Bernard Hopkins vs Pascal: but who is Hopkins

The Executioner," Bernard Hopkins, has done it all in his 23 year Hall of Fame career.

As he heads into one more title fight this Saturday, at the age of 46, here's a look at the five fights that defined his status as one of the modern masters:

Bernard Hopkins TKO 12 Felix Trinidad

September 29, 2001 (Madison Square Garden, New York, NY)

In a contest that was to be held just four days after the September 11th terrorist attack on the US, this middleweight unification bout was moved back two weeks, but still carried the heavy burden of being boxing's first major show since the tragedy. A 2-to-1 underdog, Hopkins put his IBF and WBC middleweight titles up against Trinidad's WBA belt. The final bout of Don King's middleweight tournament, which saw Hopkins beating then-WBC champ Keith Holmes and Trinidad crushing William Joppy for the WBA belt to get to the finals, was a fairly one-sided affair. Hopkins outclassed and out-boxed the offense-minded Puerto Rican to wear down the former three-division champ en route to a twelfth round corner stoppage from Trinidad's side of the ring.

Bernard Hopkins UD 12 Kelly Pavlik

October 18, 2008 (Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ)

After a dismal performance against Joe Calzaghe, just six months prior, most expected the heavy-handed middleweight champion, Kelly Pavlik to send the 43-year old Hopkins into retirement, even though the bout was scheduled to be contested at a catchweight of 170 lbs., ten pounds above the middleweight limit. What ensued was a one-sided boxing clinic from "The Executioner" that left the 26-year old slugger demoralized and his career stalled. 

Bernard Hopkins MD Jean Pascal

December 18, 2010 (Pepsi Coliseum, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada)

Following a late-career pattern, not many people gave a 45-year old "B-Hop" much of a chance against the light heavyweight division's top dog in a bout held in the champion's own adopted home town. Early in the fight, the experts seemed on-target as a sluggish Hopkins was dropped in the first and third rounds to put him way behind the defending champion. However, from rounds four to twelve, Hopkins turned things around drastically and was in complete control for most of the rest of the contest. Most thought he deserved the win, but Hopkins left Quebec with the majority draw.

Bernard Hopkins TKO 10 Antwun Echols

December 1, 2000 (Venetian Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV)

In an even uglier, dirtier rematch to an ugly first bout, Hopkins established his willingness to display street fighting tactics and old fashioned toughness alongside his vast technical skills. This Hopkins title defense saw Echols deducted two points, "B-Hop" deducted one, and the fight nearly degenerate into an alley brawl on several occasions. Hopkins would also be slammed to the canvas in the sixth round, dislocating his shoulder. Rather than take the DQ win, though, the defending champ decided to go on with the fight and would stop his challenger four rounds later.

Bernard Hopkins TKO 7 Segundo Mercado

April 29, 1995 (US Air Arena, Landover, MD)

Hopkins' first bout with Mercado was a frustrating draw for the vacant IBF middleweight title in an Ecuadorian bull ring in which Hopkins would hit the canvas twice. In the rematch, held in Landover, Maryland, Hopkins displayed total dominance over the top-ranked middleweight from Ecuador, stopping Mercado in seven one-sided rounds to win his first world title.

Trilogy forMArquez and Pacquiao

Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez has accepted the offer to fight against eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 12.

According www.boxingscene.com, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said he sent to Mark on the morning of Monday the revised offer includes $ 5 million guaranteed prize money and catch weight of 144 pounds.

"I'm going to take the offer. It's the battle I'm waiting and I want to fight him," said Marquez quotes from the site.

On Monday, the Philippine boxing champion Arum confirmed that was the conclusion of his trilogy with the 38-year-old World Boxing Association / World Champion Boxing Organization (WBA / WBO) lightweight.

Pacquiao has had two memorable fights, but the controversy with Marquez in 2004 and 2008.

Their first meeting ended in a draw with Marquez, while Pacquiao won the second game with a split decision to close.

Sunday, Pacquiao completely outclassed Shane Mosley more than 12 shots to score his 14th consecutive win and retain his WBO welterweight crown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He began the battle to slow down and sent tissue Mosley quickly, abruptly left at the end.

