Will Hopkins Continue To Make Boxing History?

There is no doubt that Bernard Hopkins has had a legendary career. Hopkins cemented his status as a future Hall of Famer by setting the all-time record for successful Middleweight championship defenses, successfully defending his title an incredible twenty times in a title reign that spanned ten years from 1995-2005. 

In addition to his many accomplishments Hopkins was not only able to retain the IBF Middleweight championship he won versus Segundo Mercado in 1995, but unified all four major division titles. The journey to “Undisputed Champion” spanned nine years with Hopkins completing the unification process with his knockout win over Oscar De La Hoya in 2004.  

Hopkins became the first man to unify all four major championships and thus far no other fighter has been able to accomplish this feat. Hopkins has written his name and legacy in stone as one of the greatest fighters in Boxing history. 

Hopkins would continue to write Boxing history when after losing his Middleweight world championship via controversial decision to Jermain Taylor in 2005 and failing to regain the title in the rematch. Hopkins moved up to the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division in 2006 and dominated former Light-Heavyweight world champion Antonio Tarver to win a twelve round unanimous decision.

Although Hopkins was on the losing end of disputed decisions twice against Jermain Taylor and even though he would go on to lose a close decision to Joe Calzaghe at Light-Heavyweight, all three of those fights could have gone either way. Despite those setbacks Hopkins would continue to defy the odds.  Hopkins would win his first of two Light-Heavyweight world titles by defeating Jean Pascal in their second encounter in May 2011 for the WBC world championship. 

Hopkins, with that win broke George Foreman’s record as the oldest fighter in history to win a world championship at age forty-six would lose the WBC title in his second fight with Chad Dawson in April 2012. Much like his losses to Taylor and Calzaghe, Hopkins’ loss to Dawson was also a close fight that could have gone either way.  

As has been the norm for Hopkins he was able to bounce back, defeating previously undefeated IBF world champion Tavoris Cloud in March of last year. In doing so, Hopkins broke his own record by once again becoming the oldest fighter to become world champion in the history of the sport.  

In his last fight in October of last year Hopkins scored a dominant twelve round unanimous decision over number one contender Karo Murat.  Although much of the attention of the Light-Heavyweight division in recent times has focused on the rise of Adonis Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev, both of whom won versions of the World Light-Heavyweight championship in the last year, there is no argument that Bernard Hopkins is the marquee draw of the division. A fighter that all in the division seek an opportunity to fight.  

The question that will continue to follow Hopkins now at age forty-nine is how much longer will he continue with his career?  In terms of the immediate future Hopkins will set his sights on WBA world champion Beibut Shumenov as they meet in a unification bout for both the IBF and WBA world titles Saturday night in Washington, D.C. 

A valid argument going into this fight is Beibut Shumenov has not gotten the attention as the other champions in the division, despite being the longest reigning champion of the four.  Shumenov, a native of Kazakhstan won the WBA championship in only his tenth pro fight by defeating Gabriel Campillo in January 2010. Despite the victory and the short amount of time it took Shumenov to win a world title, his reign as champion has been obscure successfully defending his title five times in his four years as champion thus far.  Shumenov does however, have notable wins not only against Campillo, but also against former longtime WBA Middleweight world champion William Joppy and Enrique Ornelas both of whom were defeated by Hopkins over the course of their careers. 

Despite those victories, Shumenov has not been able to get a marquee level fight until this unification bout with Hopkins was made.  Although logic would seem to say that the odds will be significantly in Hopkins’ favor, the thirty-year old Shumenov does have youth on his side by going against a fighter nearly two decades his senior. 

There is no question however, that when it comes the experience factor Hopkins is simply on a higher level than anyone Shumenov has faced thus far in his career.  Hopkins is a master of the craft. As is the case with all Bernard Hopkins opponents it will be interesting to see how Shumenov reacts to the master craftsman Hopkins and particularly if he can find a way to get past Hopkins’ solid defense and land more than occasionally.  

Shumenov does have some punching power and has registered a career knockout percentage of sixty percent in fifteen professional fights.  An argument that some might say that was effective for Taylor, Calzaghe, and Dawson in their fights against Hopkins and a reason they were given the nod in those close fights was their ability to get off first and outwork Hopkins in close rounds.  This could be part of Shumenov’s strategy to get off first and keep Hopkins on the defensive.  

Hopkins however, has always been very elusive, with the ability to slip punches in close and counter punch with precision.  There is no doubt in my mind that early on in this fight Hopkins will likely be looking to see what Shumenov has to offer and will be looking to set traps and exploit openings.  Whether Shumenov can get off first and manage to avoid being countered remains to be seen.  

