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October 18, 2008 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Bernard Fernandez: Hopkins thinks he will be right at home vs. Pavlik
By Bernard Fernandez
Philadelphia Daily News
Daily News Sports Writer
IF THIS WERE a comparison of real-estate savvy, you would have to figure Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, crafty veteran that he is, would be about a 10-1 favorite over Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik.
Hopkins, 43, is moving into a 17,000-square-foot home in Hockessing, Del., later this month. It's situated on 5 1/2 lushly landscaped acres, and the five-bedroom, five-bathroom digs offer the sort of creature comforts befitting a multimillionaire professional athlete. There are two home movie theaters, which solves the dilemma if Bernard and his wife, Netty, want to see an R-rated flick at the same time their daughter, Latrece, invites some classmates over for a sleepover and a G-rated feature. The spa, of course, is a plus for anyone as fanatically devoted to physical conditioning as the lord of the manor, as is the indoor lap pool.
So, what did Hopkins shell out for this temple of conspicuous excess?
"It was a steal at $1.6 million," crowed the notoriously thrifty Hopkins, who still carries a Costco card and clips cents-off coupons. "The previous owner is going through a divorce and had some business problems. It sat on the market for 2 years, and I grabbed it when the price was reduced from $2 million.
"Look, that house would have cost $10 million if I had had to buy the land and build from scratch. It's in Delaware, so the taxes are low. Hey, you know me. That's the first thing I investigated."
"Real estate is all about location, location, location. The same house in New York City would go for $20 million, minimum. In Beverly Hills or some place like that in Southern California, it's probably $40 million.
"But if Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs) can teach the 26-year-old Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) a thing or two about driving a hard bargain with a sharp pencil, it remains to be seen whether his vast ring experience will prove as beneficial when the hard-punching kid from Youngstown, Ohio, comes forward and throws the sort of stinging shots that can sap the spring from the legs of even a seemingly ageless legend.
"I'm still a dangerous fight for anybody," insisted Hopkins, who will swap punches with Pavlik, the WBC and WBO middleweight champion, in a 170-pound catchweight bout Oct. 18 in Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall.
"I'll be 44 in January, and I've never taken a beating, a real beating, in the ring. How many fighters my age, or any age, can say that?
"In my heart of hearts, I believe the last time I lost was when I fought Roy Jones Jr. in 1993. Some would say I'm in denial, but there are thousands of people - heck, millions of people - who believe I won both fights with Jermain Taylor and the one with Joe Calzaghe. Some judges might say otherwise, but the public knows who the real winner of a fight is."
The publicity tour to hype this May-December matchup - B-Hop was 17 when Pavlik entered this world on April 4, 1982 - launches today in New York before continuing on to Chickie's & Pete's on Packer Avenue this afternoon for crab fries and the obligatory spin-doctoring.
Pavlik, who is coming off a three-round thrashing of overmatched challenger Gary Lockett on June 7, will say something about how significant it will be to his career if he becomes the first fighter ever to knock out or stop Hopkins. The older man, of course, will offer his thoughts on how rejuvenating an effect a victory over a hot, young champion such as Pavlik will have on a Hall of Fame-worthy legacy whose final chapter keeps being sent back for rewrites.
Left unsaid will be the fact that this is not really a scrap that either man particularly wanted - and that discerning consumers weren't exactly clamoring for, either.
Pavlik's preference had been to proceed directly to a showdown with Calzaghe, but the Welsh southpaw opted to remain on the senior circuit and signed on for a date with the well-faded Jones. An attempted unification bout with IBF middleweight champ Arthur Abraham also fell through.
Hopkins, whose dream gig is a long-delayed rematch with Jones, floated onto Pavlik's radar screen only when Jones and Abraham proved unavailable.
You might recall that Hopkins promised his mother, Shirley, who passed away in 2003, that he would quit boxing by the time he turned 40. He passed that self-imposed deadline long ago, and he now says, win or lose, Pavlik might not mark his valedictory.
"I think people still want to see me and Roy Jones Jr. before we both head off to the retirement home," Hopkins said. "I think that'll be my grand finale."
Or maybe not.
"If my fights keep ending the way they do," he said, teasingly, "you might see me around for the next 10 years." *
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Rejuvenated Hopkins 'could fight another four years'
By Chuck Johnson, USA TODAY
LAS VEGAS — Now that Bernard Hopkins has returned to the ring with his skills intact, the 42-year-old Philadelphia native sees no reason to stop.
