Hopkins wants Froch, but don't count on it Thursday, April 30, 2009 | Print Entry LAS VEGAS -- Back in late February, Bernard Hopkins called out cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek, insisting he wanted to move up in weight and challenge for that title. Talks began and then quickly fizzled for a proposed HBO bout in July when Hopkins played Adamek for a chump by insisting that he and his promoter, Main Events, be paid no more than a flat $500,000 fee, laughably low for a fight that would generate millions more than that. Adamek and Main Events rightly told Hopkins to take a hike and moved on to other business. He'll instead defend the championship July 10 against an opponent to be determined, probably on Showtime. HBO previously rejected a terrific fight between Adamek and former light heavyweight champ Glen Johnson, a fight not in Showtime's budget. Hopkins, meanwhile, is still trolling for a fight, even though he'll tell anyone who listens that he doesn't really care if he fights again and that if he does, it's because of the money. He said it again on Wednesday at the MGM Grand in the media center for the Saturday night's Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao fight, which Hopkins is helping promote in his role with Golden Boy Promotions. But as it always is with Hopkins, it's about him. So even though the international media was on hand for Hatton and Pacquiao, Hopkins turned to the conversation to himself. He went on and on about how he doesn't have to fight, that he's done it all, but that if he does fight he has a certain number of dollars he will fight for or else he won't fight -- as if anyone cares about that threat. If he doesn't want to fight, fine. He can retire again and be done. If he wants to fight, that's also fine. But Hopkins was going on and on about how he's done this, done that, needs to make this much money, is owed this, is owed that. Blah, blah, blah. Frankly, I've heard it all before. I got tired of his verbal diarrhea and walked away. Later in the day, Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy, told me that Hopkins had a new target: super middleweight titlist Carl Froch of England, who is coming off Saturday's sensational comeback knockout of Jermain Taylor with 14 seconds left in the fight. Taylor, of course, owns two decision wins against Hopkins at middleweight. "Bernard Hopkins is interested to fight Froch. Why not? He just knocked out Jermain Taylor," Schaefer said. "[Golden Boy matchmaker] Eric Gomez spoke to [Froch promoter] Mick Hennessy and Mick is interested. They only want big fights. Bernard Hopkins is a big fight for them." At least the silliness of a possible rematch with Felix Trinidad seems to have died down. Schaefer said maybe he could make Froch-Hopkins for sometime in July. "What I have to do is discuss it with Bernard and HBO," Schaefer said, admitting he was unsure if Showtime had any rights to Froch following the Taylor fight. My sources tell me that Showtime, indeed, has a first/last option on Froch's next fight. If the fight happened, Schaefer said it would be at super middleweight for Froch's title. Hopkins would drop down from light heavyweight, where he has fought for the past few years since moving up from middleweight and skipping the super middleweight division. "Bernard told me he would do it at 168, so I'm going to try to make it," Schaefer said, adding that Hopkins might even be willing to go to England for the fight. "O2 Arena in London," Schaefer said. "It would be big." Sure, it sounds reasonable and is an interesting fight, although not as interesting as one with Adamek or Chad Dawson. But it will prove difficult to make. A fight in England means an afternoon HBO broadcast in America. When HBO does live fights from Europe, the price it pays is far less because it's not live in prime time. Good luck to Schaefer in making the fight with Froch and satisfying Hopkins' financial demands. It's not like Froch brings a pile of British TV money to the table, and his side isn't going to fight Hopkins for chump change. The British networks paid exactly nothing for live coverage of the fight with Taylor. Only at the last minute did Hennessy manage to get less than six figures from ITV to show a taped replay. In theory, Froch-Hopkins is a reasonable fight but they haven't even seriously discussed money, and that's always when it gets difficult with Hopkins. Just ask Adamek.
I wish the boxing fans had the power to give Hopkins an ultimatum,... Chad Dawson or fuck off and stay away from the microphone.
Hopkins has the perfect style to beat Froch.....still, would be a good match up (well, better than Hopkins-Tito 2)....Hopkins would be an interesting addition to the 168 mix
Finding relief in this cunning oppurtunity, for Hopkins to pot and clinch his way to a decision victory and suck himself off on the microphone afterwards, by pitting it against the worst possible example we were threatenned with. This is what being a boxing fan is all about these days,... we aint entitled to see the first and second best fighter in the division fight,... you gunna get what your given,.. 'catchweights' are a sexy lil escape route for Hops.
The entire fight for as long as it lasted would look like the first 3 rounds of Jermain Taylor vs. Froch. Bernard doesn't tire out (or waste energy) so Froch never gains momentum late.
I don't think Hopkins would look to throw as much as Taylor early on, or throw his shots with as much power. He'd look to pot-shot his way, not looking to do an awful lot more than just simply winning rounds. Froch's best hope would be to apply constant pressure....problem is, Hopkins would pick him to pieces that way.....hence i see this as being a great styles match up for Hopkins Kauki......i know, not only is it a half empty approach, but i'm actually content to be given that half empty glass too. It's just being realistic....Hopkins will do what suits him, and if it comes down to a choice between Froch or Tito....then of course i'd take Froch.
What I meant is it would be just as one sided, but throughout the entire fight. Bernard wouldn't throw as much but he would probably land just as much. Bernard would counter the shit out of Froch, especially if he was as sloppy as he was early on against Jermain. You're right, he wouldn't throw with as much power until later in the fight when he usually starts to sit down on his punches more. Sort of the opposite of what Jermain does.
It's just like Hopkins to go after the easiest target out there. All the Hopkins' apologists will praise the "ageless" wonder ignoring the fact that out of any number of potential opponents he picks the least skillful, or the most skillful but half his size. He will stink out the fight.He will make many fans never watch again. So it goes. Once Hopkins retires, boxing will get a boost. Addition by subtraction. Sorry, he did fight Tarver who was skillful and his size. No man has gained so much for a glaring exception to the rule.
