Boxing

 

Bernard Hopkins: The Executioners Song

Ben Pierce

27.08 - The undisputed, unified, Middleweight champion of the world made an appearance last Saturday evening at Roberto Clemente Walker stadium, in Puerto Rico, during the boxing card billed: "The Battle of the Little Giants". Not that his appearance is unusual, Hopkins (Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime) has been at ringside at so many fights lately, I was being to wonder if he was a fixture brought along by the networks. But he seems to be singing a different tune of late.

Hopkins, desperate to keep his face and name in the spotlight after seemingly one handedly stopping fight negotiations with Roy Jones Jr., Felix Trinidad and the Showtime network over monetary demands, has now done an about-face. He seems desperate to make a fight happen with either Trinidad or Jones.

Hopkins, knowing he is backed into a corner, without a television contract and no other name opponents to fight, made appeals to Trinidad and his father Felix Trinidad Sr.. He seemed to be almost begging for a fight, after telling the press he would never do so. Hopkins even appealed to the crowd in attendance to write letters and encourage Trinidad to come out of retirement and to fight him.

There was also a heated confrontation with Roy Jones Jr., that was alleged to have had Hopkins following Jones into Derrick Gainer's dressing room before the fight and starting a shoving match. This, as well as the Hopkins getting into the ring after the fight to confront Jones a second time and exchange what one could only assume to be unpleasant words. Hopkins looked to be a desperate man.

I must say it was a total lack of respect for Derrick Gainer, that Hopkins would come into his dressing room, immediately before a world championship fight and cause a confrontation. Hopkins showed what many have said and known for years, he lacks the class to be called a professional athlete. He owes both Gainer and Jones an apology, but don't hold your breath.

Bernard Hopkins has one of the top promoters in the business; he holds three world title belts and yet has been reduced to begging for a fight. But he has no one to blame but himself. He refused numerous appeals by the Trinidad camp for a rematch before Tito retired. He reportedly refused at least two offers made to him by representatives of the Roy Jones Jr., camp. And he turned down a lucrative offer made by Showtime to fight lesser name fighters.

At Hopkins age the clock is ticking and this inactivity and uncertainty can only hurt him in the long haul. His skill and craft will only betray him as time goes on. He would do well to remember the old adage: "time waits for no man."

Indeed this executioners song, might well turn out to be a swan song.


Questions/Comments: benp1000@msn.com

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