Chocolito Gonzalez had a very short workout in the ring and then gave the media a few minutes of standard answers through an interpreter – he fights for his country Nicaragua, representing God, and to make his people proud – started boxing at twelve – met Alexis Arguello when he was fifteen – this is his first trip ever to NYC – challenger Viloria has never seen a fighter like him. The Teiken rep seemed in a hurry to take Chocalito to an appointment and then to a private workout. Chocalito seemed a little tired and overwhelmed by all the attention.



Bernard Hopkins held court for the media and did a lot of talking. Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News told me he asked Hopkins two tough questions – and then paid the price. Hopkins does not like tough questions, he likes to say what he wants to say, to pus his agenda. Abramson, one of the top boxing scribes on the scene, asked Hopkins if the rumors were true about him facing Arthur Abraham – Hopkins dodged that one – then Abramson also summoned the courage to ask Hopkins about if he feels similarly like some in the media who believe Golovkin is on his way to all time middleweight greatness. The response was not a cheap shot or veiled disrespect at GGG but an extended monologue basically telling Abramson he’s a fool to ask such a silly question. All the while with his hand on Abramson’s forearm. That’s one thing I’ve noticed about Hopkins in recent years – he is as cagey and clever outside the ring as he is in it – no reporter will ever corner Hopkins and unleash a combination of tough questions that can momentarily knock him off balance or leave him at a loss of words – it’s just impossible – and even if they do try, Hopkins will evade the potential danger and instantaneously turn the tables and punish his antagonist with his own verbal genius.





