The following is from the Sports Ticker:

Hopkins vs. Wright is a snoozefest, not a slugfest

July 11, 2007

By Duncan Bech
Special to PA SportsTicker

Two modern greats will climb into the ring at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on July 21 - but do not be afraid to blink.

Bernard Hopkins and Ronald "Winky" Wright justifiably claim boxing is as much about dazzling defensive skills as delivering knockout punches.

Unfortunately, the American rivals prize defense above all else, with Wright building a career on his elusiveness and Hopkins happy to shape patient victories on the back foot.

For boxing afficionados eager to see a display of technical genius, it should be a fascinating contest between two brilliant masters of their craft.

But those concerned by the encroachment of mixed martial arts into boxing's fanbase will see it as another nail in the coffin of a sport whose appeal is gradually diminishing.

Superfights between Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Ricky Hatton and Jose Luis Castillo - where reputations counted more than belts - highlight the tremendous pulling power boxing still possesses when it gets it right.

Placing Wright and Hopkins in the same ring, however, will supply more ammunition for critics who claim the frequency of dull fights reduces boxing's lure and forces fans into the arms of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Only purists will be genuinely entertained by the contest, which is being billed in some quarters as a "megafight."

The reputations of Hopkins and Wright warrant such acclaim, but the old adage that styles make fights will never ring truer than in Las Vegas.

Hopkins, now 42, defended his middleweight title 20 times and has victories over the likes of de la Hoya and Felix Trinidad on his record.

The 35-year-old Wright was the undisputed former light-middleweight champion and numbers Trinidad and Shane Mosley among his victims.

Their credentials may be impeccable, but Wright has always relied on his defensive skills to the extent where television networks and promoters have avoided him in the past.

A flurry of points decisions have marked the twilight years of Hopkins' career, and his powers have waned with age.

Hopkins has been made marginal favorite by bookmakers as the fight is at light-heavyweight, which should count against Wright.

But while predicting who will win is a tough call, it is guaranteed boxing will not have attracted any new fans following a 12-round snoozefest.

Fuck it, let the guys who only wanna see knockouts watch UFC instead, I don't want them watching boxing anyway. IMO no one has a right to complain about Winky vs Bernard because you know what you're getting..

they are both counterpunchers, i don't give a fuck WAR B-HOP!

I've been excited for this fight since they announced it.

They are my two favorite fighters. Bernard is a tactician and Winky is a defensive master that has added some real aggressive offense to his arsenal.

I've been watching these two for a long time which makes it easy to enjoy the fight even if it is mostly defense.

Winky reminds me of Pernell Whitaker a little bit. Different defensive styles but very similar results.

I think Winky's energy level will be superior to Bernard's and that will have a big impact on who wins more rounds.

So my pick is Winky by unanimus decision.

Of course, if this was 5 or 10 years ago I would be betting on B-Hop.

WAR WINKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

I've been excited for this fight since they announced it.

They are my two favorite fighters. Bernard is a tactician and Winky is a defensive master that has added some real aggressive offense to his arsenal.

I've been watching these two for a long time which makes it easy to enjoy the fight even if it is mostly defense.

Winky reminds me of Pernell Whitaker a little bit. Different defensive styles but very similar results.

I think Winky's energy level will be superior to Bernard's and that will have a big impact on who wins more rounds.

So my pick is Winky by unanimus decision.

Of course, if this was 5 or 10 years ago I would be betting on B-Hop.


Its not a fight I'm really looking 4ward to.Both are great technical fighters with excellent ring savvy & solid chins.
I see it being a chess match for the most part with both trying to lure the other into making a mistake.
I'd say Winky by a close but unan dec.

Yeah I think this is going to be one of those fights that are incredibly hard to score. I wouldn't wanna be a judge for it. But this fight means soooo much for each guy's legacy.

It's a fight I wouldn't mind watching.But I wouldn't pay 50 bucks for it.I'm really hoping both have listened to the critics and truely do come to fight.

Fuck it, let the guys who only wanna see knockouts watch UFC instead, I don't want them watching boxing anyway. IMO no one has a right to complain about Winky vs Bernard because you know what you're getting..

man whats up with u old schhol boxing folks and always thinking MMA
is likeall k.os and not technical
YOUR a fool grow up with the whole Boxing is better than MMA crap..

man whats up with u old schhol boxing folks and always thinking MMA
is likeall k.os and not technical
YOUR a fool grow up with the whole Boxing is better than MMA crap..

If u dont want to hear boxing fans opinions then get the fuk out of the boxing forum..

If u trot in here & try disrespecting veteran posters in this manner again be prepared to get hammered..

If u dont want to hear boxing fans opinions then get the fuk out of the boxing forum..

If u trot in here & try disrespecting veteran posters in this manner again be prepared to get hammered..

