HOPKINS REALLY CAN’T WIN VS. ROY JONES
February 2nd, 2010 By Jarrad Woods
DON’T NEED A PSYCHIC HERE….OR DO YOU?
Oakland, CA- It has officially been announced, that the fight that belongs more in an alternate universe than in reality between Roy Jones Jr. (54-6 40 KO’s), the former “Superman” of the sport will face Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (50-5-1 32 KO’s) will take place on April 3rd. With both men in their forties, many may see this fight as Bernard’s long overdue payback for nearly two decades worth of trash talk. But I see it as Hopkins having everything to lose and nothing to gain. My honest take is that Hopkins really can’t win and I’ll tell you why.
HOW DOES ONE SEE THIS GOING?
The most likely scenario in the minds of many is likely a Jones loss via knock out occurring somewhere in the second half of the fight with paramedics rushing into the ring to check his pulse. This would be followed by a teary eyed speech from HBO’s Jim Lampley on how he’s honestly concerned about Roy’s health and hopes he makes a speedy recovery and spends some time resting on his farm. But remember that this fight is already happening in the most unlikely or circumstances, so could the rabbit hole just get deeper?
IS THE KO B-HOP’S BEST OPPORTUNITY TO WIN?
Let’s say that Jones, who’s only real decision losses came against a younger man (Joe Calzaghe) and Antonio Tarver, who had Roy shook from a prior KO, doesn’t actually get knocked out this time. It would mean that an aging Hopkins (who admitted that Jones was the only man he believes ever really beat him) would possibly have to put on a virtuoso performance reminiscent his stellar victories over Kelly Pavlik and Tarver to win.
CAN ROY STILL PULL THE TRIGGER?
It’s unlikely that even a shot version of Roy Jones wouldn’t be able to handle a pacing and mildly active Hopkins for 12 rounds. The truth behind the key to Hopkins victories over Pavlik and Tarver appear to be the motivation factor. Remember the cards were against Hopkins to win and Hopkins himself said he needed adversity to perform at his best. So where’s the adversity here? The question is will getting the extra 10% (knockout bonus clause) be enough motivation for Hopkin’s to put Roy down for good?
SHOULD WE EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED?
Jones knows how to beat Hopkins (did it circa 1993), is faster and just might be motivated to win this bout more than any of the ones he’s been in for years. Remember this is the same Jones who didn’t really want to fight Tarver, who really wasn’t that excited about Calzaghe and really wasn’t too thrilled about facing Danny Green after all. All those fighters beat Jones likely because the motivation factor was on their side. All this equates to the possibility, albeit remote than Jones pulls out his last prime performance or simply avoids getting knocked out by the old man who’s not a big puncher anyway.
AND IF B-HOP WERE TO PREVAIL
If Hopkins beats Jones it’s business as usual, right? Jones suffers another horrible loss an is reminded AGAIN that he should have exited the stage when he still had some dignity. Hopkins gets the win on paper but no one is surprised. But let’s revisit the second paragraph and say that Jones is KO’d like many expect or is beat solidly from pillar to post for 12 rounds. Will anyone praise Hopkins? Probably not.
THE CLASSIC “NO-WIN” SITUATION?
So in the end it doesn’t matter if Hopkins puts Roy in a coma or narrowly squeaks out a points decision, a win against a perceived dead man is not worth much. It simply won’t speak much to much more monumental wins in Hopkins career. The crazy thing is Hopkins losing the decision is just about as likely as him scoring the KO. And neither one of those scenario’s are necessarily situations Hopkins really needs or wants.
Jarrad Woods
Hopkins wants the fight because he wants a “win” over Jones – he doesn’t care about anything else or about what anyone thinks. He just wants that win no matter what the circumstances. Classic display of Bernard stubborness/I do it my way/I don’t care what anybody else thinks, etc. etc.
Jones pulling off the upset? I know you’re just writing about this as a “what-if” but it’s implausible. Jones was good because of his athleticism/reflexes/speed. Problem is he never learned proper boxing technique because the same athleticism/reflexes/speed let him get away with it.
We’ve all seen what’s happened to Roy in his decline. It’s not pretty – he doesn’t know how to box! Against the master boxer Hopkins who at this point is just as fast as Roy (or faster), has a much better chin, better stamina, and who is utterly fixated on having a win against Jones – - – there’s no chance for Roy.
I think once Bernard ascertains the fight is a walk-over, he’ll just carry Roy. No way “Hopkins losing the decision is just about as likely as him scoring the KO”!
Is this really a PPV event? Did they discount the price?
Another $50 that I will save by not buying this Pay-Per-Screw garbage.
Jarrad: I would edit out “coma” and “dead man” from your last paragraph and re-phrase it. Take care.
