HOPKINS VS. WRIGHT: PENECALE’S PREVIEW
Posted on | July 12, 2007 | 3 Comments
HOPKINS VS. WRIGHT
** In-Depth Preview and Analysis **
By Tony Penecale
Only 13 months after he vowed retirement, Bernard Hopkins is set to return as he takes on Ronald “Winky” Wright, in a battle that pits two of boxing best tacticians against each other. Will it be an exciting encounter or a defensive bore when they step into the ring? Is Hopkins making a mistake by coming out of retirement to battle a boxer that most others try to avoid? Will this be another step up for Wright or will he be just another name on Hopkins Hall of Fame resume?
AGE, RECORD, AND STATS
Hopkins: Age: 42 years old
Record: 47-4-1 (32 Knockouts)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 174 ** Weight for last bout (6-10-06)
Reach: 75”
Wright: Age: 35 years old
Record: 51-3-1 (25 Knockouts)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 159 * * Weight for last bout (12-2-06)
Reach: 72”
RING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Hopkins: IBF Middleweight Champion (’95-‘05)
WBC Middleweight Champion (’01-‘05)
WBA Middleweight Champion (’01-’05)
WBC Welterweight Champion (’97-’99, ’00)
WBO Middleweight Champion (’04-’05)
Ring Magazine Middleweight Champion (’01-’05)
IBO Light Heavyweight Champion (’06-Pres)
Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Champion (’06-Pres)
Pound-for-Pound #1 Boxer (’02-’05)
Wright: IBF Junior Middleweight Champion (’01-’04)
WBC Junior Middleweight Champion (’04)
WBA Junior Middleweight Champion (’04)
Ring Magazine Junior Middleweight Champion (’04)
STYLE
Hopkins: Is no longer the fighter who would apply pressure from the opening bell, winging right hands and left hooks until his opponent succumbed. That version of Hopkins evolved into the patient boxer-puncher seen today several years ago. Uses footwork and works angles well to keep opponents moving and off-balance, dictating the pace with his jab and opening up opportunities for his sharp straight right and left hook. Once in close, will attack the body and use rough-house tactics on the inside, including low blows and elbows. Is also a very tough and physically strong fighter.
Wright: A southpaw defensive master, content to parry his opponent’s offense and retaliating with sharp counter punches. Will stand flat-footed in front of opponents and works best when his opponent initiates the action. Keeps a high guard and uses gloves well to parry punches before countering with a sharp right jab and straight left hand.
STRENGTHS
Hopkins: * Student of the Game – There is not a style today that Hopkins hasn’t seen. From his early career in Philadelphia clubs all the way to his PPV main events, Hopkins has faced and defeated all types of styles including a number of world-class southpaws.
* Defense – Trying to land a clean punch, much less a combination, on Hopkins is like trying to hold water in your hands. Hopkins will block, slip, and parry most punches that come his way, but his best defensive maneuver is the “shoulder roll” where he will make his opponent miss by rolling with the punch and then fire back with a right hand or uppercut at his wide-open adversary.
* Confidence – Hopkins believes that he can handle any opponent at any weight. He is fearless in the ring and will not back down. Often times, his steely demeanor will have opponents unnerved and already beaten when they step into the ring.
Wright: * Ring Generalship – Wright is rarely out of position. He is a master in the ring. He knows how to frustrate opponents and forcing them into mistakes.
* Defense – Hitting Wright with clean punches is just as difficult as hitting Hopkins. Wright’s primary form of defense is his gloves. He holds them high to his face, similar to a peek-a-boo stance and uses them to create a defensive stance that is hard to penetrate.
* Jab – Wright might possibly posses the best jab in boxing. While it may not be sharp as Oscar De la Hoya’s or Jermain Taylor’s, it is often more effective as Wright is more consistent with it. Adding the dimension that his jab is coming from a southpaw stance makes Wright’s jab more difficult to defense.
WEAKNESSES
Hopkins: * Too Patient – Hopkins likes to work from the outside and pick his shots. Often times, he waits too long and opponents are able to steal rounds. He gave away early rounds in his bouts against Roy Jones, Oscar De la Hoya, and Jermain Taylor before rallying late. In the case of both Taylor bouts and the Jones bout, it was too late and Hopkins ended up on the losing side of the decision.
