bernard to step up in the pocket and fire off combinations from mid-range, we nodded our head in agreement. Jumping in with single right hands immediately preceding a clinch wasn't going to do it. The judges were giving more credence to the hitched right crosses bouncing loudly off of Hopkins' shoulders; largely ineffective shots, but shots that nevertheless left an impression on the only ones scoring the fight that mattered. When he demanded that Hopkins to 'stop being cute, and whoop that ass', he knew that more had to be done to beat the politics.

Hopkins was unable or unwilling to do what was necessary to take apart Jermaine Taylor in decisive fashion. But in his first real exposure as a lead trainer, Naazim Richardson showed perceptivity seldom seen between rounds.

"You see the upshot is there, he don't know about this!"

"Ain't nobody ever jab with this joker, and they made this joker a superstar. He ain't never faced nobody with a jab yet, and they already made him a star!" – Naazim during Hopkins vs. Pavlik

This isn't entirely accurate, as Jermaine Taylor, who Pavlik fought twice, has a strong jab. But Hopkins' most dominant weapon throughout his career has been his counter jab. He's a master at pulling back just enough to make an opponent's jab fall an inch or two short, then immediately sticking his own jab hard before his foe regains position. Along with his footwork and feints, it handcuffs his opponent's punch output, and goes a long way in explaining why everyone Bernard faces throws half the punches they are accustomed to throwing. Naazim was right, Pavlik was encountering something he's never seen before. Taylor's jab was there, but Pavlik still outjabbed him throughout their two bouts. Pavlik's jab against Hopkins was hitting nothing but air and glove, and he was getting repeatedly stung in the nose with sharp jabs in return for his trouble.

The 'upshot' was a wrinkle that took Kelly by surpise as well. Bernard consistently and accurately shot a half hook, half uppercut up through the middle of Pavlik's gloves. He buckled Pavlik's knees with it in the second round and damaged his right eye. Naazim and Bernard no doubt studied tape, took note of where Pavlik kept his gloves while defending himself, and saw that the upshot was an exemplary tool to
take apart Pavlik's defense.

"This guy ain't used to getting it back to the body. Take that jab, keeping popping them up, stab him in the heart, rip around them sides. We're gonna show him how a guy slows down. When he hits the pedal, ain't gonna be no gas in the car at the end of this… run your combinations, knock the grease off this dude. Then swim without getting wet. Slide to your stick, slide to your angle." – Naazim during Mosley vs. Margarito

Within the first 30 seconds of his fight with Antonio Margarito, Mosley stuck a hard counter right hand to Margarito's sternum that stopped Margarito dead in his racks. Margarito got Mosley's message loud and clear: you may have earned the designation as boxing's premier body puncher with what you've done against lesser men than me,
but tonight, I 'm taking my crown back.

Mosley's dazzling work downstairs Saturday night reminded longtime fans of how he knocked out more opponents with body punches than he did with head punches back in his lightweight days. Time and time again he jolted Antonio with a hard hook to the liver or right hand to the gut, which allowed him to slam a continuous string of right hands and hooks into Antonio's presumably indestructible chin. And as Naazim noted, with each withering body punch, more gas leaked out of Margarito's tank. Entering the second half of the fight, Marg pressed the pedal to little effect.

That wasn't the only genius part of Mosley and Naazim's gameplan. HBO commentators Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, and Emanuel Steward postulated on what exactly 'swim without getting wet' meant. Merchant was most likely right when he said it meant to engage without getting hit in return, but Naazim Richardson explained it best himself in an interview with Dougie Fisher weeks before the fight:

"Boxing Margarito is a difficult task… he carouls you, he fights you enough just to put you where he wants to put you, and then tries to exploit you from that position. What you have to do is never give up your position. You can slide, but not try to bounce around and move and run. You're just going to wear yourself out."

Miguel Cotto was getting very wet in his move-move-stop-exchange-move strategy against Margarito in last year's fight of the year candidate. Eventually, the current became too strong to avoid getting pulled underneath for good. Mosley evaded the waves by using his superior strength to grapple with Margarito on the inside, bully him to the ropes, and go to work on his midsection. He slid from side to side, gave angles, and avoided the brunt of Margarito's onslaught without expending unnecessary energy.