Nauseating. I love JW’s picture of Jim Lampley’s sanctimonious concern over the fallen Jones after it’s too late. All of this makes Ferdie Pacheco’s walking away from the continuing, damaged Ali look more and more rare and praiseworthy.
If you were a young man in the 1990’s starting out learning how to box, Roy was the last fighter that you would want to emulate. Because, according to the boxing textbook 101, Roy did almost everything wrong! He got away with it, however, because his speed and reflex were BLEEBING INHUMAN!!!!! He never learned really learned how to box, he just relied on his athletism.
When Roy entered his mid to late thirties, his speed and reflexes natuarally began to slip and he was deposited on the canvas by guys who would never would have touched him back in the day.
B-Hop’s longevity is atributed to his healthy lifestyle, being inshape between fights, and most importantly, mastering boxing fundamentals. I really cannot see B-Hop losing this fight.
Suffering from onsomnea? I suggest watching thier first fight in 1993. GUARATEED to put you fast asleep!
Agreed with everybody else, RJ will probably get his a$$ handed to him. He needs to realise that his previously amazing reflexes just aren’t there anymore and unfortunately they were his greatest asset.
Hopkins is going to whip his a$$. If I’m wrong I’ll be the first to admit it with egg on my face April 4.
Money and Jones’ health aside (and I know those are big asides), I honestly wouldn’t mind to see these two go again if they weren’t headlining another crappy PPV. For example, I think it might’ve been kind of cool to put them right under Mosley and Mayweather May 1. If they’re going to headline, they should’ve tried to absolutely stack the undercard with good fights. Instead, they were talking about Haye-Ruiz? Wow.
this fight is nonsense. Anyone who buys this fight has more money than sense. I refuse to give these guys MORE money. This fight will be nothing more than exhibition. It makes me ill.
If Jones had not fought hand picked opponents he would have been tagged early in his career and then we would have known what his team knew all along. Roy has no beard.
Hopkins KNOWS this is a fight with little to no interest, but he doesn`t care what anyone thinks. He wants Jones in the ring one way or another. Not for bragging right or anything like that. He just wants to get Jones in that ring to hand him an asskickin.
I see Roy Jones Jr winning this fight by the scores of 115-113 twice and the 3rd judge having it 114-114. Hopkings ain’t going to knock anybody out. Puh-lease… Roy Jones Jr will win this fight closely with hand speed, mediocre power, and old legs that will give out on him like an old building being demolished. Even though i will not pay for this PPV trash, i definitely will try to go to a bar to watch it. It’s worth $5 which is what they charge at a bar and you get a free drink too…!
a little too late…
Joeseph you obviously aren’t from LA…what bar would only charge 5 for a PPV? Not any bar in So Cal my friend. I actually think once this fight gets close and all the trash talking starts people will get interested. When you consider that Hop is 45 and Jones is over 40 this is a viable fight…at least for them. Nether guy will get hurt seriously and Hop will probably get his revenge and another payday. i think of this like another Frazier vs Ali. They have a history and they want to settle it in the ring…I know it’s 10 years to late, and you can call me an idiot of you want, but I want to see this fight. hopefully we’ll get a reasonable undercard, although I highly doubt it.
BHOP has always been and still is capable of dishing out a subtle beating! You watch BHOP’s fights and round after round you’re waiting for the dynamite punch and by the championship rounds his opponents are battered and bruised ala Joppy or his opponents are afraid to open up and go for the homerun ala Pavlik. Jones may be in for a severe beating because BHOP can surely make it ruff in there. I watched the BHOP Ornealas fight live here in Philly and what surprised me most was how ruff Ornealas was in there, he tried to match BHOPs tactics, but BHOPs a master. Watched a recorded version at home twice to slow-mo all the infighting. Let me tell you Ornealas also made it ruff in there using his “head as a jab” with his right hand behind it or he would bring his head from left to right across BHOPs face with the left hook in tow and BHOP handled it all. To think that neither fighter will get seriously hurt is a bit reaching….hope Jones comes correct.
A win or loss by either man will not add or take away from their legacies.
Former staunch Roy Jones, Jr. fan here. I thought he should have called it a day after the first fight with Tarver; saw it live and Roy looked horrible.
Regarding the fight with Hopkins, who I have a lot of respect for, I would not pay for this fight at any price; would not watch it if it were on ABC let alone HBO. I believe Roy has neurological issues. I fear for Roy. I wish the people around him were strong enough to tell him he has to stop or they can’t support him anymore.