Pacquiao triumps

Many Pacquiao takeovers the fight night. Pacquiao continues punching Shane Mosley the night fight making him chasing Mosley the entire fight. Mosley has one thing to do and that is to defense himself. The former pound for pound king, Mosley, did have not time make a move to knockdown Pacquiao.

The fight ended in a unanimous decision in Favor of Manny Pacquiao. The fight became not thrilling cause Mosley refuses to exchange punches with Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao won every round on two ringside scorecards in extending the remarkable run that has made him the most exciting fighter in the sport.

He also won the ungrudging respect of a veteran fighter who has been in with some of the best in the world.

Pacquiao knocked down Mosley with a left hook in the third round, a punch that sapped Mosley's willingness to engage. Pacquiao ran after Mosley the rest of the fight, but the former champion who has never been stopped in 18 years in the ring managed to stay away enough to finish the 12th round upright.

Pacquiao won 120-108 on one scorecard, 120-107 on a second and 119-108 on the third. The Associated Press had him winning 118-110.

For Mosley, the fight was strikingly similar to his bout a year ago against Floyd Mayweather Jr. — except this time Mosley didn't even land a big punch like he did early on against Mayweather. Mosley's biggest moment on this night came when referee Kenny Bayless mistakenly ruled that Mosley knocked Pacquiao down in the 10th round when he didn't even hit him with a punch.

The knockdown that wasn't spurred Pacquiao on as he went after Mosley the rest of the round and again in the 11th. By then the crowd was cheering "Knock him out! Knock him out!" but Pacquiao — bothered by a cramp in his left leg since the fourth round — didn't have enough to finish him off.

The closest Mosley got to Pacquiao all night came at the beginning of the 12th round when he hugged Pacquiao before the two went about finishing their business. That took some of the fire out of Pacquiao, who didn't really go after the knockout in the final round.

Promoter Bob Arum defended putting Mosley in the ring against Pacquiao despite signs in Mosley's last two fights that his reflexes were slipping."Nobody can really perform against him," Arum said. "Some of these guys are pretty good fighters, but nobody in their whole experience has ever faced somebody like Pacman. Everybody is going to look the same way."

Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 knockouts) was a 7-1 favorite and also the favorite of the crowd that gathered expecting to see another one of his thrilling performances. That he couldn't deliver was the only bad part of the night for a fighter who doubles as a congressman in his native Philippines.

Mosley (46-7-1-1) said he thought he did a good job despite losing round after round, and wouldn't blame his bad performance on the fact he is 39 and has been fighting ever since he was a child.

Mosley was tentative from the opening bell, moving backward and unwilling to engage Pacquiao. With good reason, because a left hook by Pacquiao found its mark with a minute left in the third round and put Mosley on the canvas for only the third time in his 18-year pro career.

Mosley was up at the count of five, and managed to survive the final minute of the round despite Pacquiao's best efforts to take him out. Pacquiao didn't come close to stopping him after that, but landed enough punches to the head that Mosley's right eye was nearly swollen shut in the late rounds and the left side of his face was puffy, too.

Pacquiao pressed the fight most of the night, but he, too, didn't take many chances, which trainer Freddie Roach said was because of the muscle cramp that his corner tried to massage between rounds.

Perhaps, but the sellout crowd of 16,412 came to see more, and booed repeatedly in the late rounds. The boos were directed at Mosley, not Pacquiao, but it was clear early on this would not be a classic fight.

Mosley came into the ring with the song "Mama Says Knock You Out," but what would have been more appropriate if he had found a song called "Mama Says Don't Knock Me Out."

Mosley fought as if trying to protect his legacy of having never been stopped and, if that was his strategy, it succeeded. But it made for a lackluster fight and did nothing to burnish the legacy that the Filipino champion has built with 14 straight wins over the last six years — including some over some of the biggest names in the game.

Pacquiao, who wore yellow gloves as a symbol of solidarity in the fight against poverty in his country, made a minimum of $20 million for the fight. Mosley, who has now won only two of his last six fights, was guaranteed $5 million.

