Anyone See That Barerra Fight Last Night (on HBO)?

[Tony10]

Man, talk about the whole package: power, speed, accuracy. That guy just absolutely smokes.

They're talking about him fighting Naz now. I think he could take him; Naz has no chin.

Manco, have you seen this guy?

[BIG BIRD]

I didnt get a chance to see the Barrera fight but have seen him many times before. I feel that Naz will stop him in the late rounds. Barrera doesnt have the greatest chin in the world,being wacked out in 5 rds. by Jr. Jones and rocked a few times in their rematch in which he lost a 12 rd. decision. Naz is just to quick and punches to hard. Barrera had trouble adjusting to the angles Jr. Jones gave him and Jones isn't exactly known for his movement. Imagine the angles Naz will present to him. He will be befuddled by the awkward moves of Naz. Also Naz is the hardest hitting featherweight out there. I see Naz getting dropped a few times on his way to a late round stoppage. But I will change my prediction if Emanuel Stewart isnt in his corner to Naz by ugly decision or Barrera by DQ.

Now the real question did you see the least appreciated boxer this side of Lennox Lewis last night? Who I am talking about is Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins. Him and James Toney are the two most intelligent fighters in the game. He just made his 12th defense of the title tying Marvin Hagler and yet nobody outside of boxing circles knows who he is. He is the only Philadelphia born middleweight to be a champion. Following in the tradition of other great middleweights like Bennie Briscoe and Bobbie "Bogaloo" Watts. Hopkins is the total package. He can punch,outslick you and is the craftiest fighter in the game. Last night against Echols he continually pounded on his hips on the inside,which is used so the other man can't move so well. He spun him all night long in this foul filled affair in which Echols cornerman former jr. welter champ Saul Mamby instructed Echols to foul him. SO in round 5 Echols performed a double leg takedown on Hopkins dumping him squarely on his shoulder,dislocating Hopkins right shoulder in the process. Hopkins got up fought the rest of the round with one arm and won the round. In between rounds he told the dr. "I cant use my right arm,but I am not losing the title like this. I am a champion." He went out with his right shoulder obviously injured and fired right hands ignoring the pain dropping Echols and sending him sprawling thru the ropes with a left hook and finishing him off with the right hand. He continued this pattern until the 10th round Echols looking towards his corner for help got hit with a solid right hand. Echols staggered aroud and had the look of a man that wanted to quit,so the referee jumped in and stopped it.

The promoters really need to give this guy a big money fight. Don King will not let his middleweight champions fight him and Hopkins deserves more than the $450,000 payday he got for losing a 12rd. decision to Roy Jones back in 93. You will see him tonight at the Press conference challenging the winner of tonights fight. This man deserves a big pay day. He is willing to go down to jr. middle to fight Vargas or go up to 168 to fight Jones. Lets hope he gets the payday he so badly deserves.

[EJ]

Bernard "THE EXECUTIONER" Hopkins showed kevlar coated, titanium ballz in that semi-NHB fight.

I love the executioner's hood!!!

I'd like to see Hopkins against Roy Jones again... I want the "geritol man" to finally get the big paycheck!!!

[Tony10]

Well I defer to you, Big Bird. No I didn't get to see the other fight. Sounds incredible.

I am still quite impressed with Barerra though. Pretty, pretty combos...