Hey boyz it’s hard for us to see superman get his ass handed to himself. But I’m don’t feel sorry for him. I think we should be happy for him. When he was smoking everybody people would say, he had no heart he wasn’t a fighter. But now look he knows he’s not what he was but the fighter some people
doubted was in him has shown. Even though in losses at least we know when he was at his best he had heart. These fighter are stubborn by nature that’s why the achieve
so much. When they r hurt and can’t breath their body wants to quit but their mind and hearts never give up. That’s why it’s so hard to walk away. I hope they both put a great fight they should end their careers with eachother. Funny how they stood linked together all these years. Don’t turn ur nose up at these great fighters they just might suprise U
I wish Roy retired after the first tarver fight. Then what would all the haters have to say? Roy at his best was almost unbeatlable. That’s what everbody is hoping happens to pbf that he gets old amd then beat. Then they will all say I told u so he wasn’t that good. But it’s all bs. And most the greats have lost b4
Why is this fight happening? Simple! Hopkins wants to beat Roy Jones Jr up! Its not about money. Its not about legacy! Its about stomping a hole in another guy’s A$$! Hopkins wanted to fight Jones for years. This was before the BIG middleweight fight with Trinidad. Jones has gone on record many times over saying he wasn’t interested in fighting Hopkins or giving him another chance unless things were to his advantage. Should this fight have taken place 8 years ago? Of course but both men egos were and still are big! Now Hopkins is playing with house money and he is looking forward to punishing the one guy he can not stand. I never bought whole buddy crap that would whisper. Hopkins can’t stand Jones and he can gives a rat’s A$$ who buys this fight or not! This is personal. Pure and simple. Hopkins is not going to go for the KO! Please! He’s going to look to putting a slow and painful beating on the man once know as RJ!
I am going to waste my money and watch it! Call me a fool! But I am looking forward to Hopkins finishing the remains of Jones’s soul and MOUTH!
Peace!
I agree with you Robert Rios. Whats funny is that when the sh!t really counted Hopkins lost fair and square, no excuses, that’s what really mattered! Hopkins can’t take the loss that really counted back, but he can unleash his resentment towards Roy in the ring and possibly get a win. Who knows though right, Roy might have his number, that would be real humiliating for Bernard. Good article Jarrad, getting behind the scenes on why this fight is really taking place. At least in the end, they both get their held in emotions out and can come to peace with each other, you feel me?
This fight is meaningless. RJJ should retire. I can’t imagine at this point he’s actually fighting for legacy and not just for one more payday. Hopkins on the other hand I expected more from. I’m actually disappointed in him for taking this fight. Yes, he’ll earn a payday, but it’s a no-win fight. If he wins and no matter how he wins, well he was suppose to. There is nothing to prove with this victory. RJJ is done and this fight should have taken place years ago. Hopkins should have fought Dawson, One of the Super Middle Champions, or challenge Haye. Either way his age is going to show sooner or later.
John what’s up with the superman hate? Yea Roy could be an azzhole but u might not ever in ur life see a dude go from 156 pound debut, win the middle ,supermiddle, light heavy, and a piece of the heavy weight title in ur life. Everybody is jocking pacman but Roy never weight drained anyone and fought them at their best. As much as u dislike somebody u have to respect that
I don’t blame RJJ for taking this. He is shot, he will lose, probably by KO at this point but he has nowhere else to go. Hopkins will glady kick his ass for a nice easy payday. Why not? And RJJ’s nutuggers won’t ever get off his bandwagon so this should do a few hundred thousand on PPV. Always suckers willing to buy. This should have happened in 2002. Screw both of them now. Who wants to see this in 2010? Should be $9.99. Or free. It won’t be because the squares don’t know how badly shot RJJ is and will spend $50 glady. Have fun. Who cares? RJJ should have stopped after Ruiz.
Roberto, Roy only appeared unbeatable because he fought off duty cops and garbage men and cab drivers. Floyd seems to have come from the school of Roy Jones. He only now agreed to fight Shane because his back was against the wall. Thats the only reason Roy fought Tarver because his ego couldn’t let him back down from challenge. Hopefully Roy and Floyd get the sustained ass whooping they deserve!
Yo Roberto Rios!
