As a Hopkins fan, I'm very happy with the result! However I'll say that I'm disappointed with the fight. The reason being is because both fighters really showed their age for the first time. Both of them looked a little bit sluggish, a little slower, and a little less powerful than usual.
As for the scoring of the fight it was really close and tough to judge - some of the rounds could have gone either way. Coming into the 11th round I had it about even - or possibly one round to B-hops favor (I admit one round I couldn't call because I missed half of it), but in the end to me, the 11th and 12th rounds sealed the deal for Hopkins mainly because Wright honestly looked like he was about to pass out! I have NEVER seen Wright look so exhausted and he looked liked the 42 year old and Hopkins looked like the 35 year old. If you don't believe me, watch the last round and watch Winky throw wild punches that miss badly and damn near result in him falling to the ground. It was kind of sad to see, for both fighters, but more so for Winky.
Overall it was an semi-entertaining fight. But for the simple fact that I've seen both fighters fight so much better, it leads me to believe that father time has finally caught up with both fighters. And even though it was only one year ago when Hopkins punished Tarver and looked like a 25 year old fighter, and Wright pushed Taylor further than anyone else ever did, both fighters need to seriously consider retirement.
BTW, I'm also pretty fucked up so what do I know? hahahaha
Anyways, Hopkins called out Calzaghe at the end of the fight. I'm not so sure if I want to see that because Calzaghe may be able to out-work old-man Hopkins and it would be a real shame for someone like Calzaghe, who really only has one impressive win on his resume, to beat a legend like Hopkins. It could end up like Ali losing to Holmes, or Sugar Ray Leonard losing to Camacho (both fighters they could have beat in their prime).
If it were me, I'd call it quits if I were b-hop - two great wins over Tarver and Wright - you got nothing else to prove. You're a hall of famer. Go out on top.
However, if he were to fight one last time, I'd much rather see him take on Jones jr. for a rematch just so hopkins can win and get revenge. Basically what I'm saying is that I don't think Hopkins can compete with the younger fighters any more.
As for Wright, I'd consider retirement, but probably the best advice is to go back down in weight to 154 and fight again. Make your decision based on the results of that fight.
As for the scoring of the fight it was really close and tough to judge - some of the rounds could have gone either way. Coming into the 11th round I had it about even - or possibly one round to B-hops favor (I admit one round I couldn't call because I missed half of it), but in the end to me, the 11th and 12th rounds sealed the deal for Hopkins mainly because Wright honestly looked like he was about to pass out! I have NEVER seen Wright look so exhausted and he looked liked the 42 year old and Hopkins looked like the 35 year old. If you don't believe me, watch the last round and watch Winky throw wild punches that miss badly and damn near result in him falling to the ground. It was kind of sad to see, for both fighters, but more so for Winky.
Overall it was an semi-entertaining fight. But for the simple fact that I've seen both fighters fight so much better, it leads me to believe that father time has finally caught up with both fighters. And even though it was only one year ago when Hopkins punished Tarver and looked like a 25 year old fighter, and Wright pushed Taylor further than anyone else ever did, both fighters need to seriously consider retirement.
BTW, I'm also pretty fucked up so what do I know? hahahaha
Anyways, Hopkins called out Calzaghe at the end of the fight. I'm not so sure if I want to see that because Calzaghe may be able to out-work old-man Hopkins and it would be a real shame for someone like Calzaghe, who really only has one impressive win on his resume, to beat a legend like Hopkins. It could end up like Ali losing to Holmes, or Sugar Ray Leonard losing to Camacho (both fighters they could have beat in their prime).
If it were me, I'd call it quits if I were b-hop - two great wins over Tarver and Wright - you got nothing else to prove. You're a hall of famer. Go out on top.
However, if he were to fight one last time, I'd much rather see him take on Jones jr. for a rematch just so hopkins can win and get revenge. Basically what I'm saying is that I don't think Hopkins can compete with the younger fighters any more.
As for Wright, I'd consider retirement, but probably the best advice is to go back down in weight to 154 and fight again. Make your decision based on the results of that fight.
^^He IS my all-time favorite fighter, so I hope you're right about Winky's style just making b-hop looking a bit different than usual. That well may be the case because there is no question that b-hop had more energy than Winky in the later rounds.
But we'll see.
My concern is that I just want Hopkins to retire on top.
BTW, I was seriously one click away from dropping $250 dollars on B-hop for the win but I got cold feet. DAMN YOU JESUS!!!
But we'll see.
My concern is that I just want Hopkins to retire on top.
BTW, I was seriously one click away from dropping $250 dollars on B-hop for the win but I got cold feet. DAMN YOU JESUS!!!
that fat ass cut on Winky was caused by a headbutt, tha judges clearly favored B Hop because he was bullying Winky in the ring, and how many times did ref warn Hopkins again? lol
come on man, there is no way that fight was that lopsided...no way in hell.
if anything, i would have called that shit a draw just like lederman saw it, possibly 1 or 2 points favoring Hopkins, but if ref would have taken the points away for clinching and what not i think it would have been a draw anyway...who knows though...lol
no telling what those judges were watching.
come on man, there is no way that fight was that lopsided...no way in hell.
if anything, i would have called that shit a draw just like lederman saw it, possibly 1 or 2 points favoring Hopkins, but if ref would have taken the points away for clinching and what not i think it would have been a draw anyway...who knows though...lol
no telling what those judges were watching.
