Bernard Hopkins wonders why Pacquiao hasn’t fought any ‘top-notch black fighters’
Nov 19, 2010, 11:39 AM EDT
It’s hard to make a case that a guy who has won ten world titles in eight weight divisions is ducking anyone, but Bernard Hopkins will try. After watching Manny Pacquiao pummel Antonio Margarito on Saturday at Cowboys Stadium, Hopkins wondered aloud when Pacquiao would fight “any other top notch black fighter.” Hopkins, talking to Fanhouse’s Lem Satterfield:
“Maybe I’m biased because I’m black, but I think that this is what is said at people’s homes and around the dinner table among black boxing fans and fighters. Most of them won’t say it [in public] because they’re not being real and they don’t have the balls to say it,” said Hopkins, a 45-year-old future Hall of Famer and a multi-division champion.
“But I do think that a fighter like the Ray Leonards or anyone like that would beat a guy [like Pacquiao] if they come with their game,” said Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 knockouts), who will challenge WBC light heavyweight king Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KOs) on Dec. 18 on Showtime.
“Listen, this ain’t a racial thing, but then again, maybe it is,” said Hopkins. “But the style that is embedded in most of us black fighters, that style could be a problem to any other style of fighting.”
Let’s go ahead and place “Listen, this ain’t a racial thing, but then again, maybe it is,” atop the Pantheon of Nonsensical Quotes of the Millennium So Far. Or chalk it up to too many blows to the head. Anyway, all Hopkins is doing is putting more pressure on Floyd Mayweather. Fight fans shouldn’t be asking why Pacquiao isn’t facing any black fighters (and for the record, that’s Joshua Clottey in the photo, not fighting Pacquiao I guess). They should be asking Mayweather.
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Does Manny Pacquiao Duck Black Fighters? [Sports Grid]
Will Manny Pacquiao Fight a Top African-American Fighter? [Fanhouse]
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- jstrizzle - Nov 19, 2010 at 5:39 PM
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He also hasn’t fought any women or children. What a pansy.
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- inskroot - Nov 19, 2010 at 8:08 PM
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I think its the other way around. Mayweather has never faced a slick filipino like Pacquiao, and if he did he would/will wake up on the canvas like Ricky Hatton asking himself, “What the hell just happened?”
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- josesuico - Nov 19, 2010 at 11:16 PM
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Shhhhh….hey guys, i have a secret to tell. it’s not a new one of course. your guy, floyd chicken may whatever never fought an asian guy in his life. but then again it’s not a racist thing. know what, you guys think the world is just black or white. anything in between is oppss non-existent. wait till your man eats the canvas and knocked out of his senses. heck, manny doesn’t need your moron…
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- jackal151 - Nov 20, 2010 at 4:05 PM
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dude make a name for yourself and stop crying. its better to be thought of as a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
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- jackal151 - Nov 20, 2010 at 3:59 PM
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Grow up little boys and what Bernard said was just a promotional stunt for the money, but what you’re talking about is pure punk stuff. bottom line is that as ill representing as Floyd is he is still undefeated! reguardless. Manny is good at what he does and Floyd was good and still is it’s just that he let the money and fame go to his head and that will be his down fall. It’s just Manny time and if Floyd walks away now he’ll be a smart man.
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- materialman80 - Nov 30, 2010 at 2:37 PM
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He would love to beat up Mayweather, but “Money” don’t want his record tarnished. It’s as simple as that. He can’t beat Manny, and he knows it.