I don’t hate Jones. I met him once in Chicago when he was promoting his rap CD. He seems to be a cool guy. Now lets keep thing in the light. I thought that Jones was blessed with a great amount of god given ability but facts is facts! RJ was more business man than fighter and truth be told I don’t completely blame him. I blame HBO because that created him. They enabled him to fight bus drivers, postmen, rent a cops and etc. I give his props. He beat Bhops at 160 for a portion of the middleweight crown. He went up to 168 and took on James Toney and than he did what?! Nothing! For whatever reason and please don’t start with people were avoiding him. Jones never matched skills with Frankie Liles, who was WBA Champion at the time, Nigel Benn, who was the WBC Champion ( who proved his mettle after defeating Jones friend Gerald McClellan )Steve Collins who defeated Benn and was calling out Jones for years just like Hopkins (but Jones told us all … you musta forgot … yeah, he fought David Telesco who only got the fight after calling out Jones but who doesn’t possess the skills to threaten him , Dariusz Michalczewski, WBO Light heavyweight Champion during Jones Lt. Weight reign ( yeah Jones didn’t want to go to Germany but ex-Jones victim Julio Cesar Gonzalez packed his bags and beat Dariusz in Germany. But now that Jones’ is punch drunk and a has been he WILL go to Australia and fight Danny Green! )
Look I am not saying that any of the above men would have beaten him BUT it would have been nice to see him match his skills againt the likes of those champions instead of drum roll please … Antoine Byrd ( no relation to Chris Byrd ), Vinny Pazienza ( who was at his best at 140lbs but Jones had to give him a shot! ) Tony Thornton ( whose real job was being a postman ), Eric Lucas, Bryant Brannon, Mike McCallum ( who was 40 years old at the time and his best days were when he fought Donald Curry and Milton McCrory in 1987! at 154 lbs! )Lou Del Valle, Otis Grant, Richard Frazier, David Telesco, Derrick Harmon, do I have to cotinue?
I know that fighters are entitled to a soft touch here and there. Hell, Hopkins fought that running frenchman, Morrade Hakkar.
And I give Jones credit when he dusted Virgil Hill with that excellent body shot! I was impressed that he unified the Lt. heavyweight titles except for the WBO title. He should have did that. But he refused to go to Germany he said on TV! I will not go to Germany!
Instead he pulled a big time con and fought f***ing John Ruiz! LOL! Dude James Toney out of shape ass beat him Ruiz! Jones choosed the path of the least dangerous and fought one of the worse belt holders in the division. there was another champion at that divison who was perfect for Jones. Not a big guy but highly skilled and still in his prime: Chris Byrd! Beating Byrd would have been a better than beating the Ruiz!
And people love to excuse Roy for getting KO’d by Tarver in their rematch! It was him losing so much weight. Ad there is truth to that But not complete truth. the reason he was KOd is because of his ego. He thought that Traver was a guy he had in his hip pocket and that he could toy with. No sir. Traver pulled a Clubber Lang and got a shot at that title and because Jones EGO was running mad he did himself a disservice.
Please … man, Jones is a con! This is the same guy who tested positive for steroids. copy and paste the link below
http://www.boxinginsider.com/headlines/flashback-when-roy-jones-tested-positive/
I am not hating.
And now we have Roy Jones 2.0 these days …
I do respect fighters and their skills but I am not going to give this cat more credit than he deserves. And to think his royboy army though he was better than Sugar Ray Robinson! Hahaha
Peace brother … everyone enjoy the fights this weekend on Showtime!
Roy will win. It’ll look a lot like the first fight. Slow. Boring. Measured. Roy pulls out the decision.
”Everybody is jocking pacman but Roy never weight drained anyone and fought them at their best”……….lol!!! Gotta give Roy credit for not weight draining Frazier and Grant and Pazienza……..that’s funny right there!
Hate it or love it bigdig it’s the truth. He didn’t do it to Toney when he moved up to supermiddle and none of the lightheavies he beat. Or the heavyweight he fought. And herndon you know what ur absolutly 100 percent right. He did fight alot of bums. But the times he did fight elite comp he shined also. People want to downgrade the b-hop win but look at who b-hop turned out to b. But I too can admit my frustration with some of his carrer moves. I still believe him to be one of the best to do it though
Hi Roberto,
The first Hopkins vs Jones Jr fight was nothing write home for either men. They were both tight. It was their first title fights. Fair enough. It was a win for Jones. I had it 8 to 4, and 1 round even. Jones being the winner. Still people act like Roy whipped the floor with Bhops. Do people realize that Hopkins at that time made roy miss more than ever had and Jones was hit more than ever had been. Even Jones said that Hopkins was the toughest cat he had ever tangled with at that time.
And after that fight Jones had never shown any wilingness to fight the man again. Unless he was paid a king’s ransom.
It’s all old news and I respect your opinion but Jones is not one of the best ever unless you talking about being self-managed.
Jones is not better than Ray Robinson, Ali, Billy Conn, Hagler, Duran, Sugar Ray L, Joe Louis, Evander Holyfield, Bob Foster, Whitaker, … man, I can continue.
He was on of the best of his generation. I will say that. He was one of the most physically gifted fighters ever! But the cat is a con and after reading “I still believe him to be one of the best to do it though.” Its clear that he has conned you, too.
“He didn’t do it to Toney when he moved up to supermiddle and none of the lightheavies he beat. Or the heavyweight he fought. And herndon you know what ur absolutly 100 percent right.”
Man, he didn’t have to. Look at who he fought! LOL
Peace all … Edwin Valero is the real!