I think Hopkins just might be the greatest athlete over the age of 40 of any sport. For him to compete at this level and be ranked #3 pound 4 pound at age 44 is simply unheard of. He has been ranked in the top 10 for 10 years. Add to that the fact he hasn't clearly lost a fight since 1993 and that's all time great status.
If he beats Froch or Adamek, either one will be a championship in his third weight division and two of those coming over the age of 40.
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Hopkins To Return in January. Against Froch or Adamek?
By Mark Vester
According to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, 44-year-old Bernard Hopkins might return in January for one final “birthday fight.” Hopkins told Schaefer that he was interested in one final fight in January, when the fighter turns 45. Hopkins has been inactive since last October’s win over Kelly Pavlik.
The two possible opponents on the list are WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch and IBF cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek. Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times that he already spoke with HBO and they were interested in the proposed idea. Hopkins tried to make a fight with Adamek for July but the two sides couldn’t agree on the money. When both sides tried to resurrect the fight, HBO, facing a budget crunch, advised them that July was out and a 2010 date was more likely.
"Some people have a nice birthday party when they turn 45 and dance," Schaefer told The Times. "Bernard wants to dance in the ring. It'd be a great fight either way: him taking on another new champion [Froch], who just beat Jermain Taylor [who beat Hopkins twice], or this move up toward 200 pounds to take on Adamek.”
If he beats Froch or Adamek, either one will be a championship in his third weight division and two of those coming over the age of 40.
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Hopkins To Return in January. Against Froch or Adamek?
By Mark Vester
According to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, 44-year-old Bernard Hopkins might return in January for one final “birthday fight.” Hopkins told Schaefer that he was interested in one final fight in January, when the fighter turns 45. Hopkins has been inactive since last October’s win over Kelly Pavlik.
The two possible opponents on the list are WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch and IBF cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek. Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times that he already spoke with HBO and they were interested in the proposed idea. Hopkins tried to make a fight with Adamek for July but the two sides couldn’t agree on the money. When both sides tried to resurrect the fight, HBO, facing a budget crunch, advised them that July was out and a 2010 date was more likely.
"Some people have a nice birthday party when they turn 45 and dance," Schaefer told The Times. "Bernard wants to dance in the ring. It'd be a great fight either way: him taking on another new champion [Froch], who just beat Jermain Taylor [who beat Hopkins twice], or this move up toward 200 pounds to take on Adamek.”