Some might say that the best way for Shumenov to approach this fight is to establish a fast pace with the intention of making Hopkins uncomfortable from the outset.  Fighters such as Jermain Taylor and Jean Pascal were able to have success early in fights with Hopkins by getting off first and making Hopkins fight at a faster pace than is typically his norm. It will be interesting to see whether or not Shumenov can establish a quick pace and maintain it for twelve rounds.

In addition to what could be an interesting fight between two world champions it is important to keep in mind what this fight will mean in terms of the bigger picture.  Earlier this month in my column examining the changing landscape of the Light-Heavyweight division, I touched on the element of the current landscape of not just the Light-Heavyweight division, but of the sport as a whole with two of the sport’s major players HBO and Showtime who have been rivals for many years being in competition and the positives and negatives that some might say the rivalry has for fighters.

This observer has long been of the opinion that the more that there is increased competition among television networks to bring the best fights to their audience, the better it will be for the sport.  Although some might say that the negative aspects of rival networks and promoters in competition with each other could and has prevented some fights from being made, there are also positives that emerge from such circumstances.

In regard to the Light-Heavyweight division one man who will likely benefit from this rivalry is Bernard Hopkins.  He is after all the marquee attraction of the division.  With WBC champion Adonis Stevenson preparing to soon defend his title against top contender Andrzej Fonfara on May 24th on Showtime in the United States and with Hopkins-Shumenov also being televised by Showtime this weekend this theoretically could present a scenario of further unification of the World Light-Heavyweight championship.  

It could be logical to see the winners of both fights face-off later this year in another unification clash. One must also not forget the WBO world champion Sergey Kovalev, who also is very much in the mix.  Although Kovalev has fought his recent fights on HBO, it is also logical to assume that Kovalev would want to be involved in this unification tournament of sorts.

If Hopkins is successful on Saturday night against Beibut Shumenov, this scenario could present something truly historic for him.  Hopkins is already the only man ever to fully unify a world championship with all four major sanctioning organizations in a weight class.  At forty-nine years old, could a scenario present itself for Hopkins to attempt to duplicate that feat in a second weight class?

Bernard Hopkins has already cemented his legacy and no doubt is a first ballot Hall of Famer.  For a fighter who has made a habit of rewriting Boxing history and doing things his way if the scenario of potentially fully unifying another weight class at this stage of his career is presented to him, it would be the icing on the cake. If Hopkins is looking for a scenario, which to end his career, it is hard to envision a better storybook ending.  

Beibut Shumenov however, is probably not too concerned with the likes of Stevenson, Fonfara, and Kovalev. For Shumenov this is his first chance on Boxing’s marquee stage against a legitimate legend of the sport.  This fight against Hopkins is likely Shumenov’s primary focus. Should he be successful on Saturday night it would catapult him into the discussion for potential unification fights down the road and his name recognition value would instantly go up.  A fighter looking to prove that he belongs on the marquee stage of the sport should be viewed as extremely dangerous and not someone to take lightly.

What will happen when Hopkins and Shumenov square off? We will find out Saturday night.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Pacquiao-Bradley:Vindication For Both

The first fight between Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao will forever be known for the cloud of controversy that emerged following the decision in that fight by three judges that many, myself included thought was a travesty. If there was a silver lining in the controversy that not only did damage to both fighters, but also to the integrity of the sport, is when there is a controversial outcome, there is always the potential for a rematch.

In the two years since their first fight both fighters have gone through trials and tribulations. Bradley sought validation and recognition for not only his victory in the first fight, but also the recognition that he was due as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. Pacquiao, after losing two of his last three fights, including a devastating knockout at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez looked to prove that he was still the fighter who had spent years dominating fighters much bigger than himself as he went up the weight scale through various weight classes with relative ease.

For two fighters seeking vindication it was more than appropriate that a rematch take place. On April 12th, Boxing fans got the rematch that they demanded. In the lead up to the rematch I commented that the most intriguing storyline in my mind centered on the three judges who were charged the responsibility of rendering a decision if the fight went the full twelve round distance. In all honesty, I felt that although both fighters are highly skilled that the fight might not have been as tactical due to both fighters not wanting to leave any doubt as to the outcome of this fight.

Although I did not expect either fighter to come out with reckless abandon I was somewhat surprised to see the fight begin tactically with both fighters looking to counter each other. In contrast, to the first fight, where Pacquiao was able to land his left hand and mix in combinations in the early going, the story of the early rounds of the rematch was Bradley’s ability to bring the fight to Pacquiao and land his right hand to the body and head. I feel Bradley won three out of the first four rounds based largely on being the aggressor and his lateral movement. This was highlighted twice in the early rounds first in round two when Pacquiao knocked Bradley off balance with a straight left hand and Bradley came back very aggressively. Bradley returned the favor in round four by staggering Pacquiao with an overhand right that briefly lifted Pacquiao off the canvas.

