The Executioner still itching for a shot at Big O
The stirring hasn’t subsided.
His wife hasn’t talked some sense in to him.
Bernard Hopkins is still thinking about taking the leap to the heavyweight division and taking a crack at WBC champ Oleg Maskaev.
The 41-year-old Hopkins (47-4-1, 32 KOs), the pre-eminent middleweight of this era, is keen on taking a crack at Maskaev (33-5, 26 KOs), the native of Kazakhstan who is 6-foot-3 and weighed 238 when he outlasted Hasim Rahman two months ago.
“I’m always thinking,” Hopkins said to the Philly Daily News. “There are a lot of ideas buzzing around in my head. Some, you’re better off ignoring.
“But this is one that definitely interests me. There’s no American heavyweight champion now. Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano have to be spinning in their graves. All the belts are overseas somewhere. When was the last time all the heavyweight champions were from across the water?
“We’re supposed to have the greatest athletes here in America,” he said to Bernie Fernandez. “To not have a world champion from the United States in the most prestigious division in boxing is unacceptable. It’s unacceptable that we don’t have those bragging rights anymore.”
Lest you are thinking that such a leap from 160 to 200-plus pounds would be inadvisable or undoable, do remember that Hopkins looked to be as fit as he’s ever been in his last outing, against Antonio Tarver on June 10. For that match, he weighed 174 pounds at weigh-in. Maybe you can’t, but I’m able to picture Hopkins 30 pounds heavier than that, after a camp with Mackie Shillstone and some serious carb loading.
“I’m going to come in like Apollo Creed, with red, white and blue trunks, red, white and blue shoes and a red, white and blue robe,” Hopkins said to Fernandez. “It’ll be just like ‘Rocky IV,’ with me beating a giant Russian.
“Rahman was supposed to be America’s last line of defense. I’m the last hope. I know I’d be an underdog, but it has been done before. Michael Spinks did it [against Larry Holmes]. Roy Jones did it. If a conversation can be started that leads to something, Bernard Hopkins can do it, too.”
While Maskaev has to take care of Peter Okhello in December first, Hopkins says he has talked to the HBO PPV braintrust, and they gave his comeback idea the thumbs up.
“I talked to [HBO Sports vice president] Kery Davis,” Hopkins said. “I talked to [HBO Sports pay-per-view chief] Mark Taffet. I talked to [WBC president] Jose Sulaiman, who is very enthusiastic. They all know this is a fight people would want to see.
“Now it’s up to Oscar [De La Hoya] and Richard [Schaefer] to strike a deal with [Dennis] Rappaport. I think it will get done and I’ll shock the world again. I would not take any fight that I did not believe in my heart that I could win. Maskaev is big and strong, but I see things in him that can be exposed.”
So what’s lure, beyond the obvious financial inducement?
“I wouldn’t come back for Roy Jones,” he said. “I wouldn’t come back for a rematch with Tarver. That’s out of my system. But to be the savior of the heavyweight division, that’s worth my time and effort.”
Bernard,
Pride and proud are two different things. You are just in being proud to be an American and desiring to see our US Flag waving on top of the Heavy-
weight division. But, it would be pride to risk working as hard as you have just to go out on your back. Maskaev is a puncher and has been lucky to win in each of his fights with Rahman. But Hasim was careless, not once, but twice. The second one being the most obvious. Be smart and stay on the business side. Your legacy is firmly in place. Even the two close loses you had to Taylor did not diminish that. Let Brock rock the division. I do believe he will knock out the former “next big thing.” Maskaev is so bad, he will probably lose his next match anyway.
I agree–definitely worth your time and effort. True purpose behind the desire, and you certainly can do it. This is how a real champion thinks–with a definite purpose to move him in one definte direction toward his passion, without ambiguity. I could not be more pleased by this inspiration. God Bless You Bernard Hopkins. You are a true champion and truly admired and looked up to as everything anyone would want to both see and emulate as a champion–a true quintessential champion.
Just talk. Maskaev is not the greatest champ but at 6′3 and all that muscle..he is no bum either. I disagree that he was lucky to win against Rahman. He was leading in the second fight and wearing Rahman down. Hopkins had better retire with his legacy in place. For me, Maskaev is american enough if he came here to work hard and win..thats the american way….enough of this showmanship.
If Hopkins wants to do the red white and blue thing, fight Valuev or Klitschko. My my everyone always wants the weakest don’t they.
ricci e how will brock rock the division when wlad going to put his lights out the only thing brocks rockin is the canvas
No disrespect to hopkins. he is one of my favorite fighters and his love and dedication to boxing is probably the reason he want retire soon enough. Just want to make a point that all the belts aren’t overseas. Most of the current heavyweight champs live in america, and maskaev is a u.s citizen who has lived here for a while now. When lewis reigned over the heavyweight division we didn’t have beef with canada , jamaica or europe. Maybe its all just good business for the sport.
Hopkins vs. Maskaev. I’d take Hopkins. Hopkins is a master fighter inside and outside the ring. Maskaev is a average heavyweight fighter. Even at 41 or 42 Hopkins would box circles around him. Hopkins beat the hell out of Tarver. I see Hopkins beating up Maskaev. Hopkins won’t win by knockout. Hopkins will win by decision against Maskaev.Hopkins had no problem handling the weight at 175.Hopkins is 6′2″ so he could handle 200 lbs without a problem.James Toney claims he is old school. Hopkins is the master of old school.
HOPKINS SHOULD DEFINETLY GO FOR THIS FIGHT. i THINK HE SHOULD FIGHT ONE MORE AT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT- PERFERABLY AGAINST ROY JONES. WHY IS HOPKINS MENTIONING ROY SO MUCH LATELY? MAYBE THE TRUTH IS THAT HE IS SCARD TO FIGHT ROY CUZ HE DOESNT WANT A REPLAY OF THEIR FIRST FIGHT TOGETHER. IF HE CAN GET THROUGH ROY THEN HE SHOULD GO FOR IT. AND IF CANT GET THROUGH ROY, THEN ROY SHOULD GO FOR IT. EITHER WAY, LETS GET ALL THOSE BELTS BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL AND FIGHT FOR THEM JUST LIKE THE GREATS DID. RAHMAN SUCKS DEDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just talk, Bernard just wants some attention. I’m kind of surprised people are falling for it and actually discussing it’s merits.
Hey B-Hop;
If you take this fight, you WILL end up like Apollo Creed in Rocky IV
Americas should get use to the fact that Vlade Klitschko is the man. He is
in his prime and has Emanuel Steward in his corner. He’ll smoke Brock
with a straight right in about 6 rounds.