 

 

Pacquaio is ready to fight

Manny Pacquiao grind for he was ready to fight even if today. On Thursday at the Wild Card in Hollywood, trainer Freddie Roach was all smiles, glowing and radiating the kind of smile that suggests he is happy with the turnout of Pacquiao’s preparation for the May 7 title clash with Shane Mosley.

“He is ready to fight,” Roach told a handful of scribes from Manila.

Even though Pacquiao did not finished and have a great result in his eight-round sparring session with Shawn Porter and Ray Beltran, Roach was more than satisfied with what he had seen as the Filipino resorted back to horsing around, something that convinces him that all is fine and well.

“Manny just went halfway and that’s how it is (when he is about to finish training camp),” said Roach, revealing that the final sparring sessions will take place Saturday and Monday just before Team Pacquiao departs for Las Vegas. 

Roach they have already mastered the gameplan for the scheduled 12-rounder that not only dangles Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown, but more importantly, his stranglehold on the mythical title of pound-for-pound king.

While Roach gives credit to Mosley’s experience, his durability and one-punch knockout power in both hands, there is simply no way the 39-year-old challenger will pull off an upset.

“I don’t think we can lose this fight but he (Mosley) might get frustrated and fight dirty,” said Roach. “He knows every trick in the book.”

 If you want to watch and be updated to Paquiao Mosley fight and  Watch Pacquiao vs. Mosley Livestream Online. It is good to know and be updated to the fight of two legendary firghters.

Moosley over Pacquiao

Pacquiao may lose

Manny Pacquiao is human, as a human we are not perfect so when we commit mistakes we have a possibilities to lose. Shane Mosley is being dumped for using a drugs enhancement. He also fought Margarito once that he won because an illegal handwraped  was discovered.

Many contradicted that Pacquiao-Mosley fight may not be a great fight as expected. Because many people expecet that Pacquiao would fought Floyd Mayweather. At the back of this fighter there coaches will have the first to be against to each other that is, Naazim Richardson and Freddie Roach.

We all know Pacquiao has what it takes to win against Shane Mosley. We also know that Mosley has what it takes to defeat Pacquiao.

            Manny Pacquiao has won the 13 outings and most of it is in the way of KO victory. Superstitious based on their predictions 14 is an unlucky number for him. Can predictions be true, just  because Manny Pacquiao is a human and he has a possibility to lose.

A focused Mosley

            Mosley has been consistently conditioning his body and improving his foot power and speed in Big Bear, California even the Pacquiao-Mosley fight was not officially announced. He do his conditioning by jogging in the mountains and training in the gym at afternoon. A game plan has been made after they watched and learned the moves of Pacquiao. After a lose in Floyd Mayweather defeating Pacquiao is a good way to level their fame. Richardson and Mosley’s communication have been impressive and they are strict in implementing their game plan. Pacquiao could be KO within 11 rounds according to fearless forecast of Naazim Richardson. When the time of the fight Mosley is in perfect shape. He trains in the mitts several rounds a day and fight with southpaws who also train at Richardson’s gym in Big Bear, California.

Pacquiao’s recent status

                Pacquiao is not as focus as Mosley. He recently sicked and suffered a sore in his left foot and was brought to the hospital for treatment. He keep the training in the afternoon but he skip the jogging in the morning. Before that he also suffered from flu. His fever and colds hinder him from jogging and training at his best. His breathing is not normal and his number of sparring rounds is getting lesser.

Manny Pacquiao will also descend to Manila to a couple of times in a week to talk about the issue on budget allocation for the different provinces in the Philippines. He hasn’t finalized it because the Congressmen from the Visayas region were not OK with the percentage. Pacquiao has to be there to join the sessions and discussions on the budget until he can get the amount for his constituents.

All of these things hinder Manny Pacquiao to be at his best. 3 months to go and the Pacquiao-Mosley fight will happen. Manny Pacquiao is not yet at his best shape so there is still a long way to go.

If Mosley Wins against Pacquiao

The chance to win Mosley in Mosley-Pacquiao, May 7 is increasing. A series of strange that used to be very little Mosley is a fairly even Manny Pacquiao still has a slight advantage over Mosley. The possibility of losing against Mosley Pacquiao becomes high.

