04.06.08 – By James Slater: Golden Boy Promotion’s Richard Schaefer has been talking quite frequently with Setanta Sports just recently. Aside from giving his opinion on what fighters like Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather should do in the future, Schaefer also spoke about what the future may hold in store for 43-year-old legend Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins..
Though a lot of fight fans expected B-Hop to hang ’em up after losing to Joe Calzaghe last time out back in April, it seems Hopkins has not quite made up his mind yet. Wanting to go out a winner, naturally, the former middleweight and light-heavyweight king would consider one more fight, against what Schaefer refers to as the “right opponent.”
Speaking with Setanta, the Golden Boy exec had the following to say.
“Bernard Hopkins had such a legendary career,” Schaefer said. “For him to come back in the ring it would have to be another legendary night. Against a fighter who really adds to his legacy. He is [already] a Hall of Famer, no doubt about it. If the right fights comes along, Bernard indicated to me that he would be open to entertain another fight. When I say the right opponent that might be against a Roy Jones or a Tito Trinidad. It would really have to be something that adds to his legacy.”
Would a Hopkins-Trinidad II or a Hopkins-Jones II sell? Sure. Would wins over either guy necessarily add to Hopkins’ legacy? That much is debatable. Beating up Felix Trinidad for a second time would do little to add to B-Hop’s reputation. Let’s face it, Tito should be long retired by this stage in his life. Losing consecutively to Winky Wright and then Jones, the Puerto Rican would almost certainly suffer the same fate were he to go back in with Hopkins.
A return with the man who beat him way back in 1993 would be something slightly different for Bernard, however. Gaining revenge over a rival who has beaten you is always something worth achieving when you’re the proud fighter from Philly that Hopkins is. Both seemingly pretty much evenly matched now at the veteran stage of their careers, a Hopkins-Jones return just might grab some fan attention. Not only that, but it would also offer Hopkins the chance to go out a winner while at the same time avenging a loss that has always bothered him.
What may actually prove tougher than what the prospective fight itself would be, though, is the getting of Roy Jones’ signature on the contract. Getting back in with Hopkins, a fighter who has more left than he does at present, would likely be too big a risk for R.J.