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<\/a><\/p>\nI saved $20.\u00a0 I\u2019m an unemployed combat sports writer and I was fortunate enough to have decided to forgo the opportunity to go a local theatre in Long Beach, California, where the Roy Jones, JR vs Bernard \u201cExecutioner\u201d Hopkins fight was going to be broadcast.\u00a0 Thank goodness!\u00a0<\/p>\n I stayed home on a Saturday night and played a game of chess on my computer.\u00a0 And from what I heard about the fight, I think my chess game was more exciting \u2013 and I lost.\u00a0 Veteran Bernard Hopkins beat Roy Jones, JR., in a fight that didn\u2019t have any sort of \u201coomph\u201d to its billing.\u00a0 More importantly, I wasn\u2019t too hyped for the fight either. I\u2019ve been following boxing for years and yes, call me a boxing ageist, but maybe it\u2019s time for veteran fighter Hopkins to hang up the gloves and just retire.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to the scorecards, Hopkins\u2019 victory by unanimous decision revealed a one sided fight (Dave Moretti, 118-109, Glenn Trowbridge, 117-110, and Trella, 117-110).\u00a0 There was no belt on the line only a slight redemptive quality to a renewing of former rivals.\u00a0 I don\u2019t see the \u201crivals\u201d aspect of it since Jones and Hopkins fought one another back in 1993 where Hopkins lost in a 12 round unanimous decision for the then vacant IBF Middleweight title.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think there can be much payback for a 12 round unanimous decision.\u00a0 A first round KO can redeem maybe, but not a victory by unanimous decision.\u00a0 If Hopkins wanted redemption by beating Jones, JR., I guess he got it.\u00a0<\/p>\n I think.<\/p>\n Hopkins currently remains ranked #1 among the light heavyweights.\u00a0 Among the top 5 ranked light heavyweights, there is no one that even comes close to giving him any sort of competitive bout.\u00a0 If youth is a consideration, #2 ranked southpaw Chad Dawson, 29-0, 17 KO\u2019s, stands as the youngest at 27.\u00a0 He is set to fight against #6 ranked Canadian Jean Pascal, 25-1, 16 KO\u2019s, later this year in August.\u00a0<\/p>\n Miami native Glen Johnson, 50-13, 34 KO\u2019s, ranks #3.\u00a0 Rounding out the top 5 light heavyweights, Chris Henry, 25-2, 20 KO\u2019s, ranks #4 and Zsolt Erdei, 31-0, 17 KO\u2019s, ranks #5.\u00a0<\/p>\n Aside from Hopkins, Dawson, and Johnson, who is who among the light heavyweights?\u00a0 To answer honestly, I didn\u2019t know any of these fighters and this explains why the light heavyweight is exactly that \u2013 light with no competition.\u00a0 Among the top 5, I consider Johnson to take over the division should he decide to fight Hopkins.\u00a0 If Hopkins stands determined to stay in boxing, he will have to eventually face Johnson and make the weight class all his own. He lost to Taylor in July 2005 via split decision then got a rematch later in December only to lose in a 12 round unanimous decision.\u00a0 Hopkins then fought only one fight in 2006 against Antonio Tarver that resulted in a 12 round unanimous decision for the IBO and NBA Light Heavyweight titles.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2007, he defeated Ronald \u201cWinky\u201d Wright with a 12 round unanimous decision.\u00a0 In 2008, Hopkins fight record went 1-1 with his split decision loss over 12 rounds to retired and undefeated Joe \u201cPride of Wales\u201d Calzaghe in April followed by a win over Kelly \u201cGhost\u201d Pavlik in a 12 round unanimous decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2009, he defeated Enrique Ornelas with a 12 round unanimous decision.\u00a0 But here\u2019s a statistic that sums up the career I just restated, he\u2019s been fighting 12 round fights for the last 5 years.\u00a0 Going back to 2004 against his promoter Oscar De La Hoya, 39-6, 30 KO\u2019s, Hopkins fought his shortest fight with the 9th round KO.\u00a0 That\u2019s a whole lot of boxing, a whole lot of training, a whole lot of recovery.\u00a0 At 45, Hopkins does not need to fight anymore.\u00a0 Hopkins does not need to show anyone he still has it.\u00a0 He always had it.\u00a0 His career reveals he has it.\u00a0 There is no doubt that Hopkins is a champion fighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n As you can see that night had its high and low for me \u2013 the high I saved $20 from not watching the fight and the low being I lost a chess match to my computer on a Saturday night, I can honestly say that overall, there was no need for it.\u00a0 As I just looked at Hopkins\u2019 fight record from the past 4 years, he has beaten and lost to some of the best boxers. There is no shame to his record and I\u2019d like to see his retirement quiet in the memory of his strongest self as a boxer.\u00a0 He has a lot of experience and should possibly become a trainer or promoter. From Rocky III, the character Apollo Creed says it best about a retired boxer, \u201cListen, it’s quiet isn’t it? When you retire it’s too quiet.\u201d\u00a0 The veteran Hopkins is fortunate to have such a dubious career that has placed him as one of the best fighters to ever enter a ring.\u00a0 He tactically fought his matches and followed the definition of the sweet science of boxing.\u00a0 I can instantly recall the body shot against De La Hoya back in their bout in 2004.\u00a0 It was beautifully placed and the punch followed textbook execution of the body shot.\u00a0 More importantly, it was the body shot felt by De La Hoya that he could not recover.<\/p>\n I began this article with the fact that I play chess.\u00a0 At his best, Hopkins fought his matches much like a chess match \u2013 a psychological and physical awareness of specific moves to gain the advantage and earn a victory.\u00a0 For Hopkins and his boxing, he put everything together as keys to his fighting longevity – his age, his tactics, his knowledge of the sweet science.\u00a0 I like remembering that Hopkins fought every fight that way.\u00a0\u00a0 I am a fan of Hopkins (except this last fight) and believe Hopkins should just consider retiring and live a life outside of boxing in spite of the quiet \u2013 and there would be boxing fans ready to find out just what his next move might be.<\/p>\n Advertise Now On RSR<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/bernard-hopkins-header.jpg\" "\\"bernard")
<\/a>By Gina L. Caliboso<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nLet\u2019s also consider that I and other fight fans like to remember Hopkins when he fought at super middleweight.\u00a0 Hopkins has pulled off some major fights in his career.\u00a0 And some of these fights didn\u2019t necessarily result in a win.\u00a0 Going back to 2005, both of his losses to Jermain \u201cBad Intentions\u201d Taylor were hard fought matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nAs I observe, Hopkins has the gift of longevity.\u00a0 He can graciously take himself out of boxing at the top of the light heavyweight division.\u00a0 Hopkins may even say that he\u2019s got one more fight in him and he probably has, but there\u2019s no need to fight any more.\u00a0 He is holding onto something, maybe a fight against Johnson to seal in his mind as well as boxing fans that he truly is the top light heavyweight even at 45.\u00a0 Regardless if the bout ever comes to be, Hopkins has a championship career, period.<\/p>\n