Bernard Hopkins is going surfing in Atlantic City on Saturday.
But instead of tackling the waves at States Avenue, he’ll be at Boardwalk Hall, the site of his light-heavyweight unification fight against Sergey Kovalev.
“You’re always supposed to ride the wave as long as it ain’t rocking,” Hopkins said. “And when it’s a wave this good, why stop?”
He’s very familiar with the waves in Atlantic City.
Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KOs), 49, paddled out for the first time 27 years ago and fell off the board. Since then, he’s become boxing’s version of Kelly Slater. Saturday’s bout against Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs) will be his 19th fight on the Boardwalk. There have been a few wipeouts, but the rides have otherwise been clean and smooth.
“I always get excited when I fight in Atlantic City,” Hopkins said. “I’ve had a lot of fights there, and trust me, I’ve had many more ups than downs.”
That first fight in town, a four-round loss to Clinton Mitchell at Resorts Hotel Casino on Oct. 11, 1988, was one of very few downs. Hopkins is 16-2 in Atlantic City with the only other defeat being a 12-round, majority decision setback to Chad Dawson on April 28, 2012.
Some of the biggest wins in a legendary career took place in town. The former middleweight champ defended that title with victories over Simon Brown in 1998 and William Joppy in 2003. Three years later, in his first fight at light-heavyweight, he beat Antonio Tarver in what was supposed to be the final fight of his career.
That fight was hailed as his farewell appearance. Officials even gave out commemorative watches and staged an elaborate ceremony in the ring after the fight at Boardwalk Hall.
He was an ex-fighter for about 10 minutes. Thirteen months later, he was back in the ring, earning a decision over Winky Wright in Las Vegas. The following year, in 2008, Hopkins shocked the boxing world by dominating and defeating then-unbeaten middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik at Boardwalk Hall.
“I’m sorry I went back on my word,” Hopkins said. “I thought I was done. I’m sorry I didn’t live up to what I said back then. But I’ve always taken care of my body and I’ve never stopped being motivated. I’m like a 1965 car in the garage. The engine runs like it’s brand new. I keep the pistons cleaned and rotate the tires.”
That approach has helped him defy logic.
Fighters seldom are able to remain at a high level past age 35 or so. Hopkins passed that barrier almost 15 years ago and has shown no signs of slowing up. He’s already the oldest man to hold a world title and keeps adding to his Hall-of-Fame legacy each time he steps into a ring.
“I was done when I was 35,” said former five-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya, who is now Hopkins’ promoter at Golden Boy Promotions. “I didn’t need anyone to tell me. When you start getting beat up by your sparring partners, you know it’s time to stop.
“Bernard is different. He’s getting faster, he’s getting strong, and he has more energy now than ever. He’s toying with young fighters, guys who are half his age. He’s a freak of nature. He never stops surprising me. With Bernard Hopkins, not only are we talking about the fighter who is the best in this era, but he’s possibly the best in any era.”
Hopkins’ sparring partners have yet to gain an advantage on him.
Middle Township light-heavyweight Chuck Mussachio (18-3-2, 5 KOs) spent about six weeks helping Hopkins get ready for Saturday’s fight. And he came away very impressed.
“This was my fourth camp with Bernard, and he just keeps getting stronger and faster,” Mussachio said. “Stuff that I used to catch him with doesn’t get there anymore. I know he’s almost 50, but he’s better than ever, in my opinion.”
Such accomplishments didn’t seem possible 35 years ago.
Hopkins grew up in North Philadelphia and by age 13 was already well-known to local police. At 17, Hopkins was sentenced to 18 years in Graterford State Penitentiary for a series of felonies. He wound up being released after serving almost five years.
“People say that I grew up in a bad neighborhood,” Hopkins said. “But neighborhoods don’t make the people, people make the neighborhood. You could have put me in the nicest neighborhood in Philly, and it wouldn’t have done any good.
“I was worse than bad. I wouldn’t listen to anyone back then. People tried to get me to change, but in my world bad would beat good. The guys that were supposed to be bad were the ones driving Cadillacs and flashing hundred dollar bills.
“But being in prison was absolutely the worst time of my life. You could never show weakness, ever. On D Block, guys watched you every day to see if you were changing, getting weaker. You were either the lamb or the wolf, and I was never going to be the lamb. Some guys got to the point where they didn’t mind being there. But not me. I missed my freedom too much. I never allowed myself to get comfortable, thank God.”
Hopkins lives in a much better neighborhood now, mainly because he’s a much better person.
Hopkins and his wife of 21 years, Jeanette, have three children and live in a spacious home in Delaware. But while you take the fighter out of Philly, you can’t take Philly out of the fighter.
When it’s time to get ready to catch another wave, he joins longtime trainer Naazim Richardson at Joe Hand’s Boxing Gym on North 3rd Street.
“We don’t even call it training camp,” Richardson said. “It’s a lifestyle for Bernard. They’re just dates we all get together. There are many variables that mesh together to make Bernard who he is. We just have to appreciate him while he’s here.”
How much longer he stays in boxing is anyone’s guess.
Hopkins will turn 50 on Jan. 15. Unlike professional golf, there is no senior tour in boxing.
Or surfing.
Some day, the wave will break. Hopkins will ride it to shore, then leave the ocean for the final time.
But not yet. Not as long as there are giant, glassy swells to ride.