"I could fight another four years if I wanted," Hopkins said Saturday night after retaining the Ring magazine light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision vs. Winky Wright. "I'm cut from the cloth of the old Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Henry Armstrong tradition. Those are people I look up to."
Hopkins also acknowledged former middleweight great Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who was at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino for the HBO Pay-Per-View fight to provide pre-fight analysis for ESPN.
"He said, 'You fought like we fought back in the day,' " Hopkins said, relating what Hagler told him in the ring. "Coming from a guy like Marvin Hagler, it means a lot."
Hopkins says he feels strong in his "new body" as a light heavyweight. He distinguished himself as one of the all-time great middleweight champs, making a record 21 consecutive title defenses before Jermain Taylor beat him in 2005.
After last year's upset of Antonio Tarver to win the light heavyweight crown, Hopkins retired. The lure of the ring brought him back against Wright, a former junior middleweight champion from St. Petersburg, Fla., who hadn't lost since 1999 against Fernando Vargas.
Hopkins saw it as a challenge to solve the mystery of the southpaw Wright, known for his impregnable defense. Few thought Saturday's fight would be exciting because both fighters are predominantly counterpunchers, but they both showed a willingness to mix it up.
"I thought it was a close fight, a real tough fight," said Hopkins. "Winky's tough. He kept coming."
An accidental head butt in the third round contributed to Wright's demise. He had never fought above middleweight, and spent much of Saturday's fight — contested at an official catch weight of 170 pounds, 5 under the light heavyweight limit — wiping blood from his left eye, the result of a clash of heads.
"I think I won the fight," said Wright, 35, who went to have his eye stitched up and skipped the postfight news conference. "It was a dirty fight. He was head-butting all day. I didn't think the head butt (that opened the cut) was intentional, but it was still a butt. I told Bernard I was coming to fight and I (did). But no more at 170. I'll go back to 160, or whatever."
The judges all favored Hopkins. Glen Hamada scored the fight 116-112; Dave Moretti and Glenn Trowbridge scored it 117-111.
But Wright's vaunted jab was never a factor as Hopkins used his footwork to stay out of range and seized the advantage with harder punches when the fighters engaged up close. A replay on HBO will precede live coverage of the Vernon Forrest-Carlos Baldomir junior middleweight title bout Saturday (10:15 p.m. ET/PT).
Hopkins increased the intensity heading into the fight when he shoved Wright in the face at Friday's official weigh-in. The action prompted the Nevada State Athletic Commission to withhold 10% of his $3 million purse (Wright earned $2 million), but Hopkins, a vice president of Golden Boy Promotions, said the shove was his way of trying to spur fan interest.
"It obviously manifested itself in the ring because we both came to fight tonight," Hopkins said. "I've always had respect for Winky. He's not going anywhere. He'll be back."
So will Hopkins, who hopes it'll be against unbeaten super middleweight Joe Calzaghe. The Welshman has an upcoming title unification fight vs. Denmark's unbeaten Mikkel Kessler.
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06/26/2007
Two of boxing's most notable fighters face off on Saturday July 21 at 9:00 PM ET/ 6:00 PM PT,
live on HBO Pay-Per-View
May 5, 2007
When boxing historians look back at the current era of boxing, two names will stand out among the finest of this generation -- Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright. But for these fierce competitors, being one of the elite isn't enough. On Saturday, July 21st, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, live on HBO Pay-Per-View, Hopkins and Wright will battle one another to claim supremacy.
"I'm back and my record speaks for itself," said Hopkins, the former undisputed middleweight champion whose Ring magazine light heavyweight belt will be on the line in this 170-pound bout. "I was champion for over ten years, had 20 defenses and a win over a man they said was the best light heavyweight in the world, Antonio Tarver. Winky Wright is a good fighter, but I'm a great fighter, and I'll prove that once again on July 21st."
"I'm glad that Bernard stepped up to the plate to fight me when no one else wanted to take the challenge and I respect him for that," said Wright. "But that will all go out the window when we step into the ring on July 21st. I'm younger, faster, stronger and better than Hopkins and he knows it."
