(NEW YORK) Appearing yesterday on ESPN’s “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless, the ageless former multi-division world champion and all-time great Bernard Hopkins told viewers – with a straight face – that Gennady Golovkin can be beaten by David Lemieux this weekend in New York at Madison Square Garden.
Doing his Golden Boy Promotions best (Hopkins has a vested interest in the company run by Oscar De La Hoya) to big up his fighter, “The Alien” made an other worldly reference to Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas, and even his own fight against Felix “Tito” Trinidad in 2001 when sizing up Lemieux’s chances.
“I’ve seen the history of being wrong in Madison Square Garden,” dripped Hopkins, as Smith nearly lost his mind. “Even though David Lemieux and Triple G is not Bernard Hopkins, but, history always repeats himself, whether its 14 or 15 years later.”
This was an obvious reference to his emphatic and decisive beating of Trinidad via 12th round KO, in what was indeed an upset, though not the seismic one it would be if Lemieux (34-2, 31KOs) somehow bombed Golovkin (33-0, 30KOs) into defeat.
“There is a time in every athletic achievement, of any sports figure, that they run into that one person that has a blueprint,” Hopkins continued. “And [they] perfect that blueprint where history is made right then and there. With Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas, we saw overwhelming confidence in an outcome, and we saw what happened.”
During a later segment on the network’s flagship program Sportscenter with Jay Crawford, Hopkins referred to Golovkin as ‘a killer’ and ‘a hunter’ who seeks to destroy his opposition, while alluding to the fact that Lemieux’s own punching prowess gives him a proverbial puncher’s chance. He does, but Lemieux is no where close to the inspired and great technical boxer Douglas was on the night he faced an out-of-shape Tyson, nor close to the total skill set of the great Hopkins when he dispatched Trinidad.
The Canadian, looking fit and ready for combat at Wednesday’s final press conference, had strong words for the powerful GGG, and wants to prove he is not invincible.
“This is more than a fight,” Lemieux said before the final news conference Wednesday at the Garden. “It’s a statement I’m going to make. I’m going to put my flag on this territory . . . I’m an all-or-nothing person. I know what I can do, and I’m not leaving the Garden without those belts.
“My mindset is that I’m going to be different than his other opponents who were beaten before they went in the ring with him. He’s got a good chin, but let’s see. I’m pretty sure I will put him off his feet. He’s only human.”
Golovkin merely smiled and preened the entire time, seemingly soaking in the opportunity to shine on the world stage. His trainer, Abel Sanchez, called his charge “a complete predator” that will annihilate Lemieux. When asked whether he was concerned about Lemieux’s power, GGG acted as if he’d heard comedy from Chris Rock, laughing hysterically at the notion.
After telling assembled media that he’s never been off of his feet in sparring (and never as an amateur or professional in over 400 ring appearances), he responded to the question of who hit him the hardest with ‘my parents’.
Whether owed to Lemiuex’s convincing conviction that has lead to the belief that he can win from someone like Hopkins, or the growing aura of Golovkin in the U.S., the Garden will be a sold out affair on Saturday, and Oscar De La Hoya expects PPV numbers to be robost. Whoever wins the bout will most likely be in line for the winner of the WBC middleweight championship bout between Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez. The actual best of the evening will probably showcase the world’s best fighter, Roman Gonzalez, against a solid former world champion in the Freddie Roach trained Brian Viloria. All in all, its a pretty good time to be a fight fan.