+juan

damn kids these days...

man whats up with u old schhol boxing folks and always thinking MMA
is likeall k.os and not technical
YOUR a fool grow up with the whole Boxing is better than MMA crap..

I never said boxing was better than MMA. MMA can be technical too but the fact is MMA geared towards providing more blood and guts (thats neither a compliment or a put down), so people who don't give a fuck about the science of fighting or anything like that are better off watching MMA.

this is a fight you have to watch live, looking forward to it
I think Hopkins will take out a close Decision, anything can happen in a fight though

this is a fight you have to watch live, looking forward to it
I think Hopkins will take out a close Decision, anything can happen in a fight though

u get the ppv did ya??

If u trot in here & try disrespecting veteran posters in this manner again be prepared to get hammered..

Veteran posters as in me. I knew it. Im good. :) :popcorn: :sifone: :neo: :ok::happy::cool::village8mf::goodpost:

Veteran posters as in me. I knew it. Im good. :) :popcorn: :sifone: :neo: :ok::happy::cool::village8mf::goodpost:

Yup...

You two can stop sucking each others d***'s now and talk more about the snoozefest;)

Seriously though,this fight seems like it's going to be quite similar to Taylor/Spinks epic.I was under the impression that,much like our previous vetern poster's...posts,those fighters sucked each others balls.Now I thought this was collectivley agreed upon.

So I,being a fan of both mma and boxing and thinking that mma is generally more exciting,pose a question not out of smartassness but genuine curiosity:Do you guys think this fight will be similar?And if so,did you think the Taylor/Spinks fight was worth the time Larry Merchant wasted watching it.

This will be a great fight. Bernard Hopkins brings has brought more craftiness to the ring than anyone in the past 10 years. he may not have had the big headlining fights but if you have ever watched him in the ring you will realize that at his prime he was/is one of the greatest of all time.

*I am excited for this fight and that is what matters to me.

You two can stop sucking each others d***'s now and talk more about the snoozefest;)

Seriously though,this fight seems like it's going to be quite similar to Taylor/Spinks epic.I was under the impression that,much like our previous vetern poster's...posts,those fighters sucked each others balls.Now I thought this was collectivley agreed upon.

So I,being a fan of both mma and boxing and thinking that mma is generally more exciting,pose a question not out of smartassness but genuine curiosity:Do you guys think this fight will be similar?And if so,did you think the Taylor/Spinks fight was worth the time Larry Merchant wasted watching it.



Dude if you think Winky Wright and BHop suck balls you're in the wrong section of Ninjashoes, bro. I'm not saying that out of smartassness, but genuine concern that you may have gotten lost.

But to your question... no I don't think this will look anything like Spinks/Taylor. In that fight you saw a much smaller and slicker fighter against a much stronger and bigger fighter, with both guys weary of each other's tools. This more often than not results in more of a chess match with not too much action (look at Jones/Ruiz).

In Wright/Hopkins you'll see a much more interesting fight. There wont be a knockout, and there won't be any knockdowns, but IMO after a round or 2 of feeling each other out, both will fustrate each other and the action will start to pick up. It won't be Gatti/Ward but for boxing purists or anyone who enjoys the art of it, it will be one to see. Much more interestin that Spinks/Taylor

Dude if you think Winky Wright and BHop suck balls you're in the wrong section of Ninjashoes, bro.

Part typo,part misunderstanding.I was refering the Taylor/Spinks fight in which they sucked each others balls the entire fight.I have mad respect for Wright and Hopkins.

Other than that,point taken.That being said,I still would find it hard to plunk down 50 bucks to watch.Maybe I'm more into slugfests than chess matches.More likely answer is I'd rather save my money and dl the bitch later.

I still would find it hard to plunk down 50 bucks to watch.Maybe I'm more into slugfests than chess matches.More likely answer is I'd rather save my money and dl the bitch later.


I can't really say anything because I don't plunk 50 bucks down for ANY fight. I either watch it at a bar, at a friends, or stream it if worst comes to worst. If I don't care much about it, I'll download it later. But this is definatly a fight I will go out to the Ale and Lager (local bar) for. Even if it is actionless, just the fact that it means so much to both of these guy's careers is enough to attract me.

Yeah I think this is going to be one of those fights that are incredibly hard to score. I wouldn't wanna be a judge for it. But this fight means soooo much for each guy's legacy.

Winky has so much to gain, B-Hop so much to lose - I can't believe he came back, he had THE perfect ending to a career.

Winky has so much to gain, B-Hop so much to lose - I can't believe he came back, he had THE perfect ending to a career.

Yeah he did, people can talk about how Tarver is limited or overrated, ect, but the fact is he was the man at 175 at the time, Hopkins was coming off of two upsets, and almost everyone (including me) thought Tarver was way too big and old man Bhop was going to get hurt bad.

If Bhop can get a win over Winky, I think he should go down as a top 3 or 4 middleweight.