BERNARD HOPKINS
He opened up by saying, “I’m excited. It’s my first time fighting at the Barclay Center, and I believe it’s HBO’s first time broadcasting, so thank you everybody.”
When Hopkins was asked him what drives him, he responded, “I’m not satisfied, even though I know I’ve done a lot to be grateful for – and I am! Trust me, I am, God knows I am. But I’m the kind of person that when I’m not satisfied I keep driving. I should be the one to dictate when I go, because if I listened to most people I wouldn’t have made history in a lot of things.
“So I’m not satisfied and I know there are a lot of other things to accomplish. Maybe not in the ring, because it must stop soon, everybody has to recognize that. There are young fighters under the Golden Boy banner that need our help – mine, Oscar’s, Richard’s – so a lot of things keep me going.”
Hopkins took the fight when his name was mentioned among fighters he wanted to call out. Things progressed from there, and now the fight is on. With regard to his age, he reminded us that he has been hearing ‘old’ since he beat Trinidad, and he was 35 at the time.
What makes Bernard think that he will pull off the upset yet again? “I’m the better fighter and the better conditioned fighter. I believe when I go in that ring and Cloud is thinking something else he’s going to be very, very surprised. It’s natural. He’s fighting someone almost double his age, so that is the reality. But when he steps in there, that’s when I know that he’s gonna have to adjust mentally as well as physically, and that’s when the fight really begins. I can say one thing that I’ve never said in my whole career when I step in the ring – I’m 100% healthy. You’ll see a healthy Bernard Hopkins. It’s gonna be a masterful performance!”
“I know I’m not fighting his promoter, but I’m glad to be able to reunite and be able to get rid of the last guy that he has. I’m not being smart or vindictive, I’m just saying, what other horse does King have to ride on?” Hopkins continued. “He does have a thoroughbred (in Cloud). But let’s see how the cowboy rides the bull.”
Bernard made it clear that he will not feel guilty to be the one to put King out of business. “Who ever thought that it would be Bernard Hopkins – not the mob, not his street people, not the fighters who’ve threatened him over the years, not the promoters – who ever thought that it would me that would shut him down? It’s an honor for me to put the last nail in his coffin.”
Nathan Cleverly is looking to fight Hopkins in a unification fight for the light heavyweight championship, and Bernard is all for that.
“To me, I think every division should have one king,” Hopkins said. “If you’re a champion and you have a title in the light heavyweight division, why wouldn’t you want to be the undisputed champion? I don’t want to walk around and three other people wear the title of a light heavyweight champion. To me it’s an embarrassment. If I’m in a room and two other guys are in the room, and we’re all light heavyweights, then you have three champions in one room. To me, I think every division should have one king. I’m glad that Nathan Cleverly is thinking on the same lines as I’m thinking and that’s the way it should be.
“I’m from the old school but living in a new world. I understand that. I respect the guy that wants to do what needs to be done in boxing in all of the divisions.” I’m very aware of him (Cleverly) but right now it’s Tavoris Cloud and that’s what’s on my mind right now.
“After the fight they have another press conference and his name might come up or his name might not come up. But I’m sure it will come up on our end. At the end of the day he can be next because I’m all about unifying the championship.
“He makes more money with me than he makes with Cloud and anybody that fights in the light heavyweight division makes more money with me, fighting a Hall of Famer. Cleverly understands that, and that’s good.”
TAVORIS CLOUD
Cloud opened up by saying that he’s had a great training camp. They are heading to New York next week, and they are just ready to fight.
It was mentioned that Hopkins looked worse in his last fight than he had in 10 years, and did he think he was ripe for the picking?
“He could be, but he is the most dangerous fighter in the world. We’ll see when he gets hit a couple of times. I’ve done everything I could possibly do to get a knockout victory. Nobody can guarantee a knockout, but I will guarantee a victory. He’s not gonna beat me; he believes all the stuff in his own head. I’ll let him be until March 9.”
