Master vs Master: What will Happen....IF It Happens?

By Tony Penecale

The smoke had barely cleared after Floyd Mayweather Jr. had mastered yet another challenge, turning back the efforts of young phenom Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, when an unlikely challenge was presented.  The ageless wonder, 48-year-old light-heavyweight champion and future Hall-of-Famer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins tossed his name into the Mayweather sweepstakes.

Since capturing the bronze medal in the 1996 Olympics, Mayweather has embarked on a remarkable run, compiling an undefeated 45-0 record, defeating an impressive 18 world champions along the way.  Whenever a new challenge emerges, Mayweather has found a way conquer it.  

Bernard Hopkins won his first world title in 1995 when he captured the IBF middleweight championship.  He sat atop the division for nearly 10 years, amassing a record 20 title defenses.  After two close and controversial losses to Jermain Taylor, Hopkins at the tender age of 41, moved up to light heavyweight and again became a world champion.  Along the way, he has morphed his style into a master tactician, able to neutralize younger adversaries.

In calling out Mayweather, Hopkins said he will again drop to 160 lbs. to challenge an opponent who has never weighed more than 151 lbs. for a professional fight.  Hopkins believes the only way to beat a master chess player is to match him with a master chess player, one who can beat him with his brains as opposed to his brawn.

With the challenge presented, here is a list of pressing questions:

3 Reasons Why This Fight Would Happen?

1. It presents a new challenge for Mayweather to conquer.  Mayweather would need to move up to meet a fighter who is technical master, one who is older but not as reckless.  Hopkins also knows how to fight physically and is not averse to bending the rules.

2. There is the money factor.  Both fighters know that their time in the spotlight is winding down and the time to cash in on the major paydays is nearly ending.  For a fight of this magnitude, both Mayweather and Hopkins would stand to net a handsome payday.

3. Possibly more significant than the money factor is the chance for each fighter to add to his considerable legacy.  Mayweather has a chance to defeat a legend, a surefire 1st ballot Hall-of-Famer, one considerably larger than himself.  Hopkins can go down as the man to finally crack the Mayweather puzzle.  

3 ReasonsThat Would Prevent This Fight From Happening?

1. It is unlikely that Hopkins can comfortably make the 160 lb. weight limit.  He last weighed the middleweight limit in December 2005 and since has utilized the services of Mackie Shilstone to add muscle to his frame to compete at light heavyweight.  By trying to reduce back to middleweight Hopkins would likely jeopardize his strength and endurance.

2. Over his career, Hopkins has been notoriously difficult to deal with and Mayweather likes to be in control when it comes to promotional efforts.  It would be difficult to imagine these two tremendous egos cooperating on the fight demands, even on such minor details on who walks to the ring last.

3. Hopkins has a title defense later this month against Karo Murat.  While Murat is seen as an unproven adversary, the fact is Hopkins is still nearing 50 years of age and Father Time can rear his ugly head without warning.  Mayweather is also in talks for a May meeting with Amir Kahn.  Kahn would be seen as a heavy underdog but he is still dangerous, especially as Mayweather will be past his 37th birthday by the time the fight takes place.  One hiccup in either fight would derail the possibility of seeing Mayweather vs. Hopkins.

Would the Pay-Per-View Telecast Sell?

Mayweather is the #1 attraction in boxing.  He plays the role of the villain perfectly.  He has also turned back the challenge of opponents who were younger, bigger, and more aggressive.  He has seemingly made it look easy.  

While Hopkins doesn’t have the rabid following that some of Mayweather’s previous opponents had--including Oscar De la Hoya, Arturo Gatti, Saul Alvarez, and Ricky Hatton--he is a highly-respected legend in boxing.  As he has gotten older, he has become a more popular figure, winning titles 20 years after he first entered the championship picture.

The downside would be the potential matchup of two defensive wizards.  Many fans would see it as a fight that would not produce excitement and would therefore bypass on plunking down close to $100 to order this bout.

As custom, there would be another All-Access buildup for the fight which would undoubtedly highlight Mayweather’s near-freakish conditioning, which would be matched by the Spartan regime of Hopkins.  There would be trash talk and threats.  The combustible elements of Hopkins, Floyd Sr. and Uncle Roger, along with Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, would make the press conferences can’t-miss TV.  It would be billed as a one-time-only meeting between The #1 Boxer on the Planet Today and The Ageless Wonder.  By the time fight night rolls around, there would be enough excitement to make this another high-selling Mayweather Pay-Per-View event.

How Would the Fight Unfold?

Like the master chess players, Mayweather and Hopkins are strategists.  Let the opponent make the first move, the first mistake, and it’s “Check”.  Another mistake or two and it quickly becomes “Check Mate.”  In meeting each other, it is easy to envision a slow pace, while each fighter waits for his opponent to make a risky move.  It would be a case of strategy, safe moves, and waiting.

The younger version of Hopkins was more aggressive.  He would attack opponents with right hands and left hooks.  About 10 years ago, he morphed from a fighter who executed opponents to one who was more comfortable executing a 12-round gameplan.  His impressive performances have come against aggressive, plodding-type opponents like Kelly Pavlik, Jean Pascal, and Tavoris Cloud.  He has been less impressive against more defensive-minded fighters like Chad Dawson, who beat him by a convincing decision.  There was a similar pattern of feinting, posing, movement, and clinching.  It was certainly a pedestrian affair.

Mayweather is a master of figuring out his opponent, dissecting his gameplan, and then making adjustments.  The best way to get to Mayweather is to reach him early and then have a Plan B, C, and D ready for when he starts to adapt.  If anybody can formulate those gameplans, it is Bernard Hopkins.  Hopkins will also try to use his size advantage when in close, doing anything he can to rough Mayweather up, especially against the ropes or in clinches.  The fighting inside would be ugly but it would be the most action produced in the fight.

Would Hopkins try to get too physical on the inside and run the risk of a disqualification, especially if he starts to become frustrated?  Can Mayweather stay one step ahead against an opponent who prides himself on being equally as adaptable?  Will either chess player be willing to risk bringing their King out and become the aggressor?

This fight has all the makings of a 12-round battle of wits.  Boxing purists will appreciate all the subtle moves, strategies, and counter strategies.  But also like a meeting between Willie Pep and Pernell Whitaker, it would be hard to imagine a lot of action.  If Hopkins keeps it close and throws punches on the inside, he could conceivably steal rounds and a decision, especially being the aging sentimental favorite.  Likely Mayweather would control the pace, using his younger and fresher legs to keep Hopkins at bay.  If Chad Dawson could neutralize Hopkins, then the smaller but more talented Mayweather should be able to match that result.

Chess Master vs. Chess Master.  It can happen.  Will it?