The Brilliance of Bernard Hopkins By Steve Kim (Oct 21, 2008) Photo © Will Hart/HBO Send this page to friend Give us your feedback It was on Sunday afternoon, while I was at the Philadelphia International Airport awaiting my flight back to Los Angeles that I received the message from Tom Gerbasi that he would be taking care of the Monday lead and that I could type out my '15 Rounds' column for Tuesday (thanks Tom, I was beat). But outside of the fatigue, I needed the extra time to fully comprehend what I had witnessed about 13 hours earlier at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It's not often you travel 3,000 miles to see a one-sided shutout and come away thinking you had the honor of witnessing something so sublime and special.   After he had completed his 12 round whitewash of Kelly Pavlik, Bernard Hopkins stared out into press row and gave us guys behind the laptops his best Graterford State Penitentiary glare. For a good minute or so, he stood frozen, his eyes never even blinking once. He didn't need to really say anything - we all got the message, loud and clear. This was jailhouse communication from the man who served five years in that joint for strong-armed robbery beginning as a 17-year old in 1984. He had proved us wrong once again. In giving yet another career-defining performance at age 43 - versus a fighter who was 17 years his junior - he proved he was/is a prizefighter that could've competed in any era of boxing.   As he finally halted his visual scolding of his doubters, something that was considered even more unlikely than his domination of Pavlik occurred on this most unlikely of evenings - his lower lip started to quiver, and a hard man who takes pride in telling everyone and anyone that he hadn't cried in decades, began to get emotional before embracing Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer in the middle of the ring where he had boxed so brilliantly.   Yes, 'the Executioner' was so good, he brought himself to tears (almost).   "I'm tired of proving, tired of proving to the same naysayers that motivate me, don't you all know you motivate me, man?" he would say at the post-fight press conference, where he explained that his message ringside was intended for veteran boxing scribe Tim Smith, with whom he's had a long relationship with. Hey, even Hopkins has feelings. Who would've thunk it? "I mean, what I gotta do, kill somebody, man? I believe I'm the most underrated fighter when it comes to defense, when it comes to offense, when it comes to my heart. In my heart I had to prove something. Because in my heart, on paper, yeah, I got three losses that I believe I shouldn't have had."   Hopkins is referring to his pair of controversial losses to Jermain Taylor in 2005 and his 12-round split decision verdict to Joe Calzaghe this past April, where it looked so plainly evident that Hopkins was a spent bullet who could no longer push the gas pedal for 36 minutes. Yes, he could use his guile and wiliness to survive fights, but could he do enough offensively for 12 innings and beat the game’s current blue-chippers?   Impossible, we all said in unison.   But like he did against Felix Trinidad in 2001 and Antonio Tarver in 2006, he confounded the experts once again. By now I'm sure you've read all the superlatives. I'm not sure I can add much more, but I'll say this: I've seen some special things with a media credential hanging from my neck (Marquez-Vazquez III, Barrera-Morales I and Margarito-Cotto) but I'm not so sure this particular performance doesn't trump them all. What he gave was an exhibition in boxing. But beyond that, a clinic. And it was such a virtuoso performance that you could call it a one-man concert. His deft footwork and movement never allowed Pavlik to set his feet and punch with any leverage. His chin, which is tucked in so tightly and hidden so well that if you lifted it up Osama Bin Laden might fall out of it, was an elusive target for Youngstown's favorite son. His counterpunching was precise and accurate. And what was most startling was that his hand-speed and combination punching, which had been dormant for some time, reappeared.   He didn't just turn back the clock. He went into a time machine. Many are saying that he's the best 'old boxer' to have ever lived ('Old' being above 40 I'm assuming). And there is plenty of merit to that claim. This particular performance certainly has to be ranked as the best ever for a man of his advanced age. While George Foreman captured the heavyweight title at the age of 45, he essentially landed one or two big punches against a chinny Michael Moorer. Archie Moore had to get off the canvas four times to overcome Yvon Durelle in their classic light heavyweight battle. You can even make an argument that Hopkins is perhaps the best world-class athlete ever at this age. While Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens put up incomparable numbers at the end of their careers, they are tainted by allegations of illicit performance-enhancing drugs. Jack Nicklaus won the Masters in '86 in his mid-40's but nobody is trying to punch you in the face in golf. Perhaps the only one at Hopkins' elite level is swimmer Dara Torres (who is not only in her 40's but also a mother - something not even Bernard can ever claim to be), who participated in the Olympics during the 1980's and just competed in Beijing over the summer.   