Bradley, who said prior to the fight that he was looking to knock Pacquiao out was clearly intent to not let this fight go to the scorecards. It was also clear that Bradley was able to stun Pacquiao in this fight, which was something he wasn’t able to do in the first fight. As the fight progressed however, the momentum shifted in Pacquiao’s favor.

 Gradually Bradley’s aggression seemed to start working against him in that he was putting so much behind everything he threw.  As the fight went on it seemed as though he missed more than he landed and seemed to change his strategy slightly as he looked to entice Pacquiao to come in recklessly and catch him coming in. Bradley clearly was looking to land one knockout punch in the same manner that Juan Manuel Marquez was able to knock Pacquiao out in their fourth fight in December 2012. This allowed Pacquiao in my mind to take the initiative and outwork Bradley in spurts over the course of much of the second half of the fight.

Some might believe that it would have served Bradley better to box Pacquiao and not look to land power shots whenever he threw punches. Whether or not Bradley’s strategy was directly attributed to the blame some placed upon him after the controversial outcome of the first fight in not wanting to leave any doubts in the rematch is a question that only he can answer. As the fight went on I felt the strategy worked against him and cost him rounds that were otherwise close. In contrast, in the early rounds Bradley clearly brought the fight to Pacquiao and dictated how the fight was being fought.

Manny Pacquiao’s ability to make his opponent miss and respond with quick combinations and lateral movement is what turned this fight around for him in my opinion. As was the case in the first fight, the rematch between Bradley and Pacquiao would go the distance. I felt that unlike the first fight, the rematch was more competitive and that there would be some difference of opinion as to the scoring. In the first fight, I had Pacquiao winning every round based on his overall ring generalship, ability to land cleanly, and his defense.

Much like the first fight, the rematch provided rounds where you could make an argument for either fighter having won those rounds. Unlike the first fight, where I felt Timothy Bradley simply did not do enough to win rounds that wasn’t the case in the rematch. Although I feel that the fight gradually got away from him from the fifth round on, I felt that he won three out of the first four rounds clearly and can easily see how some might have scored four out of the first five rounds for him.

From my perspective, the momentum shifted to Pacquiao starting in the fifth round and Pacquiao gradually took control of the fight from that point on. Unofficially I had Manny Pacquiao winning this fight 117-111, or nine rounds to three. Unlike the first fight, there would be no controversy this time. Judges Michael Pernick and Craig Metcalfe each scored the fight 116-112, and judge Glenn Trowbridge scored the fight by a wider margin of 118-110, unanimously in favor of Pacquiao. With the win, Pacquiao regains the WBO World Welterweight championship that he had lost to Bradley in the first fight and his ninth world title overall in his career.

Following the fight, I commented on Twitter that this was an adequate decision for a fight that unlike the first fight will be remembered for all the right reasons. Although some might have difficulty in understanding the scorecard of judge Glenn Trowbridge of 118-110 or ten rounds of two, the first five rounds of this fight were what is commonly referred to as “Swing Rounds” where an argument could be made for either fighter having won those rounds. As I have said many times over the years, when it comes to “Swing Rounds” it will often boil down to what a judge prefers in their own individual criteria based on clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship, and defense that will determine who wins a round.

Even though some may not agree with judge Trowbridge’s scorecard, I believe that all three judges were very consistent in this fight and deserve praise for the adequate job they did in this fight. There was no controversy in this fight and that should be viewed as a win for the sport in the bigger picture.

One fight however, will probably not erase the memory of the questionable judging that took place in the first fight between Pacquiao and Bradley. Although I commend judges Pernick, Metcalfe, and Trowbridge for the solid job they did in this fight, I again must express my opinion that the need for a national organization to oversee the sport of Boxing in the United States is something that is still needed.

For Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao, I feel that both fighters achieved redemption in this fight. Despite suffering the first loss of his career and losing his world title, Timothy Bradley fought like a warrior and it is my hope that the unjust blame he received after the first fight is now quelled and put in the past. Bradley was before the first fight and still is after the rematch one of the best fighters in the world. This loss will do nothing to diminish Bradley’s standing among the best pound for pound fighters in the world.

For Manny Pacquiao, he has now avenged one of two losses that most Boxing fans and experts alike feel caused him to lose his standing at or near the top of most pound for pound lists. Whether this victory leads to a fifth encounter with Juan Manuel Marquez remains to be seen. Of course talk will surface again of a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather, but with the current landscape of the sport with rival networks and promoters at odds and in competition with each other, it appears unlikely that a fight with Mayweather would be in the immediate future.

