Even though this fight may be several years too late, after reading what Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. had to say to each other about their upcoming rematch on April 3rd it certainly makes you want to see the fight.
Hopkins said, "To not watch this fight would be a disservice because we will be making history.” Read on for more…
"Roy Jones Jr. had nothing to do with my legacy and career up until now, but I will be the final chapter [of his]. We probably would have been here earlier if he would have taken the fight when we were debating through the media.
"My statement is simple. This fight is very important to me because it is personal. We have 17 plus years of on and off history. I want to show the world that when our legacy is put together and analyzed, this fight will be the reason. So to me, not only am I a better fighter today, I will prove my legacy on April 3. I have a lot of incentive to win. I have waited 10 plus years to come to this debate.
"Everyone has it in their spirit to get somebody back. Whether it is justified or unjustified. This fight is redemption in a lot of ways - to finish him once and for all.
"I can't speak for Roy, but my name is 'The Executioner.' I execute. I am going for his head.
"He (Jones) won that fight. I have watched that tape a million times. What Roy has to understand is that I got better. I have a resume to show that I have gotten better. That is the difference between then and now. Come April 3, Roy Jones Jr is going to realize that his worst nightmare has come true.
"It is important to get the knockout. There is a financial incentive. I want to finally close a chapter personally. This is a 17 year rivalry.
"I am going to kick his ass."
Roy Jones responded with, "Now, 'Big Head' (Hopkins) has got to get it in his mind. We both went on to do good things in this sport. Mine was great early. His was great late. The facts wont change I am still going to beat him.
"I only hit with one hand last time. I've got two hands now. With two hands, I'm going to beat the hell out of this old man.
"I never have dodged 'Big Head', and I never will. That is why this fight is so important to me.
"We are long time rivals. We waited a long time to fight again. We went our separate ways. I haven't had a rival as long as I have had 'Big Head' sitting around.
"This is like putting on an old pair of pants that still fit after a bunch of years. They probably look better on me now too.
"Have you ever seen somebody run from somebody who he has already whooped? Does that even make sense? Duh!
"I have been trying to fight the bastard for five years. I know Bernard Hopkins. I know him very well. I have never taken anything lightly [and given him reason] to say he hopes I am ready.
"I don't duck and dodge anyone. I was the test he had to pass to get out of high school. He didn't pass that test. Now he wants to retake the test!
"Like I said I am still me. I can care less about how much better he has gotten. My job is to knock him out on April 3 and that is what I am going to do."
Like Bhop said, Roy's legs are gone. Without legs he's not beating bhop, plus all the KO's, and a most recent 1 round KO with a pitiful smack down to Joe Calzaghe not too long before that, confidence can't be too high. But Roy's got them hands still, and Bhop always has trouble with speed. Roy's been done though. Bhop, KO
I like Roy & ALL, but man...... this fight igone be alot of trouble 4 Roy this go-round!! if he thought Joe Calzage was hard to hit after the 1st round, wait till we see this!! Roy will definetly get up 4 this one one, but the problem is so will B-HOP!!!
Ive been into boxing for over 20 years and I think this is the first time I've seen Bernard get any love from the general boxing community. I guess Barak really is the president huh? This shouldnt be a fight that happens Roy is on the down side of too many concussions he's gonna find hisself loopy for the rest of his life.Bernard is too dangerous an opponent for this stage in Roys career that should have ended 6 fights ago. Roy you know i love ya but enough is enough man. Quiting while youre ahead is not the same as losing
7 posts? Good. I'm glad to see this is getting the attention it deserves. This has got to be the 1st time a fighter who got knocked out in the first rounds next fight was a PPV main event. They think we're stupid.
In this photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, Sadaf Rahimi, an Afghan woman boxer, practices at a boxing club in Kabul, Afghanistan. As one of the first women to ever box in the Olympics, besides going after a medal in the boxing ring at the London Olympics, Sadaf Rahimi will be taking a few punches in the fight for equal rights for Afghan women.
