Hopkins-Jones Rematch? - Boxing News, Tips And Picks

Hopkins-Jones Rematch?
By Carlos Guzman
Posted: 5:00 am PDT 2007-01-13

NEW YORK - It was a full house Wednesday afternoon at Firebird restaurant in midtown Manhattan, with many boxing luminaries on hand for the Shannon Briggs-Sultan Ibragimov press conference. The two heavyweights were on hand to formally announce their March 10 showdown at Madison Square Garden's The Theatre, to be televised live on HBO.

Among the more familiar faces in the room was none other than former undisputed middleweight champion and reigning light heavyweight king Bernard "the Executioner" Hopkins. The future Hall of Famer was there as a representative for Golden Boy Promotions, though that didn't prevent him from stealing the show.

Hopkins, whose rants can outlast the Energizer Bunny, revealed that a rematch with fellow legend Roy Jones is this close to being signed. The bout would take place July 21, at a location to be determined. One possibility was the main room of Madison Square Garden, as the turnout for the presser had Hopkins believing boxing was still alive and kicking in the Big Apple.

"I'd love to have the bout at Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of Boxing," stated Hopkins, certainly no stranger to the building, having stopped Felix "Tito" Trinidad in the 12^th round of their brutally one-sided clash more than five years ago. "I can even see the bout happening in Atlantic City, but if it's up to me, I'd choose MSG."

Bernard also stated that dominating Antonio Tarver en route to winning the light-heavyweight title last June wasn't satisfying.

Say what?!

"Tarver stopped trying to win after the third, and it denied me a fulfilling victory," explained Hopkins. "The longer it goes the more I come on" -- insinuating he could've scored a knockout had Tarver chosen to exchange blows in the later rounds.

The other question on everyone's mind was his promise to hang 'em up once he hit 40. The tale told around the bonfire suggests the promise was made to his mother while on her deathbed.

"The whole deathbed story was something a writer made up to give the story more drama," said Hopkins.

Still, why the change?

"My mother grew up in the (Joe) Frazier era. She heard Frazier speak and was concerned for my well being," said Hopkins, who was raised in the Philadelphia streets Frazier represented during his heyday. "Any mother would say that to their son!"

Simply put, a mom being a mom, fearing the worst for her fighting son.

Still, Bernard turned to his family for guidance before making the decision to unretire (though seven months hardly qualifies as inactive these days). His family gave its blessing, so he's ready to take on anyone. Well, anyone 200 pounds and under.

"I was in Miami to watch (Samuel) Peter vs. (James) Toney; I was talking with Shannon, and hanging out with Sultan. These guys are huge and loaded with talent. I think I've changed my mind about fighting at heavyweight."

The crowd laughed, but it was no laughing matter when Hopkins challenged current heavyweight belt-holder Oleg Maskaev. Most media members would have Bernard open as a favorite to dethrone the transplanted Kazakh and become only the third fighter in boxing history to win a world title at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. Instead, Hopkins would rather face one of the two to have turned that trick -- rematching Jones.

"This fight is like, imagine, Michael Jordan vs. Magic Johnson going one on one. That game would easily get 400K-plus buys. That's what this is. Two of the best defensive masters of this generation getting it on."

Should the rematch get made, Hopkins is correct in that this bout belongs on the East Coast. My early prediction: Hopkins avenges what he believes to be the last legitimate loss on his record. My early wish: the action surpasses that of their first fight all those years ago (14, to be exact).

Tsyzu Hits Las Vegas

Ricky Hatton arrived in Las Vegas on Monday evening, posing for the media before getting settled in. Hatton makes his Sin City debut Jan. 20 when he faces Juan Urango live on HBO.

Urango doesn't have the skill, and Hatton will break his will. Hatton will KO Urango inside of 7 rounds.

Peter-Maskaev In The Works

"I have requested in a letter that the WBC order negotiations to begin immediately," said Lou Duva, on the heels of Peter's dominating victory over Toney in the WBC title eliminator last Saturday. "I would like to sit down with Dennis Rappaport as soon as (Thursday) to begin negotiations and make a fair deal for the fight. I am confident we can work it out. In the unlikely scenario that we don't, we go to a purse bid."

Peter looks unstoppable. He easily beat defensive wizard Toney and displayed a new arsenal of weapons.

Also note that Maskaev is suffering from back problems, so his mobility is very limited. Considering Maskaev has been KO'd in the past, how can he withstand the punches of the Nigerian Nightmare? Peter runs him over inside of 5 rounds.

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