Bernard Hopkins’ enormous ego had got the better of him in his final fight, against Joe Smith Jr
This year there has been no sadder sight in boxing than seeing one of the all-time great fighters lying flat on his back
BERNARD HOPKINS must believe the earth is flat if listening to his post-fight press conference is anything to go by.
Poor old Bernard kept insisting Joe Smith, had illegally pushed him through the ropes and out of the ring at the Los Angeles Forum, last weekend.
Yet the watching world saw repeatedly on the TV replays Smith landed four solid head punches which had sent the disorientated Hopkins falling into space.
The former world middle and light-heavyweight champion persistently and embarrassingly made himself look an idiot.
This year there has been no sadder sight in boxing than seeing one of the all-time great fighters lying flat on his back on the floor with his legs waving in the air.
Hopkins didn’t even attempt to get back into the ring in the allotted 20 seconds claiming he had hurt his ankle.
But the distinct impression he gave me was that he was eager for an excuse not to allow the heavy-handed Smith, a top-ten light-heavyweight contender, the opportunity to completely dismantle him.
Hopkins had announced the clash with Smith was going to be his last fight and he confidently predicted he would go out in a blaze of glory.
Two months ago the headline above his column was “Hoppin’ Mad or a Hero”. And I wrote: “It could turn out to be the most foolhardy task Hopkins has ever undertaken.”
I’m afraid Hopkins’s enormous ego had got the better of him. He had convinced himself that just a few weeks before his 52nd birthday and after being idle for two years he could handle an ambitious young man who wasn’t born when he turned pro 28 years ago.
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But from the opening bell it was obvious the cutting edge on the one-time Executioner’s sword was as blunt as a butter knife.
What a shame that Hopkins’s illustrious 57-fight career should have ended so ignominiously.
It reminded me of the night Rocky Marciano, bludgeoned his boyhood hero, the incomparable but elderly Joe Louis, out of the ring and out of boxing 65 years ago.
Rocky walked into the Brown Bomber’s dressing room with tears coursing down his cheeks and told him: “I didn’t enjoy what I did tonight.”
I don’t suppose for a moment Smith shed any tears or bothered to commiserate with the arrogant Hopkins.
Smith may go on to win a world title. But even if he doesn’t he will always be able to boast that he was the one and only fighter to beat Hopkins inside the distance.
What happened to Hopkins could weigh extremely heavily on Wladimir Klitschko’s mind.
Klitschko will be 41 and out of the ring for 18 months when he battles Anthony Joshua, for the IBF and WBA crowns at Wembley Stadium on April 29.
No doubt he will be brainwashing himself into believing his inactivity and Joshua being 14 years his junior won’t matter.
The erudite Klitschko who has a Ph.d in and speaks five languages may well reflect on Soren Kierkegaard’s words of wisdom.
Kierkegaard a 19th century philosopher said: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true. The other is to refuse to believe what is true.”