Hopkins has heavyweight title on his mind
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Print EntryBernard Hopkins is 44. He'll turn 45 in January. For years, the former long-reigning middleweight champ has (with glee) reminded the media about his age, which is what makes his accomplishments that much more impressive.
Since turning 40, the man with a body of a man half his age, has authored some of his greatest moments in the prize ring. Hopkins was post-40 when he pulled a major upset and easily defeated Antonio Tarver to win the light heavyweight championship in 2006.
He was also past 40 when he beat Winky Wright, got the short end of a questionable split decision against Joe Calzaghe, and put on perhaps his single greatest performance by thumping Kelly Pavlik 13 months ago.
We all know Hopkins is a great fighter. He's proven it time and again. One of the things that makes him so amazing is that, despite earning tens of millions of dollars and reaching extraordinary heights, he remains hungry. It's astounding to me that he can still have such drive to train and fight after all these years.
And you know what? Hopkins ain't done yet. He is still driven, perhaps someday to fight for a heavyweight title. You read that right.
Now there is a lot that would have to happen before that opportunity could materialize, but Hopkins says he would like to do it someday, and it's certainly fun to speculate about. After all these years, I no longer doubt Hopkins' ability to do anything he sets his mind to.
He'll return from the long layoff following the win against Pavlik to face rugged (but smaller) Enrique Ornelas on Wednesday night (Versus, 8 p.m. ET) at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Hopkins' hometown.
Assuming Hopkins turns back Ornelas and Roy Jones defeats Danny Green in Australia on the same day (and, by the way, Versus will also air the Jones-Green fight on tape delay as part of the Hopkins telecast), Hopkins and Jones have already signed to meet in a rematch 17 years after Jones won a vacant middleweight title by outpointing Hopkins in 1993.
If Hopkins and Jones both win on Wednesday, the rematch likely will take place March 13 in Las Vegas.
If Hopkins beats Jones, that's when things could get even more interesting, because Hopkins has designs on going for a heavyweight title against David Haye, who isn't a physical monster like Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko. Although England's Haye is bigger than Hopkins, he's a smallish heavyweight who was once cruiserweight champion.
Hopkins said after sharpening up against Ornelas it would take him "straight into 2010 with bigger fish to fry. Let me take care of this fight here. I will win, I will look impressive. I will win this fight, look like what I am supposed to look like and then I'll take care of Roy Jones. And then maybe I'll be heavyweight champ of the world."
So does that mean Hopkins is interested in Haye?
"Do bees like honey? Anything is possible," Hopkins said. "Things happen. If you think outside the box, you say, 'Wait a minute, what weight did he come from? Is it something I would buy or watch?' Yes, I would buy it and it's interesting. That's all you need to make good chemistry. Never rule nothing out with me. People have written me off a lot of times in my life, and that's been my biggest motivation. [Wednesday] starts a marathon for me. A marathon of super greatness."
One thing that makes Haye-Hopkins quite possible is they are both promoted by Golden Boy. Of course, besides Hopkins winning his next two fights to get into position, Haye would have to defeat mandatory challenger John Ruiz in a fight likely to take place in London in the spring. If Haye wins that fight, he may have to face Nikolai Valuev, the man he beat for the title Nov. 7, in a rematch, although the specific terms of their contract are unclear. Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, said he believes a Haye-Hopkins fight is possible as long as both guys keep winning.
"If everything goes well and Bernard continues to turn back the clock -- he gets better with age -- and he wins against Ornelas and Roy Jones, knowing Bernard I just can see he's going to want a major challenge," Schaefer said. "So why bother doing anything else but fighting David Haye? It would be a monster of a fight."
Schaefer said he mentioned the possibility of the fight, perhaps in late 2010 or early 2011, to Haye and his manager/trainer Adam Booth.
"Adam said it would be huge and the [British broadcaster] Sky people love it," Schaefer said. "I really think a fight between David Haye and Bernard Hopkins would be huge. David wants to fight in America. Who better than fighting Bernard Hopkins? And if Hopkins won? He'd be older than when George Foreman became the oldest man to win the heavyweight title [at age 45]."
So, assuming Haye and Hopkins win their fights to get to the point where they could face each other -- and, of course, it's a big if -- does Schaefer really believe the fight could be made?
"We would have to be idiots if we don't get it done," he said.
