While enjoying another nascar driving experience zooming through Atlanta traffic during my morning commute, I was listening to Sybil, J Anthony Brown and Tom Joyner interview a 46-year-old boxer on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Yes, Dee said FORTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD-BOXER! Nope, it wasn’t the man who got his ear munched on by Mike Tyson, Mr. Evander Holyfield. It was the man who says that he is leaving a legacy his own son will have a hard time surpassing, Mr. Bernard Hopkins.
A Philadelphia native with various boxing accolades, Mr. Hopkins feels that he is in great shape to continue his fighting career this May. He is scheduled to fight 28-year-old Jean Pascal on May 21, 2011 in Pascal’s hometown Canada. I’m sure your first thought when you heard that Hopkins is fighting in his mid-40’s, “here we go another broke athlete who needs money.” I mean we all know a running back who recently announced his return to the NFL, *ahem-Tiki Barber-ahem*, who may need some extra coins to help pay his child support. But before you make an ASS out of yourself by making an ASSumption, check out some of Bernard’s interview with BET.com Sports on why he continues to box.
“Trust me, I don’t need to box for money,” Hopkins told BET.com. “Once you get a taste of history, you can’t let go,” says Hopkins, sharply dressed in an off-white checkered sport jacket, black shirt, gold tie, black slacks, black hat and black glasses. “I could fight until I’m 50 if I want to. Father Time will tell me when to leave. But you know what? Father Time loves me.”
Not only does Bernard seem to be in great shape, he’s also been exercising his large kahunas vocally and sharing his confidence with anyone who’s willing to listen. Being that there is no official retirement age in boxing, I don’t think this will be the last time Bernard will show up on a HBO Boxing After Dark Special. What I do know is that he will give us a better viewing than George Foreman did in his 1997 40-something fight against Crawford Grimsley. I swear Foreman was moving slower than a man taking a court-ordered paternity test for quadruplets. (See youtube video below to refresh your memory)
Being a boxing fan who just doesn’t find anything interesting about the sport anymore, I’m glad that there’s still an ‘experienced’ fighter who’s willing to take a punch for a great boxing match. Not only is Hopkins’ historical boxing match bringing attention to the sport, if he pulls off a win, it will also tell the world that the more experienced athlete can still teach the less seasoned athlete the rules of the game. I may even stay up past my bedtime to watch this one!
Check out the full Bet.com article here: Bernard Hopkins 46, Fights for History!
Foreman vs Grimsley–I hope you have a lot of time and an interpreter available: