By Mitch Abramson - What happens when an “Executioner?acts more like a presidential candidate?
He risks slipping in the polls.
But there was Bernard Hopkins referencing his stint in prison in a conference call on Wednesday, getting all biographical on us, describing how he pulled himself out of the gutter, against all odds.
“Luck didn’t get me out of the penitentiary,?Hopkins said. “Luck didn’t get me out of the ****** and turn my life around.?br />
And as he droned on, an image of the ********** presidential nominee John McCain popped into my head.
McCain (or his advisors) frequently mentions his time as a prisoner of war on the campaign trail.
Everyone knows the story, but still McCain’s people forever reference it, so much that it’s become a political tool, a crutch his campaign seems to use to bolster his standing among voters.
Similarly, Hopkins seems to invoke his prison days and subsequent turnaround to substantiate his prowess as a fighter. It’s a great story, but he tells it as if the public has never heard it.
“This goes way beyond boxing,?Hopkins went on. “When I made my decision that I wasn’t going back to the penitentiary, I had no money. I had no fame. I had no star power. How could I pull that off??br />
He seemed to be saying that no one gave him a chance to turn his life around when he left prison, just as few people give him a chance to beat Kelly Pavlik when they meet Saturday in Atlantic City.
Against all odds, Bernard Hopkins will forever persevere
And that’s when it dawned on me: Hopkins, like McCain, needs a new message.
Because if this is the type of stuff that Hopkins is spouting before he faces Pavlik (34-0, 30 knockouts) on Saturday, then Hopkins really is in deep trouble.
Because for Hopkins to be successful, he has to gain a mental edge over his opponent, just as he did against Felix Trinidad, Antonio Tarver, and practically every fighter he has faced, and he just hasn't done that against Pavlik.
It was surprising when earlier at a presser in New York Hopkins more or less clarified his position on Pavlik:
"I have nothing bad to say about Kelly Pavlik. I have no gimmicks," Hopkins said. "I have no apples to give him. He's not an elementary school student. He's a champion already." [details]
He risks slipping in the polls.
But there was Bernard Hopkins referencing his stint in prison in a conference call on Wednesday, getting all biographical on us, describing how he pulled himself out of the gutter, against all odds.
“Luck didn’t get me out of the penitentiary,?Hopkins said. “Luck didn’t get me out of the ****** and turn my life around.?br />
And as he droned on, an image of the ********** presidential nominee John McCain popped into my head.
McCain (or his advisors) frequently mentions his time as a prisoner of war on the campaign trail.
Everyone knows the story, but still McCain’s people forever reference it, so much that it’s become a political tool, a crutch his campaign seems to use to bolster his standing among voters.
Similarly, Hopkins seems to invoke his prison days and subsequent turnaround to substantiate his prowess as a fighter. It’s a great story, but he tells it as if the public has never heard it.
“This goes way beyond boxing,?Hopkins went on. “When I made my decision that I wasn’t going back to the penitentiary, I had no money. I had no fame. I had no star power. How could I pull that off??br />
He seemed to be saying that no one gave him a chance to turn his life around when he left prison, just as few people give him a chance to beat Kelly Pavlik when they meet Saturday in Atlantic City.
Against all odds, Bernard Hopkins will forever persevere
And that’s when it dawned on me: Hopkins, like McCain, needs a new message.
Because if this is the type of stuff that Hopkins is spouting before he faces Pavlik (34-0, 30 knockouts) on Saturday, then Hopkins really is in deep trouble.
Because for Hopkins to be successful, he has to gain a mental edge over his opponent, just as he did against Felix Trinidad, Antonio Tarver, and practically every fighter he has faced, and he just hasn't done that against Pavlik.
It was surprising when earlier at a presser in New York Hopkins more or less clarified his position on Pavlik:
"I have nothing bad to say about Kelly Pavlik. I have no gimmicks," Hopkins said. "I have no apples to give him. He's not an elementary school student. He's a champion already." [details]
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