The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, as Personified By Bernard Hopkins

Published

11 years ago

April 18, 2014

bernard hopkins bb5c1

Boxing and the self-help industry are not a natural fit. One is brutal, violent sport unwelcoming to a business of workbooks and touchy-feely seminars. Yet continuous self-improvement is crucial to competing at the highest level in the ring and if both sides were willing to let down their guards, there could be some great connections. Dale Carnegie would probably have embraced the legendary personal kindness that Jack Dempsey and Muhammad Ali showed to others. Daniel Pink could find amazing case studies in the motivation behind the grueling training regimens of Rocky Marciano and Joe Frazier. However, the greatest match ever would be with Stephen Covey and Bernard Hopkins.

Covey, who passed away in 2012, is best remembered for his landmark book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” For the past 25 years, this book has guided millions of people who have wished to become simply better in their lives. To my knowledge, it has never been applied to the sweet science. When one does, there are numerous boxers one can find that embrace these habits, but Hopkins may be the most effective boxer in history. As the 49-year-old former undisputed middleweight champion and current IBF light heavyweight champ prepares for Saturday’s bout with Beibut Shumenov, it is worth exploring how Hopkins embodies Covey’s seven habits.

Habit 1: Be Proactive

The first three habits focus on personal victories and gaining independence and control. Covey writes that, “[Proactive people] work on things they can do something about.” For Hopkins, that has meant staying in top physical condition and maintaining a strict training regimen. He has been fighting for 25 years and has been a titleholder for more than half of them. A fighter does not accomplish that by abusing his body and gaining and losing a lot of weight. He does it by proactively hitting the gym every day.

Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind

Hopkins entered the fight game at the relatively late age of 23 because of a five-year stint in prison. He began his career as a light heavyweight and lost his professional debut in October of 1988. Instead of walking away or getting discouraged, Hopkins sought the tutelage of Philadelphia trainer Bouie Fisher, who determined Hopkins would be more suited competing as a middleweight.

“He came to our gym straight out of jail and with an 0-1 record,” Fisher said in 1995. “Bernard was smaller than he is today, but he knew what we wanted here and he did what he was told in camp. He did not want anything bad from the streets.”

Of course, one’s ultimate goal evolves over a 25-year career, but Hopkins began his career with the end result of not going back to the streets in his mind and has maintained that type of focus ever since.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

The history of pugilism is full of fighters who destroyed their careers through booze, drugs, gargantuan meals, chasing women, and lavish lifestyles. Hopkins is not one of them. He seems to put three things first in his life: his family, his finances and his career. He has been married for more than 20 years and managed his finances to the point where he was bagging his own groceries when he was a millionaire. Hopkins is also very strict about what he puts into his body. He does not drink, smoke, do drugs or eat things that do not agree with his health. It is a level of self-discipline that few people are able to achieve.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Covey’s next three habits are about establishing interdependence with colleagues. Thinking win-win may not apply directly to boxing matches, but it does to making them happen. To be successful with this habit, one also has to appreciate what he is worth and not compromise that. After winning the middleweight title in 1995, Hopkins defended his title with lower paydays than some of his contemporaries were earning and turned down numerous blockbuster fights because he did not feel that he was offered enough money.

Finally, Hopkins agreed to face Oscar De La Hoya in 2004 for $10 million. Critics at the time wondered why Hopkins had turned down so many other mega-fights and he explained that he knew what he was worth and would not risk his health or title for anything less. De La Hoya also thought win-win in the situation. After Hopkins knocked him out, De La Hoya invited him to be a partner in his Golden Boy Promotions and manage the East Coast side of the business.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

This habit centers on people skills, which in the ring is about as useful as proficiency in Microsoft Office. Though if one looks at how Hopkins performs in the squared circle, it is clear that he methodically works to understand his opponents before attacking them. The approach is not always pleasing to boxing fans. Hopkins has not knocked an opponent out since De La Hoya. In his next bout against Howard Eastman, his record 20^th middleweight title defense, Hopkins used the first six rounds to study his challenger before using the final six to close the deal.

As he has gotten older, Hopkins has used this approach more and more. Today, he averages only 39 punches a round, the least of any fighter today, and the result is often a close decision. One cannot always call it pretty, but no one can deny its effectiveness.

Habit 6: Synergize

Covey wrote, “All the habits we have covered prepare us to create the miracle of synergy.” In seminars, synergy is the highest form of principle-centered leadership. For Hopkins, his embrace of the previous five habits allows him to continue to compete at the highest level against fighters who are at least a decade younger than him.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

After knocking out Segundo Mercado in April of 1995 to win the IBF Middleweight title, Hopkins immediately watched film of the bout.

“I just wanted to see what I did wrong,” he said.

That continued self-evaluation, improvement and evolution has allowed him to continue on after many fighters cannot. Hopkins is not the same fighter who knocked out Mercado nor the same boxer who knocked out Felix Trinidad in 2001 nor the one who stopped De La Hoya. Nevertheless, he continues to be introspective and adapt to the fight game in a way that works for him.

Of course, self-improvement case studies are not biographies and boxing fans can still note that Hopkins success and interactions have not come without controversy. While some may voice these frustrations, no one can argue against his effectiveness as an all-time great fighter.

