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Hopkins is no less successful in the pugilistic sense. As the current undisputed middleweight champion of the world and holder of a record-breaking string of championship defenses, he has weathered storms that have seen the ruin of many. But for all of his invaluable qualities as a fighter, the impression left by some of his words and deeds outside the ring leave much to be desired.
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Unlike De La Hoya he has remained at a single weight for virtually his entire career.
In recent times, his stubbornness in negotiations with fighters and promoters alike has cost him dearly in the affections of boxing fans, also parallel to De La Hoya who, though still a tough negotiator, has always sought out the greatest challenges.
In his position as an undisputed champion, Hopkins has exercised his principal's more than his talent's to the great discontentment of the entire boxing industry.
But in the process of stonewalling negotiations and court battles with promoters he has cost himself more than anyone. Financially and historically Bernard Hopkins will pay a high price when his career is over. He is respected more than he is loved, but respect is the currency that Hopkins apparently craves.
Whereas De La Hoya has continually sought out the most challenging matches, delighting the boxing public. I would say that he'd want for nothing upon his retirement but something makes me hesitate.
Hopkins can look to recover some of his financial loss through this incredibly lucrative fight, but if De La Hoya can beat Hopkins he will restore a good deal of pride and respectability to his legacy which are lacking due to the crucial losses he has suffered.
The last of which was to Shane Mosley in their rematch last year. And now that De La Hoya has given in on the crusade to clean up boxing's allegedly corrupt judicial system, he can focus on leaving the sport in a blaze of glory.
Of course, this is much easier said than done. In Hopkins, De La Hoya will find a fighter who is physically more imposing and infinitely stronger at the weight.
De La Hoya will attempt to combat this to some extent when he debuts at middleweight on June the fifth against Germany's Felix Sturm, the current WBO middleweight champion. Hopkins will fight Robert Allen on the same bill in a fight many are indifferent to, considering that Hopkins has dealt with Allen twice before. Despite his long and varied career, De La Hoya is hardly a relic and it is unlikely that Sturm's youth will be compensation enough for his inexperience. Although, we could learn enough about De La Hoya's physical transition to 160lbs in this fight to gauge how he may fare against Hopkins.
Throughout his progression from the super-featherweight division to the light middleweight division, De La Hoya has managed to carry his impressive hand-speed with him to great effect. One would think that it would be a chief weapon against and aging Hopkins; but Hopkins is one of the most complete fighters in boxing today and one asset will not be enough to conquer him.
If not for the sport of boxing I doubt that Bernard Hopkins would be alive today, I suppose it is all he knows and when he does fight he is simply poetry in motion.
However, having courted the notion of retirement for some time as well as many successful business ventures outside of the ring, Oscar De La Hoya will, in all likelihood, transcend boxing with ease.
Listening to him speak you could easily come to the conclusion that he will beat Sturm and be happy enough to have accomplished the amazing feat of being a six-weight world champion. But I sense that a warrior's blood still flows in his veins and he will give his all to dethrone Hopkins in a classic fight.
As for all of his allusions to retirement, I also feel that if De La Hoya were to wake up one sunny September morning as the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, his passion for the sport would not allow him to walk away so freely.
The affable, "Golden Boy," versus the brooding, "Executioner." A fight that was barely a dream long ago is now on the verge of becoming a fantastically exciting reality.
Legacies will be decided in a historic night of boxing that is not to be missed!