A true legend of the game and a future Hall of Famer, the Philadelphia native Bernard 'The Executioner' Hopkins (47-4-1, 32 KOs) ruled the middleweight division for over a decade and defended his title a record 20 times, defeating the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, William Joppy, and Glen Johnson. In 2005, he would lose his title in controversial fashion to Jermain Taylor, and after another disputed loss in their rematch, many believed Hopkins' best days had passed. But in June of 2006, at the age of 41, the Philadelphia native moved up in weight for the first time in his career and was brilliant dominating the top 175-pound fighter in the world, Antonio Tarver, en route to a lopsided decision win. Hopkins announced his retirement immediately following his monumental accomplishment but shortly thereafter, decided he was still physically and mentally capable of fighting big fights against his elite peers. On July 21st, Hopkins will again look to show the world that age "ain't nothin' but a number" when he takes on Winky Wright.
The pride of St. Petersburg, Florida, 35-year old southpaw Winky Wright (51-3-1, 25 KOs) took the long road to boxing stardom. A standout amateur, Wright was forced to go overseas to get fights in the early part of his career, but it was in his opponents' backyards that he learned the finer points of the game and developed the mental toughness that led him to the world junior middleweight title in 2001. Wright would defend his title six times (including two wins over Shane Mosley) before moving up to the middleweight division and nearly shutting out Felix Trinidad in 2005 in one of the most masterful performances in years. Two fights later, Wright would fight to a controversial draw with Jermain Taylor in a fight most believed he won, but with a win over former world champion Ike Quartey last December, Wright is back in the win column and ready for his showdown with 'The Executioner.'
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05/26/2007
$60,000
Joined by students, teachers, local politicians and community members, Philadelphia light heavyweight boxing great Bernard Hopkins cut the ribbon today for the new playground he sponsored at the Charles Henry Elementary School in Philadelphia, where he attended as a youth. Hopkins used funds from his newly established foundation—The Bernard and Shirley Hopkins Make A Way Foundation—to build the $60,000 playground on a vacant lot next to the school. The project is the first for the Foundation. “I couldn’t think of a better place to start than my elementary school,” said Hopkins. “My mother raised me in this area and it’s a great honor to memorialize her with something in the neighborhood."
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06/16/2006
City of Philadelphia Recognized Bernard Hopkins With Official Appointment to Mayor’s Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission and Community Engagement Ambassador of Peace
Philadelphia , PA (June 16, 2006) . . . Mayor John F. Street and the City of Philadelphia recognizall ceremony marked by pomp aed Philadelphia native and new light heavyweight champion of the world Bernard Hopkins yesterday during a City Hnd circumstance fitting of a world champion.
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Hopkins displays new Commission Badge while Mayor John Street (left), Police Chief Sylvester Johnson, and City Managing Director Pedro A. Ramos look on. |
“Bernard Hopkins is much more than a superb fighter,” stated Mayor Street. “He is a man who overcame a troubled youth, who believed in himself and who reached the pinnacle of his profession. His story is a testament to the human spirit and to the power of redemption.”
During the ceremony, Sunoco Welcome America executive director Clifton Davis served as “ring announcer” introducing City Officials and long-time friends of Hopkins. Mayor Street appointed Hopkins to the Mayor’s Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission which provides valuable feedback on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs.
“As a former inmate Bernard knows firsthand the struggles men and women face as they leave prison and re-enter society,” stated Street. “Many face rejection and lose hope. In their despair they fall back into the same behaviors that dragged them down in the first place. Bernard understands this cycle. He triumphed over it. His powerful story of redemption can help others realize their life has value and meaning and can be put to productive use, provided they believe in themselves.”
In addition to the Mayoral proclamation, Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson and City Managing Director Pedro A. Ramos performed a swearing-in ceremony making Bernard Philadelphia’s Community Engagement Ambassador for Peace. The Mayor also announced during the ceremony the City of Philadelphia will rename a street in his honor in the near future.
“I want to thank the Mayor and everyone else for this fantastic recognition of my career and the appointment as Commissioner and Ambassador for Peace,” said Hopkins. “And now that my career is over, there is a future for me in the City. I might have been able to get out of the hard part of the City but I am committed to helping others do the same as the oath of the street is a ‘fool’s move’ and I want to help young adults see that there is another way to go.”