* Enemies – Hopkins has a reputation of making enemies, whether it is battling with promoters, arguing with broadcasters, or throwing an opponent’s flag on the ground. While this often doesn’t equate to an in-ring weakness, it does leave a sour taste in the mouth of many officials, and can be very influential in close fights.
* Fading Power – The younger version of Hopkins was capable of taking out an opponent with one punch like he did to Steve Frank and Joe Lipsey. Those who stood up to his punches were issued frightful beatings. The modern version of Hopkins doesn’t carry the same pop in his gloves. Only one of his last five wins has ended inside the distance.
Wright: * Punching Power – Wright has never been seen as much of a puncher. His last stoppage win came in ’02 and most of his wins inside the distance came against overmatched opponents early in his career.
* Coasts – Wright will coast from time-to-time. He will throw his hands up and dare his opponent to throw punches, but while blocking their offerings, he will smirk and wink, but not punch back, which allows close rounds to go in the other man’s favor.
* Strength – Wright was a solid junior middleweight just a few years ago but never very physical. Coming into this bout, he will be at a significant size and strength disadvantage.
TRAINING & PREPARATION
Hopkins: With regular trainer Brother Nazim Richardson recovering from a stroke, Hopkins will be working for the first time with legendary Freddie Roach, setting up camp in Los Angeles. Hopkins will also be assisted by former opponent (and middleweight titlist) John David Jackson who helped formulate the game plan against fellow southpaw Antonio Tarver last year.
Wright: Wright has set up camp in Las Vegas with another legendary trainer, Dan Birmingham, who he was worked with the majority of his career, starting from his early days in Tampa.
BEST PERFORMANCES
Hopkins: * Felix Trinidad (9/29/01) – Hopkins was the IBF and WBC middleweight champion coming into this unification bout but he was overshadowed by the Puerto Rican superstar and a 3-1 underdog going in. While he promised to match Trinidad in a rough and dirty fight, he shocked everyone, especially Trinidad, by boxing early and building a commanding lead. Trinidad was visibly frustrated going into the latter half of the bout and attacked without abandon. Hopkins took full advantage and punished Trinidad with a variety of powerpunches, wobbling him at the end of the 10th before finishing him in the 12th to become the unified champion and owner of the Sugar Ray Robinson trophy.
* Glen Johnson (7/20/97) – At the time, it looked like this bout was a masterful win over a boxer with an undefeated albeit padded record. It has become more impressive considering that Johnson has since won versions of the light heavyweight title and scored a spectacular knockout over Roy Jones. Johnson came into the bout with an impressive punch, solid chin, and rugged determination. But it was all Hopkins from the opening bell as he dished out a frightful beating on the inside. Hopkins continued the assault each round, forcing the referee to visit Johnson’s corner several times, before finally halting the contest in the 11th.
* Robert Allen (2/6/99) – In their first encounter, six months prior, Allen had greatly troubled Hopkins with his physical southpaw style before an aggressive Mills Lane attempt to break a clinch resulted in Hopkins falling out of the ring and spraining an ankle. Before the rematch, Allen boasted that Hopkins had taken the easy way out and would be dethroned in the rematch. The Hopkins that entered the ring was focused and seething and punished Allen without mercy, knocking him down in the 2nd and 6th rounds. Allen’s only chance was to try and initiate a disqualification by flopping every time Hopkins landed on his waistline. Another brutal volley in the 7th forced the referee to stop the bout, amid protests from Allen’s camp, to which the referee responded “I don’t see him (Allen) complaining.”
* Antonio Tarver (6/10/06) – This was billed as Hopkin’s retirement bout and he was stepping up to a big challenge, taking on the naturally larger light heavyweight champion. Hopkins, coming off of two decision losses to Jermain Taylor, was an underdog coming in, with many of the experts predicting a Tarver win, citing that Hopkins looked lethargic in his last several bouts. The Hopkins that stepped into the ring against Tarver was a muscular 174 and he looked rejuvenated, outboxing and outfighting Tarver throughout, scoring a flash knockdown, and dealing out punishment over the last three rounds, forcing Tarver to hold on to the final bell, only to see Hopkins seize his title with a one-sided decision.
Wright: * Felix Trinidad (5/14/05) – Trinidad had come out of retirement hoping to land a bout with De la Hoya, Hopkins, or Mosley. By process of elimination, he accepted a bout with Wright and was favored going in. But it was all Wright from the opening bell, as he befuddled Trinidad with his defense and peppered him with counterpunches. Trinidad had no answer for Wright’s jab and was shut out over the distance. The final punch numbers told the story as Wright landed 262 punches (185 jabs) to Trinidad’s 58 punches (15 jabs).