Cloud was asked if he had to train any differently for this fight than his other fights. “Well, I’m at the top of the mountain. I’m doing road work at 7000 feet, so that’s one thing. I feel by doing that it took me to another level physically. I know I’m a better conditioned fighter since I’ve been with Abel Sanchez up in Big Bear.
“It was a decision on my part to switch trainers and find somebody that I could grow even more with, and someone who was a little more open-minded. Abel Sanchez was the guy I decided to go with. The switch was made a little bit before Christmas. The decision came after years going back and forth. Al (Bonanni) is still a good trainer.”
Cloud also switched from manager Jerry Attardi (who is also Bonanni’s uncle) to James Prince.
Tavoris revealed his plan for the fight. “I’m just gonna fight my fight. I’m gonna make him adjust to what I’m doing. I’m gonna set the pace and not let him set the pace, and then win the fight round by round. I’m not gonna crowd my mind with what he’s gonna do. I’m gonna make him do what I want him to do.
“I learned from my last fight that I wasn’t as well prepared as I am now. When I beat Bernard Hopkins I’m calling out all of the fighters in my division. I’ll fight whoever’s next, but I’ll leave that to my manager.”
When asked if he felt Hopkins was no longer able to fight at the top level, he replied, “I don’t think any fighter can stay young forever, no matter how hard they try. It’s evident that he’s slowed down the last couple of years; yes he’s definitely slowed down.
DON KING
Interestingly, King made no attempt to answer back or engage in any of the negativity that was enlisted by Hopkins. Instead, he killed him with kindness.
“I love Bernard,” King said. “He’s done a good job of promoting, and he’s not a nemesis to me, he’s a wonderful fighter, a great fighter. Bernard has raised himself above the fray. At 48 years old he demands respect with his physique, being in such good physical condition, and with his 27 years of experience in this sport, and that is a crowning achievement in itself. I look at this fight with joy and appreciation.
The world is going to see a physically fit 48-year-old man in Hopkins. With Tavoris, who throws punches in bunches, I think this is going to be great for both of them. These guys are going back to the beginning and doing things with good old hard work – no enhancements. It’s dedication, perseverance and commitment. The winner of this fight will be the public.
“Tavoris is fighting a giant that night,” King continued. “And that’s what’s gonna make Cloud so good. He’s come from the streets to the suites. Bernard is gonna try to physiologically try to outsmart Tavoris. When he fights this giant and he takes this giant out, it will give him more prominence, and more stature and esteem, because Bernard is nothing to sneeze at. Everybody knows that, otherwise we wouldn’t be fighting at the Barclay Center.
“This ranks up there as one of the best fights I’ve promoted. People will see just what Tavoris Cloud is; a tough individual dedicated and committed to excellence. Hopkins will
stand in front of him bringing an illustrious career. When Bernard falls he won’t fall with disgrace. He did his job; he came, he saw, he conquered, and now he is being conquered.”
ABEL SANCHEZ
Sanchez said that when he first came on board what he saw was a fighter who just got complacent. He has a lot of talent but he got complacent, looking for one shot, looking to knock everybody’s head off. Inactivity could cause that as well, Sanchez said.
“We tried to go back to just moving his hands a bit more, just be a little bit more active and lighter on his feet. We tried to get him to enjoy what he’s doing. He seemed to be doing it as a job instead of something he enjoyed to do. It’s only been about six weeks now and we’re accomplishing that.”
Abel was asked what problems Cloud presented for Hopkins. “I think styles make fights. Bernard will present some problems because he is Bernard and he is a cagey veteran. But at 48 years old he’s talking about trying to set some records. That’s gonna motivate him to be well prepared and come to fight. We’re looking for the toughest Bernard Hopkins on March 9. Hopefully he does, and if so it will be a great fight for the fans, as Don keeps repeating.
“I tell my fighters to be the best they can be and have everybody else adjust to them. Tavoris is gonna come and take it to Bernard, he’s gonna be in great shape, he’s be busy, and if Bernard can handle the heat then it’ll go 12. If not, then it’s gonna be a short night for him.”
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