Is Bernard Hopkins Taking Enrique Ornelas Too Lightly in the "Broad Street Brawl?"
By Ken Hissner (Dec 1, 2009) DoghouseBoxing  
West Coast promoter Golden Boy Promotions promotes one of their own on the east coast. On paper it looks like a legendary 44 year old Bernard Hopkins having a tune-up fight against middleweight Enrique Ornelas at the Liacouras Center (Temple U.) on Wednesday, December 2nd. It wouldn’t be the first time in looking ahead past your opponent you get caught up in the moment.

Hopkins, 49-5-1 (32) will be having his first fight in over a year since defeating Kelly Pavlik October18th in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In July Ornelas, 29-5 (19), scored a knockout over Roberto Baro in Los Angeles coming in at 167 ½ winning for the fourth time in his last five fights after reversing a loss to Bronko McKart in Philadelphia two years ago.

Hopkins is preparing for a rematch with Roy Jones, Jr., in March of next year and talking about the new WBA heavyweight champion David Haye. I guess when your approaching your 45th birthday in January you figure time is running out so line them up. Hopkins has been training at the Upper Darby PAL gym in preparation for his opponent who is coming in from California. The half brother of Ornelas, Librado Andrade was stopped Saturday night in a rematch for the IBF Super Middleweight title with Lucian Bute. The younger (29) Ornelas and Andrade live in LaHabra, California.

For Hopkins losing two close fights to Jermain Taylor along with his four titles has won three of his last four fights. Only the Joe Calzaghe loss has marred his win streak since then. Ornelas has either lost by majority or split decision in four of his five losses. Both fighters want this fight to be a clear cut win. Though Hopkins is from Philadelphia he lives in Hockessin, Delaware. The bout is set at 175 over 12 rounds. It is expected at weigh-in time Tuesday Hopkins will be closer to 170 as will Ornelas. Hopkins has not scored a knockout since 2004 in the Oscar DeLaHoya fight so he will be prepared to go the full distance. Ornelas has only been stopped once and that was in 2004. We look for a match with a lot of in fighting. Hopkins has not fought in Philadelphia since 2003 and before that 1993. It will mark his eleventh appearance in the City of Brotherly Love, all being victories!

The undercard will feature Philly’s Danny “Swift” Garcia, 14-0 (9), fighting at home for the first time against Enrique Colin, 29-5-3 (24), of Mexico over 10 rounds in a light welterweight bout. Garcia has only fought in the east twice but has many fans from a spectacular amateur career here. His combinations can end a fight early. Colin sandwiched in six knockouts between losing his last fight and back in 2007 to Hopkins nephew, Demitrius. Earlier in 2007 in his lone Philadelphia appearance Colin defeated Mike Stewart. This fight should be explosive and could result in an early ending.

Philly’s Karl “Dynamite” Dargan, 5-0 (2), and Newark’s Michael “Michael Angelo the Artist” Perez, 5-0-1 (2), will be in a pair of separate 6 rounder’s. Dargan is a former Pan American Champion and the cousin of Olympian Rock Allen. Perez is a former New Jersey state champion who fought his second fight in Philly. I have seen his first two fights and he can fight. Both boxers are with Golden Boy. Two other 6 rounder’s and two fours which will feature the debut of Julian Williams, a state champion, in the light middleweight division who is a Mike “MJ” Jones look alike. They have sparred many rounds together.

The location is 1776 North Broad Street, with the doors opening at 5:00 and the first fight at 6:00. Versus will go live at 8:00. Tickets are priced at $200, 100, $75, $50 and $25 with discounts to students, veterans & military along with police and fire department personnel.

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Ken at: kenhissner@yahoo.com

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