Tweet
2007 promises the ring return of former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins. You have to wonder what kind of a man would be willing to break a promise to his deceased mother for no better reason than money. Not long ago, Hopkins portrayed himself as the antithesis of the “system.” He was the outsider misunderstood by all, refusing to be drawn from his stance and pricing himself out of several big fights, regardless of whether his choices were popular or right for boxing and its fans.
However, two contributing factors have altered the way boxing sees Hopkins and the way he sees it. Now a partner with Oscar de la Hoya, he is part of the multi-million dollar machine that is Golden Boy Promotions. Tasting the real money available in this business has made Hopkins somewhat more amenable to the media and the many machinations of the boxing world he once scorned from his high perch. You can’t afford principles when you’re broke.
Furthermore, despite the fact that he lost both of his fights to Jermain Taylor - thus ending his middleweight championship run - there is a semblance of sympathy from fans towards Hopkins over those losses.
The night he embarrassed Antonio Tarver - whose performances in the ring are too often outshone by his performances in the press - the sympathy for Hopkins turned to an outpouring of affection and appreciation. The days of his militant morals were long forgotten. Now he fancies himself as a champion of the people. From convict to Captain America is more the stuff of Hollywood than the hopeless from which Hopkins emerged. [details]
However, two contributing factors have altered the way boxing sees Hopkins and the way he sees it. Now a partner with Oscar de la Hoya, he is part of the multi-million dollar machine that is Golden Boy Promotions. Tasting the real money available in this business has made Hopkins somewhat more amenable to the media and the many machinations of the boxing world he once scorned from his high perch. You can’t afford principles when you’re broke.
Furthermore, despite the fact that he lost both of his fights to Jermain Taylor - thus ending his middleweight championship run - there is a semblance of sympathy from fans towards Hopkins over those losses.
The night he embarrassed Antonio Tarver - whose performances in the ring are too often outshone by his performances in the press - the sympathy for Hopkins turned to an outpouring of affection and appreciation. The days of his militant morals were long forgotten. Now he fancies himself as a champion of the people. From convict to Captain America is more the stuff of Hollywood than the hopeless from which Hopkins emerged. [details]
Comment