Trilogy? Bernard Hopkins Seeks Rubber Match with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 in Russia
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Just when you think you have seen it all, Bernard Hopkins wants to ‘B-Hop’ it back into the ring. Hopkins, who weighs in now at 185 pounds, but who has been out of the ring since losing to Joe Smith four years ago in December 2016, age 54, 55-8-2 with 24 knockouts, Hockessin, Delaware, is has called out his longtime rival Roy Jones Jr., age 50, 6-9 with 47 knockouts, Pensacola, Florida, for a third and final ‘rubber’ match in the Russian Federation in 2020. The two fighters have been going at it verbally and on social media. Hopkins and Jones have essentially agreed to fight each other again. The only question right now is whether or not the proposed trilogy bout will take place and where.
The timeless cold truth of the matter is Hopkins and Jones still do not each other, and the rivalry never actually ended after their rematch in April 2010 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, won by decision by Hopkins. In an old-fashioned boxing rivalry worthy of Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier and ‘The Thrilla in Manilla’, Hopkins versus Jones III seeks more like ‘More Madness in Moscow’ given their ages. Hopkins will be 55 years old, and Jones 51 years old, in January 2020. Jones is a dual citizen of the United States and the Russian Federation, which could be the reason Hopkins is seeking to take the bout to the Russian Federation, where sponsorship and publicity could perhaps be more favorable for the bout, rather than attempting to gain medical clearance in the United States for the third and final bout in the Hopkins-Jones trilogy.
Jones has been inactive since February 2018, when he won a 10 round unanimous decision over Scott Sigmon at the Civic Center in Pensacola, to win the lesser World Boxing Union (German Version) World Cruiserweight title.
Hopkins told FightHub “R.J., rooster man. Whether he’s rooster man or R.J., I’m going to pluck his feathers if he’s a rooster, and I’m going to change his R to a JR, because he is a Jr. We can settle the rubber match (me and Roy). I think it was a great idea that was brought to me by some high-powered people in Russia. Legitimate people, as my team researched (the source). If Roy is serious (about fighting me a third time), and can meet me halfway to where he is now (in terms of weight), I don’t care where he’s at. I’ll go up halfway. He’s (Roy) got to come down (in weight), and we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. We’ll settle the score in the rubber match, and guess what I’ll call it? The rubber match, because he’s always having nightmares of me redeeming myself over ten years ago (in our rematch). He didn’t like that. If they (the Jones team) are serious like I heard, then stay tuned the next couple weeks leading up to 2020. There will be more information (forthcoming) to determine the credibility to tell whether this is a publicity stunt or it’s serious,” said Hopkins.
“To be honest, I haven’t really spoken to my team yet, which is Golden Boy, because it’s really fresh. Behind the scenes things happen as you know. Whatever it is, (if) I can get my hands on his body, and prove that I am the same fighter that wanted that fight (with Roy) years ago and got it. The rubber match will seal the deal. I’m always training. That’s all that matters. Everything is muscle memory. Once a fighter, always a fighter. Have I been hit since my last fight? No. Have I been in the ring shadow boxing and hitting the pads? No. But I have been living a lifestyle that I preached around the world. I’m entertaining the conversation and the possibility (of a third match with Roy Jones Jr.), but like I said, let’s see (what) the days lead to months and closing out of 2019 (my diatribe with the Jones camp).”
Whatever Hopkins and Jones decide to do, it appears 2020 will bring some major surprises to boxing. Bernard Hopkins truly is the Jack Johnson of the middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. Maybe Hopkins should rematch Jermaine Taylor and Chad Dawson too. However, it does seem likely, where Hopkins and Jones are now physically, their third trilogy match will take place at the cruiserweight, which is where Jones fought his last 13 bouts from 211 to 2018, after his last meeting with Hopkins.
English
No Comments Yet