Comment on this article

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Aaron Tallent

Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results

Published

1 day ago

January 25, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results

LAS VEGAS, NV – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions was at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas tonight for the second half of a DAZN doubleheader that began in Nottingham, England. In the main event, Diego Pacheco, ranked #1 by the WBO at super middleweight, continued his ascent toward a world title with a unanimous decision over Steven Nelson.

Pacheco glides round the ring smoothly whereas Nelson wastes a lot energy with something of a herky-jerky style. However, although Nelson figured to slow down as the fight progressed, he did some of his best work in rounds 11 and 12. Fighting with a cut over his left eye from round four, a cut that periodically reopened, the gritty Nelson fulfilled his promise that he would a fight as if he had everything to lose if he failed to win, but it just wasn’t enough, even after his Omaha homie Terence “Bud” Crawford entered his corner before the last round to give him a pep talk (back home in North Omaha, Nelson runs the B&B (Bud and Bomac) Sports Academy.

All three judges had it 117-111 for Pacheco who mostly fought off his back foot but landed the cleaner punches throughout. A stablemate of David Benavidez and trained by David’s father Jose Benevidez Sr, Pacheco improved to 23-0 (18). It was the first pro loss for the 36-year-old Nelson (20-1).

Semi wind-up

Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz, who as a pro has never fought a match slated for fewer than 10 rounds, had too much class for Hermosillo, Mexico’s rugged Omar Salcido who returned to his corner with a puffy face after the fourth stanza, but won the next round and never stopped trying. The outcome was inevitable even before the final round when Salcido barely made it to the final gun, but the Mexican was far more competitive than many expected.

The Cuban, who was 4-0 vs. Keyshawn Davis in closely-contested bouts as an amateur, advanced his pro record to 5-0 (2), winning by scores by 99-91 and 98-92 twice. Salido, coming off his career-best win, a 9^th-round stoppage of former WBA super featherweight title-holder Chris Colbert, falls to 20-2.

Other TV bouts

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado, a 23-year-old super lightweight, aims to become the next world champion from Pomona, California, following in the footsteps of the late Richie Sandoval and Sugar Shane Mosely, and based on his showing tonight against former Beijing Olympian and former two-division title-holder Jose Pedraza, he is well on his way.

After three rounds after what had been a technical fight, Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs) knocked Pedraza off his pins with an overhand right followed by short left hand. Pedraza bounced back and fell on his backside. When he arose on unsteady legs, the bout was waived off. The official time was 2:08 of round four and the fading, 35-year-old Pedraza (29-7-1) was saddled with his third loss in his last four outings.

The 8-round super lightweight clash between Israel Mercado (no relation to “Tito”) and Leonardo Rubalcava was fan-friendly skirmish with many robust exchanges. When the smoke cleared, the verdict was a majority draw. Mercado got the nod on one card (76-74), but was overruled by a pair of 75-75 scores.

Mercado came out strong in the opening round, but suffered a flash knockdown before the round ended. The referee ruled it a slip but was overruled by replay operator Jay Nady and what would have been a 10-9 round for Mercado became a 10-8 round for Rubalcava. Mercado lost another point in round seven when he was penalized for low blows.

The scores were 76-74 for Mercado (11-1-2) and 75-75 twice. The verdict was mildly unpopular with most thinking that Mercado deserved the nod. Reportedly a four-time Mexican amateur champion, Rubalcava (9-0-1) is trained by Robert Garcia.

Also

New Matchroom signee Nishant Dev, a 24-year-old southpaw from India, had an auspicious pro debut (pardon the cliché). Before a beaming Eddie Hearn, Dev stopped Oakland’s Alton Wiggins (1-1-1) in the opening round. The referee waived it off after the second knockdown.

Boxers from India have made large gains at the amateur level in recent years and Matchroom honcho Eddie Hearn anticipates that Dev, a Paris Olympian, will be the first fighter from India to make his mark as a pro.

Undefeated Brooklyn lightweight Harley Mederos, managed by the influential Keith Connolly, scored his seventh knockout in eight tries with a brutal third-round KO of Mexico’s Arturo de Isla.

A left-right combination knocked de Isla (5-3-1) flat on his back. Referee Raul Caiz did not bother to count and several minutes elapsed before the stricken fighter was fit to leave the ring. The official time was 1:27 of round three.

In the opener, Newark junior lightweight Zaquin Moses, a cousin of Shakur Stevenson, improved to 2-0 when his opponent retired on his stool after the opening round.

Photo credit: Melina Pizano / Matchroom

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City

Published

3 days ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Najee-Lopez-Steps-Up-in-Class-and-Wins-Impressively-at-Plant-City

Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his last three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).

Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.

In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.

The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.

Co-Feature

In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.

Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.

What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.

The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.

Also

In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).

A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, applied the exclamation point, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim

Published

3 days ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Japanese-Superstar-Naoya-Inoue-is-Headed-to-Vegas-after-KOing-Y-Joon-Kim

Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11^th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.

Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.

Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.

Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is Brandon Figueroa should he defeat former Inoue foe Stephen Fulton next weekend. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.

Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”

Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.

Semi-wind-up

In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Also

In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!