Has Hopkins Intimidated the American Boxing Media?

April 22nd, 2008

By Scoop Malinowski

While Bernard Hopkins certainly deserves credit – and has received it – for a remarkably competitive performance against Joe Calzaghe on Saturday night, there is at least one well-respected American trainer who was not as impressed. Our insider, who opted not to give his name, commented on the fight:

Boxinginsider: Hopkins vs. Calzaghe was a good fight right? Did it surprise you in any way?

Trainer X: I hated watching it. You know, I believe that if a guy other than Hopkins fought the same exact fight he did that night people would say he wasn’t very good. All the ducking with his head. lunging, throwing himself off balance. After two rounds his sharpness and good looking punches basically went out the window.

Boxinginsider: Good point. But because it’s Bernard Hopkins, he gets lauded.

Trainer X: Yep.

Boxinginsider: It’s as if he’s got the entire media wrapped around his finger mesmerized…or intimidated.

Trainer X: Yep. I believe that. One guy says something about a fighter. So-and-so is a superb technician..and before you know it, EVERYBODY is saying it.

Still, it was an impressive effort for a 43-year-old legend against a top pound-for-pound fighter in his prime. It’s an accomplishment that not even ring greats like Robinson, Leonard, Duran, Ali and Whitaker were able to achieve. Hopkins battled on near even terms with Joe Calzaghe at an age when he is obviously well past his prime.

But if there’s one question that lingers about the result from Las Vegas, it’s why hasn’t Hopkins apologized for the “whiteboy” comment as he did by apologizing to the people of Puerto Rico for throwing their flag to the ground as part of the pre-fight psychological warfare vs. Felix Trinidad?

Is the American media intimidated by Hopkins and uncomfortable to ask Hopkins if he is sorry for that regrettable comment?