Fight Night is about 50% encourage Mosley inside the MGM Grand Arena. This inspires "Sugar" to give their best against the "Pacman." The stadium will roar "Mosley, Mosley, Mosley," because the vast majority of American boxing fans out there.

If Mosley wins against Pacquiao Manny Pacquiao in Mosley fight, he'll get a chance next great fighters that Floyd Mayweather, Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams, among many others. He will receive a pay check well, he will make America proud, and he looked again that "most feared fighter."

Win or lose, Pacquiao will continue to reign. It will still fight against the best boxers of his generation. Mayweather, Mosley, Berto, Mark. Name it, Pacquiao to fight with them all.

 

Top five reasons Pacquiao could win against Mosley

Most boxing fans behave that Pacquiao vs. Mosley results were fixed as soon as both fighters have signed contracts. Manny Pacquiao is a 5:1 favorite, and rightly so, but they fight the fights for a reason.

Now if you think Shane Mosley will beat Manny Pacquiao is another story. But if you were willing to look in that direction and could put some money down on the result, here the top 5 reasons you should not rely on Sugar Shane vs Pacman.

1. Power is the last thing to Go: Power is the important ina afighter because it’s the last thing to leave, just ask George Foreman. Mosley has 39 knockouts in 46 career wins, and make no mistake about it, power is still there. If he can get a flush overhand right or left hook is Pacquiao will be in trouble.

2. Chin of Steel: Mosley has never been stopped in any fight, and he has not been injured. His first game against Vernon Forrest was the only time that Mosley has been shaken. Pacquiao will not be able to damage so easily Mosley, as he did, for example, Miguel Cotto or Ricky Hatton. Combined with the power that will change Mosley, keep these two attributes in the fight all night.

3. Big Fight Experience: There are few more experienced fighters that Shane Mosley fought. Even if someone, for example, Joshua Clottey frozen on the big stage against Pacquiao, it is impossible to Mosley, after dozens of races big time, two of which are fighting each player Oscar De La Hoya, Vernon Forrest, Winky Wright and Fernando Vargas, and his stint at the top of your very own sport, pound for pound the posts when he was at his best.

4. Big Man Experience: Another factor in favor of Mosley, who is a load of experience against fighters big middleweight, full junior middleweights and beyond. He has been fighting a welterweight since 1999, and fighters who are traditionally he has most problems are the fighters who are simply larger than him. Wright is 5'11 "with a 72" Forrest was brought, and 6'0 "with 73" reach, while Pacquiao is 5'6 .5 "to 67" reach, and has a much less experience in competition fighters from welterweight all in their own right.

5. Speed is not shabby: Mosley's speed is not fast, the incredible speed it was when it was a lightweight terror, but it is far from slow. He is still faster than most high-level fighters in the division, and you can argue that Pacquiao has not met anyone with momentum Mosley in his career, although he is the rising carreer for Mosley.

So I think Mosley shocked the world? Well, I do not think the fight should never have been made. However, regardless of Pacquiao vs Mosley is a great match-up of two legends. If you want to take the case, Mosley, or just want a couple of reasons  to believe and your man, there you are.

Pacquiao or Mosley will win the fight?

 

Pacquiao vs Mosley!

by Paul Strauss

Well, it doesn't take a genius to know what's going on here. This announcement is further eivdence of the real battle going on behind the scenes between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank. Mosley, one of the founding partners of Golden Boy Promotion, apparently split with them because he was upset about not being pushed out front as the most viable opponent over Juan Manuel Marquez. Golden Boy has Marquez under promotional contract, so you figure it out.

Bob Arum, president of Top Rank, pleaded his case for this fight by claiming Sugar Shane Mosley is the the better known fighter of the three possibles: Mosley, Marquez and Andre Berto. Do you agree? Apparently Arum feels selection of Mosley also will pacify those critics who say Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao hasn't fought any african-americans..

Arum told FanHouse there wasn't much of a chance to get Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to agree to a fight, not while he and his uncle are still dealing with their legal problems. Mosley added that he has agreed to the contract terms, and the fight is scheduled to take place May 7th at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. Pacman's WBO welterweight title will be on the line in this HBO pay-per-view promotion. Mosley is understandably enthusiastic about his coup, because he stands to earn his biggest career payday to date, somewhere in the neighborhood of five to seven million. That's a nice neighborhood.

