Los Angeles, CA?It wasn?t supposed to end this way, but Bernard Hopkins (55-8, 32 KOs) has never been one to conform to anybody?s plans and expectations.
Getting knocked out through the ropes in your final fight is probably as inglorious as it can get.
But B-hop?s career was not necessarily defined only by its more illustrious moments, but also by the struggles that distinguished it.
Be it by fate or serendipity or luck- good or bad, Hopkins? was meant to be anything but your typical fighter.
The message conveyed by his ring entrance song was indeed emblematic of his brillant career as he truly did it ?his way.?
SMITH. It was almost a foregone conclusion that Joe Smith (23-1, 19 KOs) was handpicked by B-hop to be his dance partner for his swansong.
Not that we can blame him as the styles-makes-fights aphorism has been invoked needlessly and if there?s anybody that has earned that privilege it should be a 50-year old boxing living legend.
Perhaps he saw something in Smith that he liked that he knew he could exploit. Much like the way he figured he could outmaneuver the hulking Jean Pascal or that he could outgun Tavoris Cloud even at his advanced fighting age.
But in his last fight almost two years ago, he had been brutalized and thoroughly dominated by Sergey Kovalev.
So when he decided to lace on his gloves one last time aganst Smith- an obscure but very dangerous opponent , everyone was curious if he there was still enough gas left in that seemingly inexhaustible tank.
THE FIGHT. From the get-go it was apparent that the 27-year old Smith was the stronger fighter and he stormed his way in irreverently with punches that were meant to end the fight abruptly.
Evidently, he would not take it easy on his opponent who was already a world champion when he was only six years old.
Smith won the early rounds, stunning Hopkins on several occasions. ?The Executioner? would keep things honest by landing those sneaky right hands he is known for, but his moments were too few to win him the rounds.
He would come alive in the middle rounds, getting some body shots in and tying up Smith in order to smother his offense, but still the latter was the aggressor and Bernard was clearly a shell of the magnificent fighter he once was.
The end came with 53 seconds left in round 8, as the ever advancing Smith was able to back up Hopkins into a corner.
He landed a flush right hand which seemed to stun Hopkins, who instinctively weaved to his left but Smith followed it up with a left and another right hand.
That final blow assisted Hopkins? momentum as he leaned back , making him fall out of the ring.
The rulebook required him to get back inside the ring within 20 seconds, but he was unable to do so, making Smith the unlikely victor on Hopkins? retirement fight.
VERBATIM. ?This is my last fight, I promised it would be and you come to that point in life where it is final and I?m happy with my retirement. I know the fans will know I went out as a solider, fighting the toughest, baddest opponents. ?-Bernard Hopkins ( HBO Interview)
LAST ROUND. It?s on lovely couple Jeff and Joan Converse who graciously welcomed us into their beautiful home in Anaheim, CA. Cheers!
