Hopkins on comeback: 'I wasn't tired' of fighting
By DAVID WEINBERG
Staff Writer, 609-272-7186
Published: Wednesday, August 06, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Bernard Hopkins tried to give up boxing two years ago.On June 16, 2006, Hopkins staged what was billed as his farewell performance at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. He dominated Antonio Tarver to become light-heavyweight champion, then retreated out of the ring while his handlers gave out commemorative watches and his family gave him hugs.Ten days later, the Philadelphia native realized he had made a mistake. Eleven months later, he returned to beat Winky Wright. On Oct. 18, the 43-year-old Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs) will face the stiffest challenge of his comeback when he opposes unbeaten middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) in a non-title bout at Boardwalk Hall."Take away the 're-' part of it and retired means you're tired," Hopkins said Tuesday during a news conference at Chickie & Pete's. "And I wasn't tired. I'm like an old dog named (Green Bay Packers quarterback) Brett Favre. I'll retire when he retires and he doesn't look like he's ready to retire yet."Hopkins has been competitive in his last two outings. He followed his win over Wright by dropping a disputed, 12-round decision to undefeated super-middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe in Las Vegas on April 19.
But a much more difficult task awaits. Pavlik, 26, is considered the hardest puncher in the sport - 10 of his last 11 bouts ended early - and is also among the most popular. The native of Youngstown, Ohio, has a huge fan club that loves to come to Atlantic City. More than 5,000 of his neighbors made the trek to the Boardwalk to watch his victories over Jermain Taylor and Gary Lockett, respectively."There will probably be even more for this one," Pavlik said. "They weren't all that excited to see me fight Gary Lockett, but Bernard Hopkins is different. This is the kind of fight boxing needs."It took a while to get made. Pavlik's handlers, HBO officials and Top Rank went through a series of possible opponents. Everyone finally settled on Hopkins for a bout that will be conducted at a catch weight of 170 pounds. Pavlik's handlers originally wanted Hopkins to drop to 165, but Hopkins said he couldn't make that weight."I want to fight the best out there," Pavlik said. "I don't know about Calzaghe - I guess I would have to shoot him in the foot to get him to stop running from me - but I'll be fighting a legend in Bernard Hopkins. Getting a win over him will be a great accomplishment."Critics have suggested that the bout will be a mismatch. Pavlik has proven himself to be on par with welterweight king Antonio Margarito as one of the best fighters regardless of weight class."Trust me when I tell you that I never put my ego in front of my common sense," Hopkins said. "I'm smart enough to know that if I ever go into a ring and don't live up to my physical and mental potential, then I'll be out of there. I'm not in denial."E-mail David Weinberg:DWeinberg@pressofac.com-30-
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