Richard Schaefer Says Jones-Hopkins II Will Take Place March 13th, 2010 – And Hopkins Wants Haye If He Wins!

by James Slater – Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy has given a short but very interesting interview with Lance Pugmire of The LA Times. Schaefer spoke about how he has never known so much interest in a fight like there is for the wanted Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather clash, and he also told the publication’s writer about a fight that is almost a done deal.

According to the promoter, as long as both Roy Jones Junior and Bernard Hopkins win their next fights – Jones’ against Australia’s Danny Green, on December 2nd, Hopkins’ against Mexico’s Enrique Ornelas on the same date – then the two legends will meet in a long awaited rematch on March 13th next year, in Las Vegas..

Of even more interest, is the statement the promoter made about what “The Executioner” plans to do if he can gain revenge (some 17 years on) over Jones. Hopkins wants a fight with new WBA heavyweight champion David Haye!

“Hopkins wants to move up to fight David Haye if he wins (against Jones),” Schaefer told Pugmire.

As amazing as this plan on the part of the all-time great from Philly may be, fans that know Hopkins will not be all that surprised. Always wanting a new challenge, one that will push him further than his last confrontation did, winning a piece of the heavyweight championship has been a dream the 44-year-old has had for a while.

Remember when B-Hop was talking about going up to the approx 200-pound mark to face then WBC heavyweight ruler Oleg Maskaev? Well now it seems the quest to rule in his sport’s biggest weight class is back on.

As crazy as it will no doubt seem to some, Hopkins’ idea may not be all that crazy. Haye, as powerful as he is, is not a colossal heavyweight with the dimensions of a Klitschko or a Valuev, and as clever and as cute as he is, Hopkins clearly feels he would have a shot at out-boxing and out-pointing the WBA champ. Sure, ‘Nard would be in a fight that would present him with the biggest threat he’s ever faced, where the possibility of him losing badly and maybe even being stopped for the first time in his illustrious career would be all too real, but Hopkins would very probably thrive off the danger.

It’s not clear whether or not “The Hayemaker” would be at all interested in a fight with Hopkins, and even if he was, he still has to get past mandatory challenger John Ruiz first. And of course, Hopkins must do likewise against Ornelas and then Jones Junior.

As interesting as the possibility is, Haye Vs. Hopkins is just a pipedream at the moment. But if the fight were to happen, and if Hopkins were to win it! How highly on the list of all-time greatest fighters in history would Hopkins be placed then?