I look forward to seeing Naazim Richardson in the corner of more boxers in the future, and seeing what his son, 140 pound prospect Rock Allen, can do as well. Win or lose, you can expect him to bring the best out of his fighters. And if nothing else, you can expect to be both educated and entertained by his corner talk.

e-mail Michael Nelson
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Bernard Hopkins: Eight is Enough (Part 3 of 3)

By Jeff Pryor

As noted in part two of this look at Bernard Hopkins' opposition possibilities, there are yet a few challenges available. Aside from those names, to be sure there are others calling out Bernard Hopkins; Mikkel Kessler and Sakio Bika come to mind. They, like a few others on the preceding list (Glen Johnson in particular, and Roy Jones Jr. too) have little, perhaps no, chance at landing a shot at Hopkins now.

One could argue a third go around with Jermain Taylor might be viable, should "Bad Intentions" quickly find a belt at Super Middleweight, but the fans wouldn't want it, and I would think that Hopkins has found a measure of redemption in so comprehensively dismantling Kelly Pavlik, who beat Taylor twice. (just as I believe Hopkins may have found some solace in having dominated the Antonio Tarver who felled Roy Jones Jr. and so gained a measure of atonement for his early loss to Jones all those years ago).

One man certainly not calling out "The Executioner" is Kelly Pavlik. Though after the bout Pavlik was quick to point out that it wasn't that Hopkins was so good, just that he, Pavlik, couldn't do anything in there for some mysterious reason, "The Ghost" hasn't been haunting the Golden Boy offices for a rematch, and seemed more than content to return to the drawing board against a less skilled contender for his next bout.

So in the end there are few viable options for Bernard Hopkins. Ultimately, above all else, he wants Calzaghe. Wisely, Calzaghe, who was embarrassed by his own performance in their fight, doesn't fancy a second go around.

Chad Dawson remains a possibility should he spectacularly dispatch Tarver in the unnecessary rematch. In such a case perhaps enough buzz would build for Hopkins to consider going to war with yet another young lion, though it remains doubtful. What's left are two distinct paths; one leads off into the sunset. Off to a quiet life in Delaware, with wife and daughter to enjoy the spoils of an awe inspiring career. The other path leads to yet another challenge, in a division twenty five pounds north. Another champion to face down. Another chapter in an outstanding story. And then, finally perhaps, he could retire.

But would he? What if David Haye upset a Klitschko, would the undersized Heavyweight be targeted for execution? If Hopkins is still considering a life in boxing, then he has surely thought about where every move may take him and where he steps out.

Eight years is a long time. A man who fights on, eight or more years after his prime, who faces the best fighters in the world, time after time, has also faced the question of retirement after each ensuing bout. He asks himself if he should continue, and each of those internal conflicts has likely gotten harder and harder as the years have rolled on.

Bernard Hopkins could have retired anytime within the last eight years. Anytime within the last twelve fights. Yet so far he has beaten back every one of those thoughts of retirement. And so it is, as it has been for nearly a decade after each of his fights... If he retires after obliterating Pavlik, no one would have a qualm, his legacy would last, as is. His greatness lying not just in how he performed within the ring, against the best fighters in the world, but in how his mind demanded more of himself, all of himself... the best of himself.

Eight is enough? Only one man knows the answer.

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Bernard Hopkins: Eight is Enough (Part 2 of 3)

By Jeff Pryor

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

As Bernard Hopkins said while debuting as the newest addition to ESPN's Friday Night Fights broadcast team this past week, there are not many, but few options available to the aging warrior. The relative few who may provide a final foil are...

Chad Dawson (pictured):
No longer the future of the Light Heavy Weight division, with his win over Antonio Tarver he has stamped himself as the present. He's been calling on "The Executioner" for a fight, as Calzaghe has turned him down.

Reason to Execute:
Taking down Dawson, like his victory over Pavlik, removes any lingering debate over whether his Middleweight run benefited from the lack of good young competition to press him. Dawson may turn out to be the next generations marquee talent, and notching his name this late in a career would further Hopkins' claim as the era's greatest fighter, one willing to take on the biggest and best challengers regardless of their youth or dangerousness, at a time when he has no need to prove anything.

Reason to Waive it Off:
What does Chad bring to the table? He beat Tarver? Hopkins dominated Tarver 3 years ago. He struggled against, but beat Glen Johnson? Hopkins destroyed Johnson when Glen was undefeated. He's got a meaningless belt? Yep, meaningless. He has name recognition? No he doesn't. He brings money to the table? Uh uh. If Bernard wins, he's the Light Heavy champ of the world? No he isn't. He allows Bhop to prove he can tangle with the youngsters? Already did it spectacularly with Pavlik. He gets to pass the baton on to Dawson? He tried it with Taylor, didn't work out. He tried it with Pavlik, and may have derailed a budding superstar.


