Hopkins calls on Golovkin to tackle winner of Ward-Kovalev

Bernard Hopkins has urged undefeated world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin to challenge himself by taking on the winner of November’s light-heavyweight bout between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev.

Ward dominated the super-middleweight division, but has since stepped up to 175lb and will put his perfect record on the line against Kovalev – the WBA Super, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight champion – in Las Vegas.

After watching Golovkin claim a 36th win from as many professional outings with an impressive victory over Kell Brook last weekend, Hopkins wants to see the 34-year-old follow his own lead by moving up two weight classes.

Hopkins made a record 20 defences of his middleweight title, three more than Golovkin has currently managed, before switching to light-heavyweight 10 years ago and enjoying further success.

The American is eager to see Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez face off in 2017, but believes the Kazakh should also be targeting Ward or Kovalev – who beat Hopkins on points when the veteran two-weight world champion last fought almost two years ago.

Having questioned the calibre of some of Golovkin’s opponents, Hopkins told Omnisport: “I would like for Triple G to make a statement and fight the winner of Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev – that’s what I want to see.

“Nobody’s talking about that fight or possibility. Can you imagine you’ve already got a second fight that can happen … hey, if Triple G and Canelo don’t fight, we’ve got the next thing for you, Triple G can get into a catchweight situation, or even do what Bernard Hopkins did, jump up two weights and fight the winner of Kovalev and Andre Ward.”

Asked if he would have been capable of beating Golovkin when he was at his peak, Hopkins confidently replied: “Yes.

“You know why I would beat a guy like Triple G? I would come in there with a matador suit on versus a bull. You would see a matador, which is me, versus a big, strong bull that, at any second, could wipe me out.

“I would be the matador versus the bull. That’s how I would promote that fight and that’s what the title would be.

“I would neutralise, I would be a ballet dancer in that ring. You can’t hit what you can’t see.”