Hopkins continued, “My fight in the ring is over but my fight for the kids of this City has just begun. The stakes are higher and the price for crime is too great for them today to make a mistake. I didn’t accept this job for show and I will take the responsibility as Commissioner with the same level of seriousness I showed throughout my career.”
In addition to those present, U.S. Congressman Shaka Fattah (D-PA) called in via teleconference and offered words of appreciation to the Champ. Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA), who had phoned Hopkins early Sunday morning to offer him congratulations, offered the following comments on Philly’s Champion.
"Bernard Hopkins is one of the greatest champions in the history of the sport of boxing. He has proven himself time and time again, and has surmounted every challenge," said Governor Rendell. "But Bernard is more than just a great fighter. He has devoted great time and energy trying to make sure that his fellow boxers are fairly compensated and treated fairly by the sport. While he’s stepping out of the ring, Bernard will continue to be an ambassador for the sport and this will be a great part of his future."
Hopkins, who is still basking in the glory of his stunning victory of Antonio Tarver, will watch the HBO rebroadcast of his fight from his home in Delaware before taking a well-deserved vacation with his family before settling in to his new duties.
Contact: Kelly Swanson, Swanson Communications 202-783-5500 (Photos: Courtesy of Kat Reilly)
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Hopkins, pictured with Philadelphia Mayor John Street, proudly displays his proclamation after receiving official appointment to Drug and Alcohol Commission |
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Champion Bernard Hopkins poses with Philadelphia school children, the ones he will be helping in his new role as Community Ambassador to Peace. |
05/24/06
MIDDLEWEIGHT GREAT BERNARD HOPKINS OPENS TRAINING CAMP TO STUDENTS AND UNVEILS SECRET WEAPON AS HE CONTINUES TO PREPARE FOR JUNE 1O BATTLE WITH LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ANTONIO TARVER
NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 24, 2006) . . . Middleweight great BERNARD “The Executioner” HOPKINS spoke to a group of middle-school young men yesterday during an open media workout at his New Orleans training camp where he’s preparing for a June 10 light heavyweight showdown with Champion Antonio Tarver.
Before introducing his complete training team and getting down to serious business, Hopkins spent 15 minutes talking to the young men from Banneker School, who made signs for the middleweight great to show support of his upcoming fight and thanking him for choosing New Orleans as his training base.
Hopkins also revealed his secret weapon—Popeye and a special can of his spinach—that he said has been helping him train for the past six weeks. “Popeye was always strong to the finish because he ate his spinach,” said Hopkins. “For the last fight of my career, which is appropriately named Fight to the Finish, I plan to have Popeye strength and fight to the very end. And then I will win.”
Hopkins, who has been in New Orleans for the past five weeks, will wrap up camp on June 2 before heading to Atlantic City for his June 10th fight. “I think it’s great that I will end my career where it started. It will be a legendary ending and one that boxing fans will never forget.”
“They had to persevere through Katrina and it is the first major lesson of their young lives. Their teachers and parents are similar to my coaches and all they have to do is listen to them, stay out of harms way and they can be anything they want.
“My life is no different than yours. Like boxing, in life you have to duck. Duck the bad situations you
see, duck the bad people trying to tell you wrong, duck the corners round the way that lead to nowhere.
“And just like my boxing trainers, your teachers and parents are like your trainers and coaches, trying to tell you the right thing so you don’t get knocked out and find yourself in prison, dead or walking dead, which means you are on drugs.
“To not get knocked out and so you can be a great athlete, professional or anything else you want to be. You have to stay in the game, be true to yourself and be someone. But your team, like mine, are your coaches, teachers and parents—listen and let them be your guide.”
ON HIS PREPARATION
“I knew I had to add the pieces to my puzzle to be successful for this fight. I knew I could have stayed in Philly and ate my way to 176 pounds. But I wanted to do it right and fortunately I can afford to go out and get the best, the very best to make this happen. Mackie Shilstone has an undefeated record with fighters and is really the best with getting a fighter ready at a new weight. He’s the best and he’s not cheap either.
“John David Jackson is a former middleweight champion and a great fighter. He is a very respected trainer in the game and I’m so happy he’s here to help me. He’s a southpaw too and that’s one of the reasons I asked him to help me.
“I know I will be competitive at the weight and certainly my ring savvy will play a major part too. Remember, bigger is not always better. I am getting ready, changing my weight in the right way. It’s a very comfortable process.