But this much is clear, nobody has proved more people consistently wrong in this sport quite like the hard-nosed Philadelphian. He has served up about as much crow as McDonalds has Big Macs.   On the various boxing forums there are debates as to where Hopkins really rates among the all-time great middleweights. Some believe that he is now right up there alongside the likes of Robinson, Monzon and Hagler. Before this bout, that would've been considered blasphemy to many old-school denizens of the sport, but what's ironic is that Hopkins' recent resume, which certainly aids his cause, actually comes above the middleweight level. And while Hopkins has clearly benefited from an era with four major belts (which he happened to consolidate over time) and while there may not have been any other great 160-pounders during his run (much like Hagler, whose most notable win, like Hopkins, came against a natural welterweight) it must also be noted that none of those other guys won a light heavyweight title and had such sustained success late in their careers.   There will still be plenty of debate as to what this does for his middleweight standing. But there's certainly no denying what it does for his legacy as an overall fighter.   It's ironic that for this trip back east I picked up a book penned by Frank Fitzpatrick, 'The Lion in Autumn', which chronicled the terrible 2004 season of the Penn State football team and it's then-embattled coach and icon Joe Paterno. As they struggled through another losing season, it was thought that JoePa was an individual whose best days were long behind him and the game had passed him by. Well, as you fast-forward to the present, you see that the Nittany Lions are ranked as one of the premier teams in the country and a legitimate threat to play for the national title. Paterno is now well into his 80's. But it's clear that coaching keeps him alive, as it gives him a purpose in life. He isn't going out like Bear Bryant (who passed away just weeks after giving up his whistle and clipboard). He's a coach till the day he dies. The same applies to Hopkins, whose discipline and focus are unmatched. In a day and age when fighters have to get into shape, Hopkins never gets out of it. He has no real hobbies, and his interest in Golden Boy Promotions is, at best, an ancillary passion. What he loves to do is fight. But what sets him apart from everyone else is that he also loves to prepare for them.   It was mentioned in this book that Michelangelo was a ripe 71 years old when he painted the Sistine Chapel. Well, on this cool, autumn night on the shore, Hopkins was Picasso and Rembrandt, the only difference being how he used the canvas in crafting his masterpiece.   But he's tired - tired of proving us wrong.   "I don't know what y'all going to write tomorrow," he would say. "I ain't trying to be sarcastic but I really don't care no more. Martin Luther King said he'd been to the mountaintop. Well, I've been there three or four times and I keep grabbing the rabbit out of a hat."   RIVALRY   Don't take my words above to mean that Hopkins doesn't take his role with Golden Boy seriously. After dedicating his ring attire to Schaefer, he would tell him, "Richard, I said I would not let you down two weeks ago. I said after Oscar beats Pacquiao, I hope Arum still has breath in his body. I wish nothing on nobody, but that might be the end of Top Rank."   That's just Bernard being Bernard.   JOE VS ROY   Believe it or not, the November 8th pay-per-view bout between Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones got the best promotional push it could've asked for with Hopkins' scintillating performance (and the word is that this show is struggling at the box-office) because now instead of being just another fight in boxing's never-ending Senior's Tour, it now has the potential to determine just who will be Hopkins' next foe in 2009.   Just think about it, if Jones should pull the upset, Hopkins-Jones II is one of the biggest promotions that could be made in 2009. Which is amazing, considering that the original took place in 1993 and those two seemingly negotiated their way out of the rematch back in 2002 (60-40 vs 50-50, remember that?).   As for a rematch with Calzaghe, based on how it did in Vegas (where it was a bust), you have to believe it would be headed for Europe, where it would do big business.   FINAL FLURRIES   A big thanks to Russell Peltz, who actually picked me up from the airport on Thursday afternoon and gave me a ride to AC. He's simply the best promoter that ever lived. Of course if Murad Muhammad picked me up, I'd say the exact same thing. But then, I'd probably be left without my bags and in Newark....It's finally been made official, the Chris Arreola-Travis Walker, Paul Williams-Verno Phillips doubleheader on November 29th will take place at the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, California....Goossen-Tutor also announced the signing of 2008 US Olympian Sean Estrada....There is nobody more unwatchable than Billy Dib...Is Washington State the worst Pac 10 team ever? They are the Bruce 'the Mouse' Strauss of college football.....OK, I love 'the Office', but please, no more of Jan and her baby, it's horrible.....Some big games on Saturday, Penn State - Ohio State, Texas-Oklahoma State and Georgia-LSU....Is anyone going to actually watch the World Series? But go Phils, because of them, I can enjoy the post-season again..... For Questions or Comments E-Mail Steve: k9kim@maxboxing.com Today's Boxing Press Discuss this Topic - Go to the forums