There are other possibilities. Although most are probably of the opinion that if a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is not made that the next best option would be a fifth fight with Marquez, it is important to remember that Marquez is scheduled to face former Jr. Welterweight champion Mike Alvarado on May 17th at the historic Forum in Inglewood, California. Although most would likely consider Marquez a heavy favorite in that fight, Alvarado is not someone to dismiss and should he beat Marquez, that would obviously elevate him as a potential opponent for Pacquiao.

There is one other thing to consider. Now that chapter 2 of the story between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley has concluded, will there be a chapter 3? Based on the competitive nature of the rematch and what is likely still a source of contention as to the scoring in the first fight, a third encounter does seem logical.

Timothy Bradley has always given his best every time he enters the ring and he did give Pacquiao a rematch. Both Bradley and Pacquiao are class acts that are shining examples of the greatest Boxing has to offer. If it is an available option, I have no reason to believe that Pacquiao would not return the favor.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Bradley-Pacquiao: Chapter 2 Will There Be Closure?

In the sport of Boxing there are several reasons why a rematch would be considered by the parties involved in a fight.  A reason such as a highly competitive fight between two world-class fighters with a healthy difference of opinion as to who won the fight would obviously fuel interest in a rematch. There are also other reasons why a rematch might take place.  Of course, one of the most obvious reasons might be from a business standpoint.

From a financial perspective sometimes no matter how competitive a fight may or may not have been in the ring, a possible rematch may simply boil down to how successful a fight might have been in terms of both live gate and pay-per-view numbers. There is perhaps another factor, which may play as big a role as any in determining if a rematch is warranted.  If a rematch is mandated, not necessarily by the sanctioning organizations who govern the sport, but mandated by the ultimate authority the Boxing fans.

Such a circumstance presents itself as undefeated two-division world champion and current WBO Welterweight world champion Timothy Bradley and former champion Manny Pacquiao prepare for their highly anticipated rematch Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Although it has been nearly two years since their highly controversial first encounter, there is little dispute that the rematch between the two is something that Boxing fans worldwide have demanded loud and clear.  

By now the story of what happened in the first fight between the two has become common knowledge to most Boxing fans, both casual and enthusiast alike.  Bradley, the always “Game” warrior who endured excruciating pain as he suffered ligament damage to both of his feet during the first fight with Pacquaio, but bravely fought on, despite the pain.  Bradley’s valiant performance however, will forever be overshadowed by what happened at the end of the twelve round championship bout.  

Even though there was no doubt as to Bradley’s courage in the fight, the consensus of many, this observer included was that Bradley was bested on that night in June 2012 by Manny Pacquiao. Despite the consensus of the fight being a decisive victory for Pacquiao, the decision rendered in the fight will be remembered by many as one of the most controversial and bizarre  decisions in the history of the sport.   

The opinion of many at the end of the fight was that Pacquiao had won the fight by margins of at least nine rounds to three or ten rounds to two. Although some, myself included saw this fight even wider in favor of Pacquiao in scoring the fight a shutout, there were a few rounds during the course of the fight where Bradley could have won some rounds. Rounds that are commonly referred to as “Swing Rounds” where there may not be much action taking place, where it can boil down to which fighter does a little more that might determine who wins a round.  

Despite the consensus of a clear win for Pacquiao, the three official judges saw this fight differently turning in a split decision with two judges scoring the fight 115-113 in points or seven rounds to five in favor of Bradley.  The decision was quickly met with great passion and anger by both fans and experts alike.  This observer said quite candidly both after the fight and in the days that followed that the decision rendered in this fight disgusted me. 

Unfortunately, when there is a controversial decision like what happened the first time Bradley and Pacquiao met in the ring, anger can at times be pointed in the wrong direction.  Instead of pointing anger squarely in the direction of the source of such a decision, some will choose instead to direct their anger at the fighters involved.  Such was the case with Timothy Bradley.  

Regardless of what one’s opinion might be as to who won the first fight between Bradley and Pacquiao, how Bradley was treated by some in the aftermath of that fight was unjust and one might say downright cruel. When it comes to fights that end under circumstances as that fight did, it not only does damage to the integrity of the sport as a whole, but also and perhaps more importantly can do damage to the fighters involved, specifically the fighter who would appear to be the benefactor of the controversy. Unfortunately, in this case that fighter was Timothy Bradley.

