Los Angeles, CA– Former two-division (middleweight-160 lbs & light heavyweight-175) titleholder Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) and former (nemisis) champion in four weight divisions Roy Jones Jr. (54-5, 40 KOs) have finally come to terms on a rematch set early next year. Many believe this unanticipated matchup comes about six, seven, maybe 10-12 years too late. Hopkins will be 45 when they hook it up. Jones, currently 40, a UD 12 winner of B-Hop in 1993 is a shell of the fighter he was when the two first met. He doesn’t have much to prove, but for some reason his ego (more likely greed) won’t let him back down from a challenge/payday. Under normal circumstances a 45 year old prizefighter would be a heavy underdog. Considering Jones’ diminished reflexes and old legs, Hopkins is the clear favorite. Fortunately for Bernard, but not necessarily the public, he gets the chance to extract revenge on the only man he believes clearly beat him.
AND THEN THERE WAS JAMES TONEY
In 1994 Roy moved up in weight and earned a unanimous decision in 12 over James” Lights Out” Toney (72-6, 44 KOs) to claim the IBF supermiddleweight (168) belt. A weight drained Toney then moved to light heavyweight after the embarrassing loss. Toney envisioned he would get a return match once Jones moved up to that division. Taking into account Jones’ questionable selection of opponents as light heavyweight champion, a return match with Toney would have been a bout that the public would have approved of. Why did it not happen?
- Who would have won the rematch?
Kevin Perry