Timeless: Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins - By Jason Petock, Doghouse Boxing
Timeless: Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins
By Jason Petock, Doghouse Boxing (April 13, 2013) Doghouse Boxing
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Bernard Hopkins
In looking at the often coined saying of “Time waits for no man”, it is far more discernible that in the case of Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (53-6-2/32 KOs) such a notion as time is almost nonexistent, at least in the conventional sense of the concept that the rest of us are used to. Hopkins has continually defied the odds throughout his existence of not only Father Time but also the social and economic constraints of his youth, not to mention the penal system and has virtually silenced and stifled the majority of his disbelievers in the media along the way during almost every outing. As a boxer, he has made doubters believers, detractors his supporters and true fans out of once skeptics. Those who used to complain that Hopkins’ style was too boring now marvel at his longevity and craftiness in the squared circle. Bernard Hopkins has established himself during his extensive pugilistic legacy by unwaveringly rejecting the status quo and marching to the sound of his own drummer, all the while continuing to mature and expand his worth that much more, both inside and outside of the ring.

Some may still question his value to boxing of course. This is to be expected when you observe how overtly critical by nature boxing press tend to become over boxers and their careers in general. This is especially heightened when there are fighters who refuse to simply fade away, instead, they commit wholeheartedly to doing things on their own terms and in their own manner, regardless of what others have to say or think about it. Enter Bernard Hopkins. “B-Hop” has built a legacy unrivaled by most current day boxers in terms of boxing history and his continual quest for self improvement and transcendence. He is uniquely “Old School” not only in application of his craft but also in temperament and discipline. Hopkins would be genuinely right at home alongside the likes of Ezzard “The Cincinnati Cobra” Charles (93-25-1/52 KOs), “Jersey” Joe Wolcott (51-18-2/32 KOs), or Billy “Pittsburgh Kid” Conn (64-11-1/15 KOs) if he were ever given the unimaginable opportunity to do so. There is an enduring significance in everything that Bernard Hopkins has done up until this point in the discipline of boxing.

His resume reads like a dossier from fighters past. Hopkins made his bones early at the famed Blue Horizon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, typically winning by either TKO or KO against his opponents. As a professional prizefighter he has victories over the likes of Lupe Aquino (53-9-2/36 KOs), Antwun “Kid Dynamite” Echols (32-19-4/28 KOs) and more notably preferred media picks such as Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik (40-2/34 KOs), (who suffered his first loss to Hopkins as the then reigning Middleweight Champion), and Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya (39-6/30 KOs) to name only some. Bernard Hopkins broke George Foreman’s record as the oldest fighter to ever win a world title when he defeated then Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal (27-2-1/16 KOs) at 46 years old on December 18, 2010 for the WBC and IBO Light Heavyweight straps, a fighter that he routed again in their rematch on May 21, 2011. He then surpassed that accomplishment and one-upped himself by trumping his own record with a victory over Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (24-1/19 KOs) for the IBF Light Heavyweight title at the age of 48 on March 9, 2013.

Hopkins’ next challenge comes in the form of 29 year old German Light Heavyweight Karo Murat (25-1-1/15 KOs) on July 27th of this year for the IBF Light Heavyweight title at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. While little appears to be known about Murat, a quick scan over his record reveals a list of some noteworthy accomplishments during his stint on the European boxing scene. Murat beat Sean Corbin (15-3/10 KOs) for the WBO Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight title on January 30, 2010, as well as defeating Gabriel “Chico Guapo” Campillo (21-5-1/8 KOs) in the IBF Light Heavyweight title eliminator by SD in 12. Interestingly enough, Murat faced off against undefeated Welshman Nathan Cleverly (25-0/12 KOs) back in September 2010, where he lost by TKO in the 10th when the bout was called upon a doctor’s inspection of Murat. What makes this compelling is that their fight was the WBO Light Heavyweight title eliminator, and although Cleverly clearly has his eyes set on Hopkins, it is Murat (who he defeated) who is getting the shot. Nathan Cleverly will first have to face relatively unknown German fighter Robin Krasniqi (39-2/15 KOs) at Wembley Arena in London, England.

Rumor has it that Bernard Hopkins has apparently indicated some interest in a bout against Nathan Cleverly in the future, possibly in London. Cleverly will have to get past Robin Krasniqi first however, and then wait in line to fight the legend that Cleverly himself referred to as “the pinnacle name in the Light Heavyweight division”. If they should ever face off in the ring, for the Welshman’s sake at least, let’s hope that his namesake will be taken in a more literal sense and he will fight that way against “B-Hop”.

As far as masterful tacticians in the squared circle come, Hopkins is still one of the most adept and versatile fighters out there today. Even while pushing almost 50, he can easily make younger fighters look really bad on center stage while beating them up as well. Whereas time may be considered by some the longest distance between two places, Hopkins has proven that you can remove that distance with a single punch.

Should you have any questions, comments, concerns, or complaints that you would like to throw at Jason please don’t hesitate to e-mail him at boxingwarrior@hotmail.com. Your opinions matter.

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