Joe Calzaghe:
The last remaining great contemporary of Hopkins'. Calzaghe has remained undefeated despite his scare in early 2008 against "The Executioner".

Reason to Execute:
Though Hopkins has never made an excuse for his down-the-stretch-fade during their bout, in the immediate aftermath, it was thought that the sheer output from Calzaghe tuckered the ageless wonder out. While that may have had a bearing on what occurred, sometime after the match Hopkins' trainer Freddie Roach revealed that Bernard had been suffering from a thyroid condition for the Calzaghe bout, a condition whose chief symptom is extreme fatigue. Conditioning trainer extraordinaire Mackie Shilstone had tried to control it with diet. According to the doctors Roach consulted, that's a pretty tough task.

While Hopkins was fresh (meaning the first 6 rounds) in their fight, he controlled the pace and Calzaghe like no one ever has before, knocking the Welshman down and cutting his noted output with movement and timing. Even slowing visibly, Hopkins narrowly lost the split decision while Calzage was left to resort to awkward flailing in order to get the volume up high enough to squeak out a poster boy for quantity-over-quality wins. Still many ringside and within the media had the bout scored in Hopkins' favor. The return bout would be huge across the pond, a trip which Hopkins has stated he would be glad to make, in order to get the opportunity to avenge an unjustified loss in his eyes..

Reason to Waive it Off:
For Hopkins there is little reason to avoid the rematch, and in fact he has called loudly for it. Calzaghe's punch power is very slim and while he threw more punches in the fight, the quality was quite inferior as illustrated by HBO's necessity of showing a glancing right hand as chief highlight of the punishment Joe managed to dish out, in all their related promo's since that fight. Seeing as compubox reported that he had landed more punches than any opponent ever had against Bhop, one would have imagined they naturally might have had a rich variety of devastating blows to choose from as highlights; apparently this was not the case.


Glen Johnson:
"The Road Warrior" deserves any big fight he can get, but a close loss to Dawson makes it a hard sell. Perhaps a possible bout (and win) against Adrian Diaconu for the WBC belt would sweeten the pot.

Reason to Execute:
Their is a history between Hopkins and Johnson; their first bout dating back over eleven years found Glen Johnson in deep waters for the first time in an undefeated campaign. A rematch after all these years would serve as nice circuity in both mens careers. As a senior's tour match-up, they don't get much better than this.

Reason to waive it Off:
Glencoffe lost to Dawson in '08; a disputed loss, (with which Hopkins could surely empathize), however lacking real drawing power, Johnson would be a decided step down in value for Hopkins, who has been facing pound for pound, marquee fighters for the last half a decade and not blue collar bangers like Johnson. Additionally, he almost certainly couldn't better the dominating performance he put in during their first go around. It becomes clear the reward simply doesn't come anywhere near the risk.


Roy Jones Jr.:
A relatively decent showing against Trinidad was all but obliterated by his performance against Calzaghe. It had to be a disappointment for Hopkins to watch Roy take a beating, when even a competitive showing would have preserved the chances of a rematch.

Reason to Execute:
Surely even now some part of Hopkins' wants the rematch he's pined for since their first bout nearly 16 years ago. Even the shell of his former self that Roy Jones is, provides a decent payday, especially considering the relatively negligible risk attached.

Reason to Waive it Off:
The disparity between competitiveness in each man's bouts with Calzaghe tells you all you need to know about who the better man is these days. Hopkins knows it, and he's said as much. A bout against Jones at this stage would likely sully his reputation more than a win against him would do to add to it.


Tomasz Adamek:
The reigning Cruiser weight champion brawler, hot off his fight of the year victory over Philly fighter Steve Cunningham

Reason to Execute:
Talk of an all Philadelphia showdown against Cunningham was likely halted with the defeat of said fighter, however the man who bested him has said he is ready and willing to take on "The Executioner". In Adamek, The Cruiser weight Ring Champion, Hopkins has a straight forward fighter and a great opportunity to walk away with another legitimate championship in a new division.

