Baby Boy fans know what I'm talking about. Snoop and the fort, Omar Gooding's overacting, Tyrese getting his ass whooped every five minutes - it's not intended to be a comedy, but the unintentional humor puts it up there with Naked Gun, 40 Year Old Virgin, and other classics that were supposed to be funny. Even the attempted rape scene was comical (if you don't see why Snoop in a wife beater trying to overpower anyone is funny, then I don't know what to tell you).
On the same token, while Hopkins-Echols II was fairly action packed, it was far too one-sided to be considered great. The first fight was easily better in terms of the combat between the future legend and the menacing contender.
But the several subtle and not-so-subtle incidents that happen during the bout makes it a classic worthy of being in the same air of Pryor-Arguello, Hagler-Hearns, and Corrales-Castillo.
Five reasons why this was one of the funniest championship fights ever.
5) Jim Lampley curses.
An angry Echols hits Hopkins - hard - while referee Tony Weeks was breaking the two. It was only the first round, but Echols already had enough of Hopkins' roughhouse tactics.
After Hopkins retaliates, Weeks tells them both to cut the bullshit out. HBO's lead commentator Jim Lampley lets the viewers know that "that's one of the official rules of boxing: cut the bullshit."
It was the only time I've heard a commentator, much less the straight-edged Lampley, curse on air.
4) Rare ring card girl commentary.
Larry Merchant is spot on in his role of a dirty old man as he declares what round is coming up a little too enthusiastically. Jim Lampley sardonically cites examples of why round 10 is a great round in history. And in between all this, you can hear Manny Steward giggling in the background.
Something about two guys over 50 and one guy well into his 70s making comments about scantily dressed females on air just killed me. It was too low-key to be offensive or misogynistic and too poignant to be professional or neutral. It was perfect.
You never see ring card girl commentary nowadays, and it was very rare to see it in the past. We need to start a petition to bring it back.
3) Echols dumps Hopkins on his shoulder.
Echols picking up Bernard Hopkins and dropping him on his shoulder was more shocking than funny. What happens afterwards is where the comedy sets in:
a) As Hopkins is on the ground writhing in pain, Echols walks over to a camera, spits his mouthpiece out, and gives us his take on the situation with "Bernard is FAKING!"
b) Tony Weeks admonishes Echols by saying "you cannot pick a guy up and throw him down." Echols replies with "I didn't throw him down, he just fell on his own. You gotta watch."
If it wasn't obvious before, it's clear now: Antwun is cool as hell.
c) Hopkins spanks Antwun for the remainder of the round. Using one arm.
d) As if there wasn't enough proof that Bernard manipulates people through intimidation, ring doctor Margarette Goodman checks on Hopkins in between rounds to see if he can continue with his injured shoulder. She tells him to lift his arm and makes it clear that if he can't, she'll call the fight off. Hopkins tells her she's making it worse and to leave him alone. She says OK and leaves him alone.
Think about that. Hopkins told a widely respected physician to kick rocks and she did. Without hesitation.
2) Echols' flop after a Hopkins rabbit punch.
It was funny enough seeing it during the fight - Hopkins hits Echols with a light rabbit punch at the beginning of round 2, Echols falls down like he got shot, pretends like he's completely unconscious, snaps back into consciousness after Weeks tells him to get up, and resumes the fight on perfectly steady legs only seconds later.
But I was in tears when I put the VCR in slo-mo as they replayed the incident several rounds later. Antwun's facial expressions are too much.
1) Antwun notices Bernard's fist.
Weeks momentarily comes in to break a clinch, then backs off when the two combatants separate themselves. As Echols stares at Weeks - apparently still waiting for the break - Hopkins hits him with a hard right hand. The fight is stopped soon after.
Again, one of the ensuing replays catches Antwun's facial expressions during the punch and makes it unbelievably funny. You can see Antwun notice Hopkins' incoming blow through the corner of his eye. You can see the perplexed look on Antwun's face as Bernard's fist closes in on its target. You can see the hurt and feelings of betrayal written on his face after the punch lands squarely on his nose.
The guy is simply hilarious.
More Abstract Becomes Reality to come...
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