“This will be my last fight. There’s nothing else out there for me to do. This is the best way for me to go out. Also, end it all where I started. It’s the perfect omen story unless I am the luckiest person alive.
“I’ve always loved a challenge and this is another one to add to my record.”
ON ANTONIO TARVER
“He’s picking arguments and talking about petty things to hype himself up. What side of the tv screen is he on? C’mon, man! That’s ridiculous.
“I heard there’s a scene in the Rocky Movie where Tarver, the champion, looks up at the marquee for the fight and sees Rocky’s name first. He gets mad in the movie too. What is going on? I think he is still acting? “This ain’t Hollywood and everyone knows what the record is for fighters who went off and made movies.
“He uses all that nonsense to induce his own hype and motivation. He is trying to use the fact that he thinks he gets disrespected by the industry to be physically and mentally up and to get ready for the fight.
“I understand his psyche but who cares about the small things. I hope he keeps worrying about all the small things—if my ringwalk is better than his, if my outfit is going to outshine his. I hope he’s worrying about what kind of shorts I’m wearing instead of keeping his hands up. That’s what I hope he’s worrying about the night we are fighting. It will be an easy night for me.
“A bigger man coming to me. A big polar bear trying to stop me and it’s not his fight style either. He can bring the fight to me. I’m won’t be going anywhere either. He’s got a $250,000 bet in the contract that says he will knock-out me out before the sixth round. Talk about having to worry about something else. We’re talking about a quarter of a million dollars. You know why he made that bet, which he probably secretly regrets. He made it because he knows that if he doesn’t get me in the early rounds, he’s done. And I mean done.” |
06/04/06
DEMETRIUS HOPKINS AND ISHE SMITH FEATURED ON ESPN2’S WEDNESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
LOS ANGELES (June 4) . . .While the current generation of boxing superstars – Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver - will do battle on June 10th in Atlantic City, the next and younger generation of pugilists will fight three days earlier on Wednesday, June 7th, when Demetrius Hopkins and Ishe Smith—in separate bouts and fighting for Golden Boy Promotions East—appear as featured events in “Battle At Borgata” on ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The show is being presented by Golden Boy East, Star Boxing and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first bell rings at 7pm. The ESPN2 broadcast begins at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT.
Unbeaten in 24 fights, Demetrius ‘The Gladiator’ Hopkins (23-0-1, 9 Kos,) who will face Michael Warrick (18-3, 11 KOs) in a ten round junior welterweight match-up, may be the nephew of middleweight great Bernard Hopkins, but with his recent performances he has effectively carved out his own niche in the fight world with a mix of speed, savvy, and deceptive punching power. A proud native of Philadelphia, Hopkins had a spectacular 2005 by winning six fights (three by knockout) over progressively tougher competition. And 2006 has started just as impressively for him as he won a lopsided 12 round decision over Mario Jose Ramos in March to win the vacant USBA junior welterweight crown.
A recent signee of Golden Boy Promotions, junior middleweight contender Ishe ‘Sugar Shay’ Smith (16-1, 7 KOs) makes his long awaited return to the ring on June 7th against Patrick Thompson (10-5-1, 4 KOs). A slick boxer with pop in both hands, the Las Vegan became a nationwide superstar with his appearance on the hit NBC series ‘The Contender’, and after his decision win over Anthony Bonsante last May, he’s ready to get back to the business of winning a world championship.
Hailing from Landover, Maryland, Michael Warrick is a hard nosed veteran who will never leave the ring without having given his best effort. Remembered by fight fans for his thrilling two bout series with Jeffrey Resto in 2004-2005, Warrick is coming to the Borgata on June 7th to give Demetrius Hopkins a battle he’ll never forget.
Always tough Patrick Thompson would like nothing better than to pin a loss on the record of Ishe Smith in his first fight back in over a year. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Thompson has faced some of boxing’s top young stars – such as John Duddy, Sechew Powell, and Giovanni Lorenzo – and has always given a supreme effort between the ropes. In his last bout, Thompson outpointed Aundalen Sloan over eight rounds.
Also featured on the card in separate bouts will be unbeaten prospects Roberto Benitez (4-0, 3 KOs), Hervey Medina (6-0, 2 KOs), and Lorenzo Bethea (5-0, 2 KOs).
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