Bernard Hopkins Will Beat Up Roy Jones in Three Weeks
Nearly two decades after their first matchup, Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard โThe Executionerโ Hopkins will battle in a light heavyweight contest April 17 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The rematch was tentatively agreed to by both parties last autumn.
However, the fight was temporarily unhinged when Jones (54-6, 40 KOs) was knocked onto Queer Street by Danny Green (28-3, 25 KOs) in the first round in โThe Green Machineโsโ native land of Australia on Dec. 2.
โWhen I heard he got knocked out in the first round, I said, โOK, he got knocked down, didnโt get up,โโ said Hopkins, 45. โBut I looked at the tape and said, โwait a minute. They stopped the fight based on this?โ Even if it wasnโt stopped prematurely, a wounded animal is a dangerous animal.
"That he has to redeem himself and that one fight can change everybodyโs minds and the way they perceive him to be when itโs over, then that last episode of Roy Jonesโ career would be my biggest motivation to win.โ
In May 1993, Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KOs) lost to Jones by a unanimous decision for the vacant IBF middleweight belt.
Since their last encounter in the ring, Jones and Hopkins have become two of the most accomplished pugilists in boxing history.
The public has long clamored for an encore between the two legendary pugilists.
Unfortunately, the bout is now slated to occur approximately 10 years too late.
If this fight is unexpectedly moved to Caesars Palace in Sin City, promoters should bill the showdown, โThe Geezers brawl at Caesars.โ
โItโs time to take care of business,โ said Jones, 41, who was named โFighter of the Decadeโ for the 1990โs by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Jones claimed that he is not concerned about facing Hopkins whatsoever.
โI beat him with one hand the first time,โ Jones said of his original match against Hopkins, in which he fought with a damaged right hand. โWhat am I worried about?โ
When Jones initially scrapped Hopkins, โB-Hopโ was a green pugilist who had only recently discovered The Sweet Science while he served time in Graterford Prison in Pennsylvania for nine felony convictions.
Over the course of the next 15 years, Hopkins became arguably the greatest middleweight champion in the annals of boxing.
Hopkins was able to successfully defend his middleweight world championship a record 20 times over a span of 10 years.
Additionally, โB-Hopโ is the oldest man to ever capture the middleweight championship.
โThis fight isnโt about money,โ said Hopkins, who has publicly stated that he believes Jones is the only man to ever genuinely beat him in his career. โItโs personal.โ
For Hopkins, perhaps this fight isnโt about money.
On the contrary, Jones is still an active prizefighter simply because he needs income.
โJones is only in it for the money,โ said Mike Cappiello, a native of Brockton who once fought for the IBO super featherweight title and retired with an impressive mark of 33-6. โHe has nothing else to fall back on.โ
Hopkins has aged gracefully.
Sadly, and somewhat pathetically, Jones has grayed like one of the Golden Girls .
โI canโt wait,โ proclaimed Jones, who is protesting his loss to Green like a clown pocket because he contends the Australian used an excessive amount of gauze to wrap his hands.
Jones should be hesitant what he wishes for.
1993 is in the distant past.
In 2010, โThe Executionerโ will show โJuniorโ both the ropes and the canvas.
*Cappiello Brothers Boxing gym is located on 162 Main Street in Brockton, Massachusetts (02301).
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