As far as the matchup is concerned, fans have already heard comments from Pacman's hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach stating that Mosley is no pushover, and that he will present some geniune problems for Manny. Roach argues that Mosley has the speed, power and experience necessary to make it an interesting fight. Maybe Freddie should have said "had", because most fans aren't easily going to buy into that arguement after seeing Mosley wilt after a few rounds against Little Money, and then get frustrated in his fight with Sergio Mora.

Sugar displayed one flash of past greatness against Little Money, but when that opportunity passed, so did the rest of his game plan. Most thought Little Money could have stopped Mosley if he really wanted. However, he was content with totally contolling the action and winning on points, which is his usual modus operandi. Maybe modus vivendi is a better description of what Little Money does, because the truth is his carefully controlled actions are the equivalent of an unstated or implied arrangement made to avoid an all out war.

Fans know that Mosley is at his best when he is faced with an aggressive straight ahead type of opponent. He prefers the type of opponent who tries to assault him head on such as Antonio Margarito. But, everyone knows that is not what he will get with Manny. Mosley had his hands full with Sergio Mora, who exhibitied good speed with his feet and hands. Sergio darted in and out, and side to side, while unleashing some quick combinations, and then wisely tied up Mosley to prevent a counter attack.

There are two big differences Shane will face with Manny. First, Manny is faster than Mora. Secondly, there's no comparison in punching power. Manny will punish Mosley with his speed and power. Manny, like Shane, loves a fighter to come right at him, which Shane will undoubtedly try to do by establishing a hard jab. Manny will be able to avoid it, and make Shane pay for trying. All to soon, Sugar Shane will be rendered harmless, and the beat down will really begin.

The question remains, "Would Marquez or Berto present a tougher fight for Manny?" Marquez fans would eagerly say yes, because he already has proven to be a difficult opponent for Manny and would do so again. Once again, styles make fights they would add. But, is Manny really the same fighter? Hasn't he dramatically improved since their two previous fights. Isn't he now a much more complete fighter? Isn't he bigger and stronger now? Fans know that he hasn't lost any speed while moving up in weight class, and he certainly has retained or increased his punching power. Finally, after watching him absorb and weather hard punches from Cotto, Clottey and Margarito, is it feasible to believe Marquez can hurt him, unless he lands the perfect shot?

That leaves Andre Berto, who is young, strong and improving with every moment. Berto is a very confident and determined fighter. He is not intimidated by Manny's reputation. It would seem he has some, if not all, of the necessary ingredients to give Manny real problems. Next to Floyd, he might present Manny with one of his toughest tasks.
Berto is an explosive type of fighter. His opponents think they've got his rhythm down, and all of a sudden they get hit with a blindingly fast combination that seemingly came out of no where. Earlier in his career he wasn't thought to be much of a puncher, but he has learned to get more leverage into his shots, and proved so when punching hard enough to do away with two very good fighters like Freddie Hernandez and Carlos Quintana. Andre seems to be coming into his own.

Out of the three possibles, Andre might present the most difficult opponent for Manny. Does Arum still have a valid point in stating that Berto is just not known well enough to make a big fight? That's tough to answer. There's no question, Sugar Shane Mosley's name is more well known, but how difficult would it be for clever people like Arum and those at HBO to present Berto's story, which is as intriguing as anyone's out there. He's undefeated as a professional. He is a two time National Golden Gloves Champion, and 2004 Olympic Team representaive for Haiti. Don't forget, he also was thought to be a be a big enough name to warrant a fight with Sugar Shane Mosley. The terrible Haiti Earthquake caused that one to come undone.

Finally, one could argue that being better known might not be such a good thing. Boxing fans, and fringe fans are aware of what Sugar Shane has done lately. They know about his two most recent poor showings. They know he is thirty-nine years old and is fighting like it. They know he has split with Golden Boy, which most certainly didn't hurt his chances with Arum, and says something about Arum creditability. They also know that unless Manny gets distracted and slown down with congress, Shane isn't going to get close to him no matter what Freddie and Bob Arum say.

 

Pacquiao vs Mosley Tale of the Tape