An argument should be made that the win for Bradley probably did more damage than a loss to Pacquiao would have. Despite his accomplishments prior to the first encounter with Pacquiao, those accomplishments were all, but forgotten by some. Bradley responded by defending his title in a grueling give and take battle against Ruslan Provodnikov in March of last year earning a hard fought unanimous decision victory to retain his title.   

In his last fight, Bradley engaged in a tactical dual with future Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez. In an extremely close fight that this observer scored a draw, Bradley was able to outwork Marquez and earned a split decision. Despite the two hard fought victories for Bradley since the first fight with Pacquiao, there may be some who might still question his standing in the sport as the rematch approaches.  

Although much of the negativity about the decision of the first fight has been pointed in the direction of Bradley, Manny Pacquiao has also gone through trials and tribulations in the two years since the first fight took place.  Following the loss to Bradley, Pacquiao chose to face his arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth fight in December 2012.

As has been the custom throughout the series of fights between Pacquiao and Marquez, the fourth fight delivered plenty of back and forth action. Unlike the first three fights however, the fourth encounter would not go the distance and debates as to who won the fight would not be needed. In a fight where both fighters tasted the canvas, Marquez brought the fight to a sudden end knocking Pacquiao out cold in the closing seconds of round six. 

Despite his loss to Bradley earlier that year, many still considered Pacquaio if not the number one fighter in the world, then most certainly 1-A on most pound for pound lists.  The definitive knockout at the hands of Marquez however, would change Pacquiao’s standing in the sport’s mythical pound for pound debates.  After suffering such a devastating knockout, it was also fair for some to question whether or not Pacquiao could recover.  In Pacquiao’s last fight he showed no ill effects as he dominated former WBA interim Lightweight champion Brandon Rios over twelve rounds in November of last year.

This now sets the stage for the rematch between Bradley and Pacquiao.  A few questions that some might have as this fight approaches are what effect has each fighter’s most recent fights had on them?  As well, due to the element of controversy that emerged from the first fight will it result in a much more action packed fight with both fighters not looking to leave it in the hands of the judges?  

In my eyes this fight could go several different ways. Both fighters have hand speed and both can be solid defensively. In terms of the type of fight that will be fought, I believe the fighter who can establish the pace early could be the one to dictate how the fight will be fought.  The most intriguing storyline of this fight however, does not center around the fighters and any potential tactical adjustments from the first fight.  

The main storyline of this fight in my mind centers around the three judges who will be charged with the responsibility of rendering a decision should the fight go the distance.  A valid point that the judges being a focal point of this fight can be demonstrated not only in relation to the first fight, but also the Floyd Mayweather-Saul Alvarez fight from September of last year. The decisions in both fights received much criticism thanks in part to judge C.J. Ross who served as one of three judges in both fights.

A sign of the times thanks in large part to the advent of social media has been that Boxing fans have the ability to let their voices be heard.  It is a given that much attention will be focused on the three judges for the Bradley-Pacquiao rematch.  Judges Michael Pernick, John Keane, and Glenn Trowbridge arguably have one of the most important assignments in the recent history of the sport.  

What this rematch basically amounts to is a rare scenario of two fighters who are each looking for vindication.  For Timothy Bradley he is looking to validate his first victory as he seeks a second victory over Manny Pacquiao one of Boxing’s biggest stars.  The need for validation and recognition for Bradley could be demonstrated in that although he is the champion coming into this fight, he has not gotten top billing in the promotion of this fight.  Pacquiao’s name being put before his could be looked at as a champion being disregarded.  One could say however, that the reason Pacquiao has received top billing in the build up to this fight, despite being the challenger going in and having lost the first encounter could simply have to do with his star status in the sport.  Whether it be a marketing issue or possibly a strategy to play off public opinion as to who won the first fight, for a champion it has to be a source of frustration.  

For Manny Pacquiao he is seeking to avenge his loss to Bradley nearly two years ago. In the bigger picture for Pacquiao, he also seeks to prove that the winless year he had in 2012 was not a sign of decline and that he is still among the best pound for pound fighters in the world.  Another question some might have with regard to Pacquiao is whether or not he still has a knockout mentality having not scored a knockout win since stopping Miguel Cotto in 2009.

For two fighters, each with something to prove the rematch could end up being a memorable night for Boxing fans. Not only is there a possibility of an action-packed fight between two great fighters, but also for the sport, this fight offers an opportunity to heal itself from a controversy that many consider a black eye for Boxing and could bring redemption to both fighters win or lose.  

Will Controversy emerge once again?  For the fighters sake, for the judges sake, but most importantly for Boxing fans worldwide, I certainly hope not…  

  “And That’s The Boxing Truth.” 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter:www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison