Last night, Sergey Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) won a wide twelve round unanimous decision over near-50 year old fight legend Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey to unify the WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight belts.
Confident and aggressively cautious, the Russian dropped Hopkins with a right hand in round one and never looked back. Sans for a few fleeting moments when Hopkins was able to surprise his foe with an eye-catching shot, it was a thoroughly dominant performance by Kovalev who kept his man on the defensive nearly the entire fight.
Although it was difficult to find a round to give to Bernard, last night’s bout wasn’t quite Leonard vs Norris, Ali vs Holmes, Pacquiao vs De La Hoya or Louis vs Marciano, and Bernard may remind us of that in the coming weeks.
Despite his lack of overall competitiveness, BHOP still managed to dodge many of Kovalev’s murderous shots, was successful in creating drama at times and remained a constant threat of sorts, especially when desperation set in late in the fight.
But let’s not fool ourselves…
Last night’s bout was, by no means, a far cry from the aforementioned contests as Hopkins was merely a shade above Ali, Leonard, Louis and De La Hoya in their respective farewell bouts. (Although Ali and Leonard would fight once more, for all intents and purposes, their careers ended on those nights against the above-referenced opponents)
But Hopkins, in going the distance with the ‘Krusher’ and forcing the Russian to fight more tentatively than he is accustomed, accomplished what perhaps no other light heavyweight is capable of. In that vein, B-HOP earned a personal, pyrrhic victory and may attempt to use that as leverage to justify his continuance in boxing at the sport’s highest level.
Bernard Hopkins: Next fight options
What are Bernard’s options as a professional figher going forward?
The reality is, or should be, none. And it has more to do with economics than his safety in the ring.
During his post-fight interview with HBO, Kovalev insisted Hopkins was capable of defeating reigning RING Magazine/lineal light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson. Did he really mean it? Or was it a not-so-subtle attempt to demean a fighter Sergey despises?
Don’t be surprised if Bernard and Golden Boy consider making Hopkins vs Stevenson a reality in 2015 and use the Russian’s statement for lobbying purposes on the ‘BHOP vs Adonis’ campaign trail.
Do you really want to see that fight? And why should a fighter, legend or not, be immediately considered for a title shot against another fighter in the same weight class following such a bruising, one-sided loss?
Based on last night’s performance, Hopkins would be a greater underdog against Stevenson. But even in victory, what would Bernard gain? Would an upset over Stevenson justify Hopkins vs Kovalev 2 next?
Probably not.
At this moment, even a first round, Mike Tyson-like dismantling of Stevenson may not generate enough interest in a Kovalev rematch. A B-HOP win, no matter how impressive, would do little more than make the legend just another paper champion.
Even at 49, Bernard Hopkins had viable options 24 hours ago.
With a win over Kovalev, the long, marvelous run of the ‘Executioner’ turned ‘Alien’ would have continued to flourish until Bernard received the kind beating he absorbed last night.
And in all fairness, even a close defeat may have been enough to keep the Hopkins train chugging along.
A Calzaghe-like loss to Kovalev would have ‘left the door open’ for Hopkins’ next fight. He could have considered non-title dust-ups with Carl Froch or Julio Cesar Chavez, two high-stock fighters who would have probably jaunted to light heavyweight for the opportunity. And before yesterday, Hopkins vs Lucian Bute on Canadian soil would have been an interesting next fight option.
Regardless if Hopkins would be favored over Froch, Chavez and/or Bute today, those match-ups would be difficult to sell now. As a result, will Hopkins, two months shy of 50, try to bounce back and angle for another high-stakes showdown?
Roberto Duran, even after quitting in his superfight rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980, was able to revive his career; But ‘Manos de Piedra’ was only 29 at the time and it took him nearly three years and a few tune-ups to fully regain his stature as a powerbroker in boxing (TKO 8 vs Davey Moore, 1983)
Can you see Hopkins, as just another contender (not a champion), trading leather with the likes of Eleider Alvarez, Isaac Chilemba or Gabriel Campillo next on his proverbial ‘road back?’ According to BoxRec, there are 997 active, professional light heavyweights and B-HOP may be able to defeat 995 or 996 of them.
Given all he’s accomplished as well as his net worth, purse requirements, advanced age and last night’s beating, are there any reasonable next fight options left for Bernard?
Pure economics hints we may have seen the last of B-HOP in the ring.
