Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins Retiring his Way
BoxingGlove Notes
Distinio Lois, Jr.
No matter what you hear from him and in whatever way he says it you have to believe that this is definitely Bernard “The Executioner—“The Alien”—“The Old Mongoose” Hopkins’ last fight.
Hopkins boxing’s “carpetbagger” of long standing said it, stated it and repeated it at his telephone conference call interview on Wednesday, November 30th 2016. “I am one and done win, lose or draw after my fight with Joe “The Irish Bomber” Smith, Jr. at The Forum Arena, in Los Angeles, California.
“There are no more boxing mountains to climb,” stated a downcast sounding Hopkins who no doubt will be a first ballot Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. Ring retirement date, Saturday, December, 17th 2016.
When I asked “why retire so soon when you have those ring challenges in front of you like newly crowned Light Heavy Champion, Andre Ward, a possible rematch with Sergey Kovalev, ex-Champ and Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, also a 3 belt Light Heavy Champion”, he repeated forcefully “there are no more challenges for me, it is the right time to leave.” Sad and touching, but you have to respect his wishes.
Hopkins in essence is the soldier who has come home from the wars-Boxing Ring-and is ready to start a new life with his family, and as a high ranking Executive with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions he could be very instrumental in developing other future young Hopkins’.
Hopkins, 51 years of age with an outstanding ring record of 55-7-2, 32 knockouts will face a tough young hungry opponent-Joe Smith, Jr.-who actually wasn’t born when Hopkins made his pro debut, and is a hard hitting career construction worker from Long Island with a ring record of 22-1, 18 k.o.’s, whose only loss was by knockout.
“This is a chance of a life time for me that most fighters don’t get and thanks to Joe DeGuardia and Golden Boy Promotions I feel that I am on the threshold of my boxing career where if victorious I could fight for a world title,” stated Smith.
“I know that it will be an uphill effort to beat this legend that is why I am training so very hard in camp, leaving no stone unturned and studying films so that my hand is raised in victory by decision or knockout” , Smith declared further.
It is a foregone conclusion that as a construction worker-Joe Smith, Jr.-who handles heavy duty power tools such as sledge hammers on an everyday basis would be in condition even before he goes to training camp to prepare for a fight. Smith’s knockout record 18 k.o.’s a 78% knockout ratio in 21 victories, highlights the power that he has gained from his job.
With his unanimous decision over fan favorite New York City Firefighter and former 4 times Daily News Golden Gloves Champion, Will “Power” Rozinsky, and his surprising first round knockout of Light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara, winning the vacant W.B.C. International 175 Pound Crown, Smith earned the opportunity to fight the legendary Hopkins.
Smith, Jr. a former 2008 Golden Gloves champ has a tough battle fighting Hopkins but he indicates that he is ready but not looking past Hopkins. He knows that a victory would open up the doors so that he could challenge any of the top light heavyweights especially newly crowned champion Andre Ward.
The ‘Irish Bomber’ who is the oldest of 8 brothers and sisters got into boxing like any other youngster growing up in a tough neighborhood. He was always street fighting and even in school for one reason or another and his Mom decided that his Dad should take him to a gym to burn out his energies and learn discipline.
His boxing career began at 13 years of age in Long Island which led to his impressive boxing record resulting in this mega breakout fight with Hopkins.
Bernard Hopkins’ final comments were that Smith will have to worry about the many different ways he’ll fight him, “this fight will not be a ‘walk in the park’ for him because I am prepared to make my last fight “The Final One”, a success title or no title. If he has underestimated me because of my age like Kelly Pavlik did, he has already lost the fight.”
Hopkins who has been fighting for 28 years defended his middleweight crowns successfully a record 19 times and has never been knocked out stated that Joe Smith, Jr. will be his 33rd knockout victim as he retires.
Based on his ring longevity, also surviving hard hitting former champ Sergey Kovalev and now being trained by John David Jackson instead of Nazeem Richardson, you have to believe Hopkins’ predictions of a victory over Smith decision or knockout.
Black Star News agrees with the Executioner Hopkins, a victory but by decision.
Like Bob Hope would sing in the finale’s of his T.V. shows, “Thanks for the Memories Champ”, and I’ll see you in the Boxing Hall of Fame.