* Shane Mosley (3/13/04) – Mosley was coming off a win over De la Hoya when this bout to unify the junior middleweight titles was signed. Mosley’s speed and athleticism was negated by Wright’s superior size and defense. Wright was able to land his jab, left hand, and body shots, hurting Mosley in the 10th and winning a comfortable decision.
* Fernando Vargas (12/4/99) – It is not often that a “loss” is seen as one of a fighter’s top performances but that is exactly the case in Wright’s controversial loss to Vargas. Vargas was looking for an easy title defense as he was preparing for a super fight with Ike Quartey. He picked the wrong opponent in Wright, who came right to Vargas, backing him up, and got the better of most exchanges, before fading late and letting Vargas steal the last few rounds. While the decision went in the champion’s favor, most felt that Wright should have been awarded the decision.
* Jermain Taylor (6/17/06) – Following two close wins over long-time middleweight champ Hopkins, this was a chance to Taylor to show that he was indeed the new blood in the division by taking on the #1 contender in Wright. But it was Wright who made the statement, outpunching Taylor throughout, even backing him to the ropes and landing straight lefts. While Wright was able to land at a higher volume, the naturally larger and younger Taylor was able to land the heavier punches in and exciting contest. The split draw verdict was disputed as many thought Wright deserved the decision and title.
QUESTIONS
Hopkins: * Even with Freddie Roach in the corner, will the absence of long-time cornerman Brother Nazim Richardson adversely affect Hopkins?
* Is Hopkins rapidly declining with his win over Tarver more a case of the larger man’s struggles to make weight and lack of focus due to movie commitments?
* Can his legs and stamina hold up if Wright sets a brisk pace?
* Is he still as motivated as he was coming up as an anti-establishment fighter with a king-sized chip on his shoulder?
Wright: * Will Wright be able to handle Hopkins crafty style and frequent dirty tactics?
* Is he moving up too high in weight against a naturally larger and stronger opponent?
* Does he have the power to backup and discourage the iron-jawed Hopkins?
* If he falls behind early, what gameplan will he look to employ?
PENECALE PREDICTION
Going into this bout, it is either predicted to be a tactical bore-fest that will entertain only the true boxing geeks or a surprisingly exciting back-and-forth action-filled battle. While it will be no Gatti-Ward or Castillo-Corrales, it will be a better bout than many expect. Hopkins is unfamiliar in the role of the underdog, which he is in this bout, and that will motivate him. Wright is no stranger to motivation and knowing this bout has a lot riding on it will have him equally as motivated coming in.
The early rounds will be slow-paced as Hopkins will look to work the angles and probe openings with his jab and right hand. Wright will stand in front of Hopkins, flat-footed, parrying punches and looking to land his jab and straight left.
Throughout his career, Hopkins has beaten more top-notch southpaws than any other fighter on the planet today. He will use that experience to keep himself in proper position. His lead right hand, which was his primary weapon against Tarver will break through Wright’s guard, and he will follow up by getting close to Wright, landing body punches on the inside, and roughing him up.
Wright will have his moments and he will land his share of jabs and straight lefts. But, unlike his other opponents who were clearly affected and discouraged, Hopkins will be neither. The bout will see a good flow of momentum as both boxers will take turns countering each others counter punches.
Most of the close rounds will be decided by one prevailing factor. Hopkins likes to defend by slipping and rolling with punches. Wright is more adapt at holding his guard high and blocking punches with his gloves and arms. With his punches landing on Wright, even if they are not clean, scoring punches, many close rounds will be in Hopkins favor.
Going into the late rounds, Hopkins will have a slight lead, forcing Wright to open up his attack. He will score but Hopkins will pivot out of most danger, instead of backing up like Taylor and Mosley did, and fire counter right hands.
The chance of this bout ending inside the distance is remote, unless something unusual happens. In a combined 107 bouts, neither has been stopped or ever really beaten up. This bout will go to the scorecards. It will be Hopkins work over the close rounds that will win him a close decision. Wright will move back to middleweight where he will campaign for the winner of September bout between Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik, or maybe a bout with a rebounding Edison Miranda. Hopkins will talk retirement again but will try to secure a bout with Roy Jones, Glen Johnson, or a comebacking Felix Trinidad.