The idea seems about as ludicrous as a nearly 50-year-old man boxing at an elite level.
But for Bernard Hopkins, who defied logic by winning a world title at age 48, the concept of facing pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a scenario so plush with intrigue (and earning potential) it?s too good not too discuss. So when Hopkins first floated the idea of facing Mayweather at 160 pounds last month in Las Vegas, it seemed both preposterous and fascinating. The thought of Hopkins, the oldest fighter to ever win a championship, facing the slickest and best fighter of the moment is a match of mind-bending possibilities.
But could a fight between two future Hall-of-Famers happen? Would Mayweather, a welterweight, rise in weight to face Hopkins?
Would Hopkins drop 15 pounds to meet Mayweather?
Hopkins, who defends his IBF light heavyweight title against little known Karo Murat (25-1-1, 15 knockouts) on Saturday in Atlantic City on Showtime, believes a fight with Mayweather is plausible – though his promoter and partner at Golden Boy Promotions, Richard Schaefer, was less confident. After initially declining to talk Mayweather, Hopkins (53-6-2 32 knockouts) did concede a fight with Mayweather was high on his bucket list. Mayweather will next fight in May and is sifting through a list of possible opponents, which Schaefer would not divulge, though it seems unlikely Hopkins is an option at this point.
Hey, it can?t hurt to think big, right? Hopkins last fought at middleweight in 2005.
?What?s on my mind is on Saturday because I want to leave a profound statement,? Hopkins said on Wednesday during a press conference in Times Square. ?But I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and [there] is a possibility of anything happening. When you pit two chess players in the ring together [in me and Mayweather], then there you got a fight. I don?t care what the age is. You take 37 in February [for Mayweather] and I?ll be 49 in January, that?s 80+ years of experience.?
Hopkins believes a fight with Mayweather would be an instant classic, rising to the level of fights such as Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler.
But Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, of which Hopkins is a partner, cast doubt on a fight between the two happening because of Mayweather?s reluctance to rise in weight beyond 147 pounds.
?I don?t think he?s going to be moving up to 160,? Schaefer said of Mayweather. ?I just don?t see it happening because Floyd is really a 147-pounder. For a fight or two he might be moving to 154, but he?s not a middleweight.?
At the same time, Schaefer accepts a fight between Mayweather and Hopkins would be a huge event, tapping into the imagination of the mainstream sporting fan. And Hopkins said it was Schaefer, who first asked him if he could drop down to 160 pounds, with an eye toward facing Mayweather.
?I agree that Bernard is a big name that transcends the sport,? Schaefer said. ?Big names are the key for a successful Pay-Per-View. But again I?m rather doubtful that a fight between Bernard and Floyd would happen.?
The Showtime commentator Steve Farhood believes that Mayweather is running out of appealing opponents, however, to challenge him at 147 pounds and Hopkins is a good, creative, option. Beyond that, he believes Mayweather could make more money facing Hopkins than probably anyone else.
?You have two of the greatest fighters in history fighting each other and at this point, because of the ease with which Floyd has won all of his fights, you want some kind of a new challenge,? Farhood said. ?Do we really believe that there?s anyone at 140 or 147 left that?s a challenge to this guy? He doesn?t lose a round. For that reason, there?s a lot of drama [in facing Hopkins]. You?d like to see them match their boxing skills against one another.?
PUNCHLINES Schaefer suggested the next fight for WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin, who faces Gabe Rosado on Saturday, could be against Brooklyn?s Danny Jacobs on Super Bowl weekend on February 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, though it?s still in the planning stages.
