Gray-beard Makes History: The Legend of Bernard Hopkins
Written by Troy J. Hines, Sunday May 22 2011
MIAMI--In 1960’s Kung-Fu movies, it was the old blind Shaolin monk who was the most skilled in the Chinese art of combat. Blind even, we all knew the old gray bearded monk was the most feared, and the most fearless. Perhaps the same can be said when analyzing the current situation in boxings’ light heavyweight division.
46 years ago the price of gas was 31 cents per gallon, the Vietnam War was becoming bloodier, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was leading the famous march from Selma to Montgomery, Bernard Hopkins was born, and the Maple Leaf became Canada’s new national flag symbol. Ironically, last night in Montreal, Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2) set a record by becoming the oldest World Champion in the history of prize-fighting , by defeating the young Jean Pascal (26-2-1) and making him look as slow as Maple syrup.
Many boxing pundits agree that this was not the first time, and any discussion about a Part III between the two would be disrespectful to fans with a high boxing IQ. In my opinion, Bernard Hopkins decisively beat Jean Pascal on December 18th of last year, and last night—both on Pascal’s home turf.
Hopkins not only brought the belts back home to the USA, but he did it in Ali-esque, “Louisville Lip” fashion. He talked trash. He talked trash in the beginning, and he talked trash in the end. During the head-to-head HBO promotional interview with Max Kellerman, B-Hop rattled the emotions of the young former champion by insisting he was a “four round fighter”. A suggestion, that with many agree, that Bernard Hopkins swept the last 8 rounds of their previous bout.
Last night, May 21st, 2011, Bernard Hopkins accomplished what no man in the history of boxing has ever done. He won a legitimate World Championship title (WBC, WBC Diamond, and IBO Light Heavyweight titles) at the age of 46 years old. This record, formerly held by “Big” George Foreman who grilled Michael Moorer in 1994 at the age of 45, has now been broken.
The crafty veteran again exposed the flaws that many saw in the Canadian champ on Saturday night. Pascal appears to be a supremely gifted, but raw athlete, with limited boxing skill sets. By the middle of the fight, the younger man all but abandoned his jab and relied on the “hope” punch. A telegraphed looping right hook that he would throw in spots, in the hopes of landing, hurting, and finishing the gray-bearded master. To his dismay, he was outfought, outthought, and outclassed by “The Executioner”.
Bernard Hopkins was in rare form on Saturday night. The usually calculated defensive counter puncher, took risks, pressed the action, and landed a series of right hand lead assaults on the strong and young, but unpolished Haitian native. He gave us glimpses of the “Old Bernard”. The Bernard who knocked out Felix Trinidad. The Bernard that knocked out Oscar DelaHoya. The Bernard who from 1990 to 1992 scored 21 wins without a loss, with 16 coming by way of knockout.
The “Boxing Gods” shined on old gray-beard Saturday night, and reminded us of the proverb coined by Julius Caesar—“Experience is the best teacher.” Bernard Hopkins taught us, and Jean Pascal, to believe in him again at the age of 46—ancient for prize-fighting. He is our version of Kung-Fu’s Master Po. Who taught lesson after lesson, round after round to the tiring youth.
It is only fitting that the entire sports world pay tribute to the Philadelphia counter-puncher who has given us 23 years of boxing entertainment. Take a bow gray beard; you have made history and believers out of all of us. Congratulations, you are a legend.
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