Will The " Big O " Close The Show ?

INSIDE BOXING (September 17, 2004) - I just had the pleasure of reading an article in Sports Illustrated. It was a " Where Are They Now " piece on the great Marvin Hagler.

After reading the article I began to wonder what we will be reading about Bernard Hopkins and Oscar DeLaHoya ten, fifteen even twenty years from now. How will history view their impact on boxing ?

The answer to that question is hinged on the result of a ring battle this coming September. This will be more then a boxing match. This fight will shape our final perception of both winner and loser. A Hopkins victory will go a long way in the argument that he is among the best of all time. If Bernard loses he will then be considered overrated. A champion who had the benefit of competing when the middleweight division was void of serious talent.

If Oscar wins he will be the first to win title recognition in six different weight classes Quite an accomplishment even in this age of fragmented titles. If Oscar loses he be just another pretty boy who was unable to beat a " real " tough guy.

I've played this fight out in my head time after time trying to envision every possible scenario. What does Oscar have that Bernard will be unable to overcome ? Will Bernard be too strong for Oscar ? Will Oscar be too fast for Bernard ?

First I tried to breakdown each fighter's strengths and weakness, if any.
Speed--- Foot and hand quickness has go to DeLaHoya.

Power--- Oscar by a slight edge.

Boxing Ability--- Again Oscar !!! Keep in mind that Bernard is very adept at the good old fashioned infighting though.

Ability To Take A Punch---Hands down to Hopkins.

Jab---Oscar has a quick shotgun jab while Bernard's is a little slower, stiffer thrust.

Strength---Hopkins, Hopkins, Hopkins ! Please remember that Oscar won his first title at 130 pounds. He has filled out over the years but in Hopkins he will be meeting a true middleweight.

Age---Bernard has some miles on him. This cannot be denied. Have they been rough miles ? How many life and death struggles has Hopkins had in the ring ? Very few. How many rough battles has Oscar had ? Well let's see there was Whitaker, Quartey, Trinidad, Castillejo, Vargas and Mosley on two occasions. Who really has the most miles ?

Competition---No doubt that Oscar met the better opposition. Other then Roy Jones, Trinidad and maybe William Joppy. Bernard has dominated a weak weight class. Though no fault of his own, when was the last time Bernard was really challenged ?

The Outcome...I am a firm believer that there have been at least a half dozen middleweights better then Bernard over the last forty years. Monzon and Hagler for starters. How about Emile Griffith and Dick Tiger ? Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns. What about the talented but mostly forgotten Rodrigo Valdes ? Could Bernard have beaten a prime 160 lbs version of James Toney ? Still if Bernard beats Oscar I may have to take a better look at the big picture.
What if Oscar wins ? Hell what about a trip to Great Britain to fight Joe Calzaghe and go for title number seven ?
I want to see Bernard lose so I can justify why I feel he is a notch below Carlos, Marvin, Ray and Tommy. Still I want to see him win and win by, in the words of Howard Cosell a " crushing and compelling knockout ". That is the only way to remove the smug smile from Oscar's million dollar mug.
That is the way I finally decided it will end. Bernard will endure and survive. He is going to out will and out gut Oscar. He is going to take Oscar's best. Then he is going to take his heart. Finally he will end Oscar's legacy.