In 2005 Bernard Hopkins was going for his 21st title defense of his Middleweight crown he had held since 1995; It was streak that would come to an end that night at the hands of a Jermaine Taylor. At the time Taylor was the next great middle weight to hold the crown just as Hopkins did and Hopkins was a 40 year old with what seemed to be little left in the fight game to prove or fight was supposed to ride off in the sunset.
Fast forward 7 and half years later, 11 more fights, couple new titles and last night Bernard Hopkins once again made history. In the newly opened Barclays arena in Brooklyn, New York, Hopkins once again proved that even at 48 years young and seemingly with nothing left to prove, Hopkins is chasing history. His own history.
“Enjoy me while I’m here” Hopkins would state in the press conference after the fight. And boxing fans should. While Hopkins may not have the style to calm the masses, there are very few that are as dedicated and have the same respect for their craft as Hopkins does with boxing. He is a student of the game, a constant professional in and out the ring. His habits, his lifestyle and most of all how he takes care of his body is not what most would consider normal. “I’m different” and Hopkins showed at 48, he is different
But last night Hopkins was not different he was simply the better man. He outboxed the younger Tavoris Cloud, was the better inside fighter and in typical Hopkins fashion, never allowed Cloud to get in a rhythm. Hopkins smothered and tied Cloud up when he needed to, counterpunched effectively and displayed showmanship to the delight of the crowd.”Im glad that I got a chance to show that I still have it and I’m healthy”
Hopkins stated after the fight. Healthy and ready to fight at least until 50 but not after Hopkins admitted.
While Hopkins birth certificate may state 48 years old but based on how he has looked since his loss to Taylor back in 2005 and his record setting victory last night, the constant reminder seems to come from the media and boxing fans who are in awe and suspicion of how a man at his age could still fight at the level Hopkins is at. While Hopkins stated he is clean and not a PED user, in this day in age every fighter is considered a suspect and to someone like Hopkins who by all accounts is clean, it is the unfortunate fact that his age and ability defying physical tools make him a target.
However, while some may want to question and view Hopkins legacy in a questionable light,Hopkins earned his victory over the game Cloud by doing what he has done for over 20 years, outbox and out fox his opponents.
“I understand that I’m different and that makes me strange to normal people”, Hopkins is different. He is a 48 year old world champion in boxing. There is nothing normal about that and that suits Bernard Hopkins and his fans just fine.
On the undercard, prospect Keith Thurman upped his record to 20-0 with his unanimous decision win over veteran Jan Zaveck. The fight was a stepping stone for the young professional who was taken to the final bell for the first time in his pro career. While his win was a solid workman like effort the real fireworks came during the press conference when Thurman chose to call out Paulie Malignaggi who was in the back of the audience. The magic man had some choice words for the young Thurman and myboxingfans was there to catch it. See below.