Bernard Hopkins last fight: Prison, 65 fights, titles, aged 51, Hopkins writes his own ending. He’s judge, jury and…executioner
Boxing great has final bout on Saturday, when he takes on Joe Smith Jr, and says 'I'll hit the bag. One thing about that bag, it don’t hit back'
WHEN Bernard Hopkins walked out of Philadelphia’s Graterford State Penitentiary, no one knew what future the ‘Executioner’ would have — if any.
Hopkins was only 22 but had already served five years, during which he saw a fellow inmate stabbed to death with a makeshift ice pick in a row over cigarettes.
To say he learned a few harsh lessons while banged up surrounded by rapists, child molesters and Mafia types is an understatement.
But Hopkins — sentenced to 18 years for a series of petty crimes — discovered boxing and was smart enough to get out of jail early for good behaviour.
And tomorrow night he will finally get out of boxing, a month short of his 52nd birthday, after facing Joe Smith Jnr in Los Angeles in his 65th and final fight.
Hopkins, who originally planned to retire from the ring at 40, declared: “I’m glad I reneged on that because I’ve added to my legacy even further and no one is complaining.
“Will I miss it? Nobody misses getting hit, getting punched.
“I’ll hit the bag. One thing about that bag, it don’t hit back.”
Hopkins lost his first fight against a long-forgotten Clinton Mitchell 28 years ago — and was beaten once more, by Roy Jones Jnr, in the next 17 years.
He successfully defended his middleweight title a record 20 times and did not relinquish it until he turned 40.
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Hopkins then moved up to light-heavyweight and became the oldest world champion ever — first at 46, then 48, and again at 49.
His record is full of landmark fights, including a KO win over Oscar De La Hoya and victories against Kelly Pavlik and Antonio Tarver, though he did lose to Joe Calzaghe. His last bout was a defeat against Sergey Kovalev two years ago at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
Even the fearsome Russian — known as Krusher — could not inflict a first stoppage on the veteran.
But there was no way Hopkins, with a record of 55 wins, seven losses and two draws, would walk away on a defeat.
And he is convinced he will beat Smith tonight, despite the fact the 27-year-old was not even born when Hopkins made his pro debut.
Hopkins added: “Just because you started off one way don’t mean the ending of the book has to be the way you started. Most people remember the ending of the book more than the beginning and the middle.
“To make them talk about the book, they must have a memory of the ending. I am the ending of my book.
“Now, my back is a little tired to keep holding the fort down after 28 years as a fighter. This year I am done, win lose or draw after my fight with Joe.
“There are no more boxing mountains to climb.”
Hopkins v Smith is exclusively live on BoxNation on Saturday bight. Buy at boxnation.com