Ex world middle weight champion, Bernard Hopkins, has proclaimed his objective to step back into the ring after just six months of retirement and compete for a heavyweight world title.
Hopkins, who spent most of his career fighting at middle weight, stepped out of the ring after defeating Antonio Tarver in a light heavyweight contest back in June. But now the 41-year-old wants to confront Oleg Maskaev for his WBC heavyweight crown, he said this on the matter: “I want to bring the heavyweight championship back to the United States. I’m going to be the guy that everybody says preserved the reputation of the American fighter.” Hopkins claims that he currently weighs 180 pounds, 20 pounds above the middleweight fighting boundaries, but he intends to add on another 20 during the next month. “I plan on being a heavyweight by the end of the year,” said Hopkins.
Hopkins lucratively protected his middleweight crown for a record breaking 20 fights between 1995 and 2005, before losing two controversial verdicts to current middleweight champ Jermain Taylor. If a fight with Maskaev does not occur Hopkins said he would try and arrange a bout with super middle weight champion Joe Calzaghe to avoid the Welshman going beyond the number of his consecutive title defences. Calzaghe will equal Hopkins’ total of 20 unbeaten defences if he beats the Contender’s runner up; Peter Manfredo, next March. Hopkins said: “If I can’t make my history, then I can stop him making his history.”
There is no doubt about it Hopkins was an amazing fighter and although he had his troubles outside of the ring I believe he still has what it takes to relight his flame. I’d love to see him capture the heavyweight division because at the moment it is absolutely rubbish; it’s just whether he can add the weight and still keep his boxing ability.
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An all time great as a middleweight but I really do think that he will be making a mistake if he tries to be a heavyweight. He just won’t have the power to take out the bigger guys.
Comment by Pat Finney — December 2, 2006 @ 12:13 pm
It is a huge risk and he is going to have to put on a huge amount of weight. I doubt he will have the power and I honestly don’t belive that he will have the mobility if he adds all this extra weight. But then again the heavyweight division is not exactly the most exciting or talented and maybe we need people like Hopkins and Evander Holyfield to defy the odds and restore its greatness. But I suppose we will just have to wait and see.
Comment by Dave — December 3, 2006 @ 4:04 pm