"The Welshman is only regarded as great because he is white." Bernard Hopkins. Is this racism?

Question

Is this racism? Yes or No?

Would it be racist is calzaghe turned round and said something like. "You are only regarded as great because he is black" Would this be racism?

Answer 1

blacks have a license to call whites any name they want to, but scream racism all day long when some one says something back, not just Afro/Americans, Indians are the same, they can't win a legitimate argument, so they cry like little girls.

Answer 2

He said it to hype the fight IMO. I am white and dont find it offensive. If Joe said it about Bernard I think it would be  made into a much bigger thing though.

Answer 3

Yes it is, Hopkins has made other racist comments - eg "I'll never be beaten by a white boy"  but white people are too scared to point it out in case they get accused. Racism is racism, whether its black against white or white aginst black. Hopkins should be made an example of, as i thought racism was no longer tolerated in sport.

Answer 4

100% yes

hope calzaghe wins

Answer 5

depends, writing it as you do can remove the context

Answer 6

yes its racist and yes joe will knock the s**t out of the tw@t

Answer 7

I agree with peter H and the internet is yous....this is all propaganda that they are using to hype the fight, call it what you want but at the end of the day these guys are getting paid lavishly and they could care less about one another, moreover race has always been an issue in boxing, remember Holmes vs cooney? look at how people rallied behind cooney because he was white, they didn't make an effort to hide the racism back then......Don king used race as a marketing tool and made millions through that fight even though every boxing expert knew that Homes was going to win that fight easily....at the end of the day what does it matter? Hopkins is past his physical prime now and his legacy is already set,you make it sound as if calzaghe going against a prime Hopkins.

Answer 8

DAM RIGHT IT IS

Answer 9

bernard also said he would never lose to a white boy.

i think if joe had said ill never lose to a black man then it would have been all over the papers that joe is a bit of a racist

Answer 10

This is why I like Calzaghe, He lets his fists do the talkin!

Answer 11

racism = discrimination or prejudice based on race / colour of skin

of course it is racism

which will make calzaghe's victory all the sweeter

Answer 12

Well it wouldn't really be racist to say he's only great because he is black would probably be more dumb than racist, a black fighter who fights like Hopkins didn't get much help earning recognition.

I think Bernard is confusing being white with being British - Calzaghe isn't being considered great by a large portion of American fans, he, like all good British fighters, is being elevated to greatness by British fans.

And, just because something is racist, doesn't mean its incorrect.  Anyone who follows boxing knows that a good white fighter in America becomes "great" a lot quicker and easier than fighters of other backgrounds.  Its just a fact of the sport - its not just white, its whatever country you hail from - Puerto Rican fans will declare a PR fighters great a lot quicker and easier than Mexican fans would of the same guy, and vice versa.

It may sound bad, but I think thats one part of boxing that really adds to its appeal - it can be basically two guys representing two different countries, like the Olympics, only more intense.  Look how exciting the atmosphere around Hatton vs. Mayweather was, is it a bad thing that masses of British fans rooted with such passion for Ricky because he was "one of them".

Answer 13

hmmm.....yea

Answer 14

I agree with you....if Calzaghe had said that about Hopkins, the PC press would  have crucified him. Don't worry, Joe will stuff the prat's words back down his throat.

Answer 15

NO, the comment that Hopkins made about "never losing to a white boy" was, but I don't think that this one is.

Answer 16

Hopkins is a ghetto, convict, racist thug. Calzaghe will beat him like a rented mule.

Answer 17

I don't really think that Hopkins should have said it; I'm white, but honestly, it doesn't really make any difference to me because I'm still going to watch the fight and I'm still a huge Bernard Hopkins fan and I'll still be rooting for him to win on Saturday night.  In Bernard's mind there is no line that can't be crossed- the Calzaghe comment is nothing compared to when Hopkins took the Puerto Rican flag and threw it to the ground in front of Trinidad and all of his fans in Puerto Rico.  The reason why the Calzaghe statement is controversial is because, like you said, if Calzaghe had stated "I will never lose to a black person" it would have been a whole different ball game.  Is it right that there is a double standard?  No, but like it or not, there is and there always will be one, and its like Hopkins said on the "Countdown" show- "It is what it is."  You also must take into consideration that he truly does feel that way coming from the ghettos in Philadelphia- he truly does feel that a bada$$ like him would never let a white person beat him.  And Hopkins is also trying to promote the fight as well as get himself motivated- there has not been ONE recent fight of his where he isn't starting controversy with his opponent, not to mention the fact that he is a master talker and a master at getting inside people's heads; he's trying to get under Calzaghe's skin, and whether or not it is working will be seen on fight night.  Overall, I think that comment did exactly what Hopkins wanted it to do- it got people talking about the fight, and I personally can't wait to see if he can live up to his promise (even if a lot of people are saying it will be a boring fight).

Answer 18

who cares...they are both paid and will have a beer after they steal all your $$$ to watch this bore fest.

all hype to help promote this fight.

listen to half of you already.....you've already been mind tooled into wanting to see this fight just for skin color to beat another skin color

weak minds.

Answer 19

I agree with Hopkins!