CLEVELAND, Ohio — There comes a time in the life of a boxer when he must decide when to say when. But apparently Bernard Hopkins never does.
The former middleweight and light heavyweight champion intimated about a possible fight with middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.
Seriously.
The #NeverKnowsWhenToRetire Hopkins, 51, became the oldest champion in history when he won light heavyweight titles at 46, 48 and 49. Not only is age in the way of Hopkins defeating Golovkin, but so is Golovkin’s talent.
Golovkin holds three middleweight titles after he demolished David Lemieux last weekend at Madison Square Garden. Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs) is the latest force in boxing.
A fight between a younger Hopkins and “Triple G” would have made an excellent fight, (and I would have picked B-Hop), but a conversation by Hopkins about fighting Golovkin is just that — conversation.
And if somehow it happened, the fight would force Hopkins into retirement because of the result of an embarrassing defeat.
Quick jabs
Andre Ward signs a three-fight deal with HBO and the deal includes a bout with light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev in 2016. … If Canelo vs. Cotto is the second-biggest fight of 2015, which fight was number one? … Trainer Ken Porter, the father of former welterweight champ Shawn, will be inducted into the Akron Boxing Hall of Fame during an event at Tangier at 5 p.m. Oct. 25. … The Cleveland Boxing Invitational returns to Tower City on Nov. 13 as a fundraiser for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
This week in boxing history
On Oct. 25, 1990: Evander Holyfield knocked out James “Buster” Douglas in round 3 to win the heavyweight title. It was Douglas’ first title defense after he upset Mike Tyson in February.
Boxing schedule Friday
Showtime: Rob Brant vs. Louis Rose, middleweights; Harmonito Dela Torre vs. Wanzell Ellison, junior lightweights; Jarrell Miller vs. Akhror Muralimov, heavyweights; Lavarn Harvell vs. Samuel Clarkson, light heavyweights.
Saturday HBO: Terence Crawford vs. Dierry Jean for Crawford’s WBO junior welterweight title; Mikael Zewski vs. Ayi Bruce, welterweights.