Yeah I had it a lot closer than the judges, but still in favor of b-hop.
Honestly though this fight was really hard to judge. It really depends on what the judge is impressed by. B-hop's bullying tactics, or Wright's defensive, technical skills. Like I said, it's tough to judge - I wouldn't have been upset if it was a draw, or even Winky winning the fight.
Shit, I mean imo Mayweather beat De la hoya by at least 3 or 4 rounds....but it ended up a split decision. So those judges were fooled by Oscar's large amounts of missed punches.
Honestly though this fight was really hard to judge. It really depends on what the judge is impressed by. B-hop's bullying tactics, or Wright's defensive, technical skills. Like I said, it's tough to judge - I wouldn't have been upset if it was a draw, or even Winky winning the fight.
Shit, I mean imo Mayweather beat De la hoya by at least 3 or 4 rounds....but it ended up a split decision. So those judges were fooled by Oscar's large amounts of missed punches.
surgurliman is right, because #1, Hopkins always fights like that but usually looks decent against other fighters who he dominates. He couldn't dominate Winky so it made the fight look extra ugly. But if anyone got exposed, it was Winky. Not literally exposed, but he definitely showed more wear than B-Hop..
British broadcast of the fight: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BVHEZ5G8
British broadcast of the fight: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BVHEZ5G8
IT WAS POWER PUNCHES THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE, WINKY JUST BE THROWING LOVE TAPS MOST OF THE TIME. WINKY WAS THE AGGRESSOR AT LEAST THE FIRST 6 ROUNDS AND I TOLD FOLKS THAT HE WAS GONNA TIRE OUT AND HE DID.
WINKY DOES HAVE ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSES THATS WHAT MADE IT LOOK LIKE HOPKINS WASNT AS EFFECTIVE AS HE NORMALLY IS.
WINKY DOES HAVE ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSES THATS WHAT MADE IT LOOK LIKE HOPKINS WASNT AS EFFECTIVE AS HE NORMALLY IS.
I had it a very close fight but I thought Bernard should have won by a real close decision. I think B-hop needs to hang em up because he holds too damn much. He got off his punches and then started holding...
I don't think Winky should retire yet... but he shouldn't be fighting at that weight. He needs to be fighting at about 15 pounds lighter.
I don't think Winky should retire yet... but he shouldn't be fighting at that weight. He needs to be fighting at about 15 pounds lighter.
It was definitely a nasty fight and lived up to the expectations of two defensive, some-what dirty fighters. Both of them are guilty of clinching though:
The one thing you got to know about Hopkins, if you didn't already, is that he will do whatever it takes to win the fight, even if that means to appear boring to the fans. He's 42 years old and knows all the dirty tricks in the game and uses them to his advantage.
It wasn't a typical Hopkins fight, but I think mainly it was simply about the match-up - Wright/Hopkins is a very bad match based on their styles.
A post-fight CompuBox count found 132 combined clinches in the fight. Hopkins initiated 74, Wright 53, with five mutual clinches. Of Wright’s 53 clinches, 41 occurred between rounds 8 and 12, with 19 occurring in the last minute of each round.
The one thing you got to know about Hopkins, if you didn't already, is that he will do whatever it takes to win the fight, even if that means to appear boring to the fans. He's 42 years old and knows all the dirty tricks in the game and uses them to his advantage.
It wasn't a typical Hopkins fight, but I think mainly it was simply about the match-up - Wright/Hopkins is a very bad match based on their styles.
GREAT year for boxing and we still have some huge fights coming up (mayweather/hatton, calzaghe/kessler, taylor/pavlik, pacquiao/berrera, cotto/mosley, etc.). Should easily be a record year for boxing in total PPV sales (boxing is dead, eh?)
"The July 21 Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright light heavyweight championship fight on HBO PPV generated between 300,000 and 330,000 buys -- roughly $15 million -- Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. "I would definitely say it was a big success, especially being in the middle of the summer," he said. "It shows that Bernard has become a pay-per-view attraction and that he consistently delivers fights above 300,000 homes. There are very few fighters who can do that." The fight ranks as the year's second-most successful boxing pay-per-view event behind the record-shattering Floyd Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya bout on May 5."
"The July 21 Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright light heavyweight championship fight on HBO PPV generated between 300,000 and 330,000 buys -- roughly $15 million -- Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. "I would definitely say it was a big success, especially being in the middle of the summer," he said. "It shows that Bernard has become a pay-per-view attraction and that he consistently delivers fights above 300,000 homes. There are very few fighters who can do that." The fight ranks as the year's second-most successful boxing pay-per-view event behind the record-shattering Floyd Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya bout on May 5."