Physically, the height and reach of the two men is almost identical. When Hopkins stepped in the ring against Antonio Tarver he weighed in at 182 pounds, and in the words of Jim Lampley, looked "immaculate", another ten or fifteen pounds would likely sit just fine on his frame. As for their ring styles, Adamek keeps his left low and relies on big right hands; it's not hard to envision Hopkins circling to his right, completely neutralizing the Polish Pugilists chief weapon, the right hand (just as he did with Pavlik) while launching his own overhand rights atop the lowered left glove of his foe. Adamek took more flush, head snapping, shots in his last fight than Hopkins has in all of his 56 fights combined. Hopkins would likely hold the speed advantage and the ring generalship he would employ could frustrate Adamek for huge stretches at a time.

How much higher can Hopkins' all-time status fly? Beating the Cruiser weight champ, forty pounds above his best weight, at age forty four... unprecedented in the history of the sport.

Reasons to Waive it Off:
Fighting the Cruiser weight champ, forty pounds above your best weight, at age forty four? That's unprecedented in the sport... for a reason. Adamek is a big puncher and he's got the type of character that won't break or be discouraged by getting popped by clean counters for twelve rounds, he will keep coming until the end. If Hopkins gasses out as he did in the Calzaghe fight, Adamek can close the show. It's also impossible to know how a fighter will carry the weight up.

Though hopkins looked good at 182 pounds for Tarver, at some point fighters moving up reach a limit. It's high risk, high reward and how many fighters can claim to have fought the premiere middleweight puncher one fight, and the premiere cruiser weight puncher the next? But at what point does the risk no longer make sense?

We'll take one final look at Bernard's options tomorrow...

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Bernard Hopkins: Eight is Enough? (Part 1 of 3)

by Jeff Pryor

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

Eight years is a long time. It was eight years ago that Bernard Hopkins annihilated Felix Trinidad. At the time, Trinidad was on top of the sport both as a financial draw and among a handful of fighters discussed as the preeminent pound for pound fighter of the day. As he stepped down from the squared circle that September evening, having proven his critics wrong and silenced the partisan crowd on his way to knocking out the Puerto Rican icon, Hopkins was thirty six years old, already past his prime and had just finished his forty third fight in an eleven year career.

He'd defended his middleweight title a record tying fourteen times and with that surprising and dominating performance had unequivocally stamped his ticket to Canastota and gotten his name into the conversation of mythical middleweight match-up's along with the Hagler's and the Monzon's. Had he called it a career that night, few would argue he had more to prove and the vast majority of pugilists to don gloves at any point after would not get within sniffing distance of his accomplishments.

As the undisputed, unified, Middleweight champion, Hopkins went on to defend his titles an additional five times, bringing the tally to a record setting twenty defenses. Had he retired then, their would have been no qualms. Instead, he decided to take on the middleweight heir apparent, thirteen years his junior, Jermain Taylor and lost a highly controversial split decision. The rematch was equally disputed, and following the two losses the time for retirement seemed nigh.

Tempting the fates Hopkins dared for one last grasp at greatness. He moved north fifteen pounds to challenge the Ring Champion and consensus best Light Heavyweight fighter in the world, Antonio Tarver. After a domination recalling the Trinidad performance five years earlier, Hopkins was on top of a new division. Had he retired (in fact he did briefly) his legacy was secure. The short lived retirement by the way side, he then took on top three pound for pound player Winky Wright and became the first man to decisively defeat the defensive specialist in over a decade.

Despite the victory, active calls for retirement were gaining steam and in response Hopkins took on another top three pound for pound fighter in the undefeated Joe Calzaghe. Scoring a knockdown, but losing another disputed split decision. Even the Hopkins faithful could not fail to see the way the old master began to fade the second half of the fight.

His stature having already been solidified for eight years now, Hopkins went back to the Pound for Pound list and found the only man around his weight there he had yet to face, the undefeated, undisputed middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. In as an underdog for the fourth fight in a row, once more Hopkins, now forty three, turned in a clinical dismantling of yet another elite prize fighter.

And if he retires now, a forty four year old on January 15th, he goes down as one of the all time greatest fighters to ever compete. But if he doesn't... what is left for the Philly Legend?

The options and challenges still available to "The Executioner" are relatively few. I'll run them down for you, keeping in mind the simple fact that Bernard Hopkins does not need to fight. Not for money, not even just to win. The only thing left is to add to his cadre of achievements and push his name further towards the very top of the all time list.

And so I will profile a few options as I believe Hopkins himself looks at any prospective bouts now, with historical relevance the dominant factor. As Bernard told me on the phone several weeks after his crowning victory over Pavlik, there isn't anything left out there for him and without an opponent by early 2009 he may just finally call it a career. In part two, tomorrow, we'll take a look at the few names that may yet grace "The Executioner's" ledger. Read more!