Erik Skoglund is edging closer to a dream fight with living legend Bernard Hopkins. Time may not be a friend to Skoglund’s dream. But time has evidently always been a friend to the man in the dream: Bernard Hopkins. So the young challenger might yet get a chance to fulfil his fantasy.
At 49 years of age, Hopkins has become the oldest boxer to win a world title, defend a world title and unify a weight division – the light heavyweight division. The division Skoglund hopes to reign in the future.
“Bernard Hopkins will not last forever, but I think he will continue to box until he loses,” says the great Swedish 23-year-old hope about his dream opponent.
“That he will soon be 50 years-old is unbelievable. You can’t believe it either when you see his physique or quick reflexes.”
“It would be really, really cool to face Hopkins. It would be awesome to fight him, awesome to beat him, but even to get a shot against him would be incredible. He is still one of the best fighters in the world. He is a living legend.”
Step by step, Skoglund has done what is needed to make his dream fight a reality. Patiently boxing his way up the rankings. However for the equation to be meaningful, Hopkins must too cope with the challenges that come his way.
The ageless fighter last fought in April unifying the division with his convincing 11th round knockout victory over Beibut Shumenov. Next up for ‘’The Executioner’’ turned ‘’Alien’’ is Sergey Kovalev in Atlantic City this November.
“I really hope Hopkins stays for a while so I get the chance to fight him. There is the risk that someone gets there before me and beats Hopkins, but his performance against Shumenov was a good sign in my eyes.”
If the dream is replaced by reality, Skoglund will be ready to face it.
“In my mind I’m getting ready to take a big step up. It’s one thing to talk about a potential fight but another to really believe that I one day could face and maybe even beat Hopkins. That would make me part of boxing history and that’s where I would like to picture myself.”
Erik Skoglund (20-0, 11 KOs), the current European (EU) and WBC Youth World Champion, can continue his climb up the world rankings by adding the IBF Intercontinental title to his collection when he locks horns with Stefano Abatangelo (18-3-1, 6 K0s) on September 13 at the Nordic Nordic Fight at TAP1 in Copenhagen.
All the action will be shown live on TV10. Tickets are available at http://www.billetnet.dk.