Yeah that was Hagler. It was kind of weird because b-hop has always said that hagler is his idol, watched all of his fights, and tries to mimic him as far as his work ethics go. So b-hop invited him to be at the fight. And then hagler picked wright to win. 
"You fought like we fought back in the day,' " Hopkins said, relating what Hagler told him in the ring. "Coming from a guy like Marvin Hagler, it means a lot."
From what I understand Hagler is fine. I saw some show on ESPN or whatever and they were saying Hagler is such a freak of nature because of the amount of wars he was in and to this day he seems perfectly fine, still sharp and witty. It's my understanding that he lives in Italy, which probably explains why you don't hear about him...
From Wikipedia:
Career After Boxing
After the loss to Leonard, he moved to Italy, where he made movies: his roles include a US Marine in the movie Indio and "Indio 2". In 1995, he starred alongside Giselle Blondet in another low budget film. Hagler also does regular boxing commentary for British Television.
"You fought like we fought back in the day,' " Hopkins said, relating what Hagler told him in the ring. "Coming from a guy like Marvin Hagler, it means a lot."
From what I understand Hagler is fine. I saw some show on ESPN or whatever and they were saying Hagler is such a freak of nature because of the amount of wars he was in and to this day he seems perfectly fine, still sharp and witty. It's my understanding that he lives in Italy, which probably explains why you don't hear about him...
From Wikipedia:
Career After Boxing
After the loss to Leonard, he moved to Italy, where he made movies: his roles include a US Marine in the movie Indio and "Indio 2". In 1995, he starred alongside Giselle Blondet in another low budget film. Hagler also does regular boxing commentary for British Television.
Hopkins fined $200,000 for weigh-in scuffle with Wright
ESPN News
LAS VEGAS -- Nevada boxing regulators fined Bernard Hopkins $200,000 on Friday for instigating a weigh-in brawl before his July fight with Winky Wright.
"In Nevada, no melees, no free-for-alls, no fighting should be taking place at a weigh-in," State Athletic Commission Chairman Tony Alamo told Hopkins at a hearing. "The only time there should be fighting going on is the night of the fight."
Hopkins' fine, left to the discretion of the five-member panel, amounts to 6 percent of the $3 million purse he took away from scoring a unanimous decision over Wright on July 20.
No one was injured in the onstage scuffle, which erupted after Hopkins and Wright went toe-to-toe at the weigh-in and Hopkins shoved his hand in Wright's face. Wright did not face any disciplinary action from the fracas.
Asked to explain what set him off, Hopkins told the commissioners that Wright's entourage was talking trash about his dead mother.
"I didn't feel that it was appropriate. My mom is in her grave, leave that alone, that's personal," Hopkins said. "When his people were trying to cheer him on and get in my head, it worked a little."
Several commissioners said they were surprised to see Hopkins before them, noting his clean record and his reputation for control in the ring.
"You're a smooth, smooth fighter. ... I consider you a mature, savvy man but you lost it that night," Commissioner Joe Brown said. "We have to send a signal that we won't tolerate this."
Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) currently is the WBC's 6th ranked light heavyweight.
Before fighting Wright, the 42-year-old Hopkins had retired last year after a career highlighted by 21 straight middleweight title defenses and last year's shocking win over Antonio Tarver. After defeating Wright, he said he would like to fight the undefeated Joe Calzaghe of Wales.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
ESPN News
LAS VEGAS -- Nevada boxing regulators fined Bernard Hopkins $200,000 on Friday for instigating a weigh-in brawl before his July fight with Winky Wright.
"In Nevada, no melees, no free-for-alls, no fighting should be taking place at a weigh-in," State Athletic Commission Chairman Tony Alamo told Hopkins at a hearing. "The only time there should be fighting going on is the night of the fight."
Hopkins' fine, left to the discretion of the five-member panel, amounts to 6 percent of the $3 million purse he took away from scoring a unanimous decision over Wright on July 20.
No one was injured in the onstage scuffle, which erupted after Hopkins and Wright went toe-to-toe at the weigh-in and Hopkins shoved his hand in Wright's face. Wright did not face any disciplinary action from the fracas.
Asked to explain what set him off, Hopkins told the commissioners that Wright's entourage was talking trash about his dead mother.
"I didn't feel that it was appropriate. My mom is in her grave, leave that alone, that's personal," Hopkins said. "When his people were trying to cheer him on and get in my head, it worked a little."
Several commissioners said they were surprised to see Hopkins before them, noting his clean record and his reputation for control in the ring.
"You're a smooth, smooth fighter. ... I consider you a mature, savvy man but you lost it that night," Commissioner Joe Brown said. "We have to send a signal that we won't tolerate this."
Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) currently is the WBC's 6th ranked light heavyweight.
Before fighting Wright, the 42-year-old Hopkins had retired last year after a career highlighted by 21 straight middleweight title defenses and last year's shocking win over Antonio Tarver. After defeating Wright, he said he would like to fight the undefeated Joe Calzaghe of Wales.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press