By: Sean Crose
Make no mistake about it, Bernard Hopkins, the legendary former multi-tournament champion, has no problem speaking his mind. And he certainly made his thoughts public in a recent conversation with FightHube. “He smashed him,” Hopkins said of Canelo Alvarez’s match against Cinco de Mayo this weekend against WBA light heavyweight player Dmitry Bivol. “Mashed potatoes everywhere. Another smashing event. He hit him.” As far as Hopkins knows, people will be watching simply to see if Canelo has missed a step or if he is continuing his stellar career path.
“That’s all we’re really looking for,” he said, “who knows.” When asked if Bivol’s advantage in size and skill wouldn’t come into play this weekend, Hopkins admitted they would “if Canleo didn’t have the attributes, the talent that he has. YES. But that’s not it.” Hopkins believes that the real real challenge for Canelo right now is a Jermall Charlo. “Depends on the weight class. I said it and I’m not going to back down. For me, that is Canelo’s biggest challenge to date. That war, sixty-six. That fight is dangerous for Canelo, in my opinion. And super lightweight David Benavidez? “He (Canelo) smashed him,” Hopkins announced.
The brief conversation eventually turned to Tuesday’s game between Canelo and Gennady Golovkin, a match that is likely to go downhill if favorites Canelo 4-1 win Bivol on Saturday. “I think you can expect Canelo to be better than him in the second fight,” said Hopkins. “So that doesn’t sound good for GGG…another smash, but it’s a different kind of smash.” With that in mind, the controversial nature of the first two matches between Canelo and Golovkin, which ended in a draw and decisive for Canelo, left the opponent with an air of unfinished business about it. However, Golovkin’s age and recent low activity rate add credibility to Hopkin’s view.
Hopkin’s, of course, is a man who knows what he’s talking about – it’s fighting game specific. Winning world titles in both middleweight and light heavyweight, the man defied time by fighting in his fifties during a career in the Hall of Fame that ended with a record of 67-8. Like Canelo, Hopkins didn’t let an L on his resume stop him from achieving notable achievements in sports. As for Canelo himself, he is without a doubt the most dominant figure in boxing. While it is widely assumed that he will win this weekend, it is perhaps worth noting that not all boxers age like Hopkins – and that in a boxer’s prime, which the Mexican star has appeared recently, may represent a relatively short period of time.
