Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. are going to get it on sometime in the first quarter of 2010. The rematch comes 16 years after Jones won an unanimous decision over Hopkins for the IBF Middleweight Championship.

Both guys are legends and I give them all the respect they’re due.. But there’s no way I’m paying to watch two 40+ non-factors fight. They should be ashamed of themselves for putting this fight on PPV.

Here’s the first three rounds from their 1993 middleweight fight:

It’s fight night. Hopefully you’ll be somewhere to watch Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather put on a desperately needed show for boxing. I’ll say right now, I’m expecting the fight to go the full 12 rounds. Bernard Hopkins agrees and thinks Hatton will “out-hustle Mayweather to a 12-round unanimous decision”. More from the Executioner:

“I see something in Hatton, I think he’s the more focused fighter. Hatton is going to throw more punches than Mayweather ever did. The busier, more aggressive fighter, will win.”

Hopkins went on to talk about the high output level of Ricky Hatton and how that will keep constant pressure on Mayweather. I agree with a lot of what Bernard had to say, except for his decision in the fight. I got Floyd Mayweather Jr. by unanimous decision. Ricky Hatton is not to be taken lightly but the overall level of experience will be the deciding factor in the bout.

Ricky Hatton’s resume is all right. His most notable victories are his ass whipping of Kotsya Tsyzu, and his last fight, a knockout victory over Jose Luis Castillo. Floyd Mayweather is the stronger of the two fighters, but Hatton has 31 kos in his 43 victories.

I believe Hatton will come out and pressure Floyd hard. Floyd will have to weather the storm for 3 rounds or so before pressing his attack. From there on in, Floyd’s speed should be able to take advantage of a an easy target that keeps coming forward. When I look at how Mayweather could lose this fight, I’m on the same page as Bernard Hopkins.

“Floyd is considered to be the best fighter in the world, and I echo that. We all know he can fight. But can he still fight like a hungry man? Because I’m telling you, when that fire’s not lit, you can’t train the same, you go through the motions, you can’t think the same, spiritually you’re not the same. Who’s going to be able to suck it up, forget about all the medals they’ve won, all the belts, all the pound-for-pound accolades and the ‘zeros’ on their records? That’s going to be the biggest factor on Saturday night.”

That’s the big question.. Does Floyd Mayweather still have the fire in his stomach? I think it’s there smoldering, and a few rounds of Ricky Hatton 1-2′n him will make Floyd’s fire re-ignite.

Hopkins tips Hatton for victory. Courtesy of The BBC

More Mayweather and Hatton:
Mike Tyson Picks Hatton over Mayweather
Floyd wants to b***f*** Ricky

Tags: Floyd Mayweather, Ricky Hatton, Bernard Hopkins, Boxing, Fight Pick