In the end, there were no miracles left for Bernard Hopkins. No age-defying win. No proving the critics wrong. On Saturday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the 47-year old Hopkins finally did what the experts have been predicting for almost his whole career ? he lost (legitimately) to a younger opponent. In the main event of a card televised by HBO, Hopkins lost his light heavyweight title to Chad Dawson by majority decision.
But there was no gold watch for the boxer, either. Because even though it now seems like the road for the legendary fighter has finally come to an end, no one is willing to completely count him out either. ?It all depends what the motivation is,? Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KO?s) said at the post-fight press conference regarding his future in the sport.
?I let the chips fall where they may fall. At the end of the day, I think I?d be a really, really good teacher and mentor in the game. To make a decision?I don?t feel like I embarrassed myself last night. At the end of the day, it?s got to be a motivation for me. If there?s something that moves me to prove, I will try my best and work hard and prove it. But, I can?t say either or.?
?He came to fight tonight,? Dawson (31-1, 17 KO?s) said.
?We gave the fans what they wanted to see. This guy?s younger than what people think he is. He?s 47 but he fights like he?s 35. He picks his punches very good. He doesn?t waste any energy. I knew if I made one mistake, he was going to pick it up. I got to give him credit. He?s a future hall of famer.?
After leaving the ring without granting HBO a post-fight interview and despite some delusional comments directly after the bout, Hopkins? demeanor was noticeably changed by the time he arrived at the presser.
?I?m not here to say I got robbed,? he said. ?I?m not here to say I won. The fans and the world, they?re witnesses. He deserves the respect. To be honest, I thought the worst case scenario, it was a draw. But I?m not here to discredit Chad. Chad Dawson deserves to be where he at. I really wish him well and do what he?s got to do.?
And then the press conference ended. Hopkins rose, briefly embraced Dawson and walked off the stage.
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? Dawson, now a two-time champ at 175 pounds, mentioned a potential fight with super middleweight champion and pound for pounder Andre Ward. ?I can make 168,? he said. ?I?m just looking for a big fight.?
? Both fighters commented on the absurd score of 114-114 (most ringside observers felt Hopkins didn?t win more than two or three rounds). ?I was shocked,? Dawson stated. ?I thought I won the majority of the rounds.? Hopkins, unsurprisingly, was less outraged. ?We all here to fight, you all here to watch and the judges are here to judge,? he said.
? Gary Shaw, Dawson?s promoter, didn?t bite his tongue about the score submitted by Luis Rivera. ?You?ll never score another one of my fights again, if I can help it,? the promoter said.
? Heavyweight Seth Mitchell, fresh off his thrilling three round win against Chazz Witherspoon, came to the press conference with a marked up face but a big smile. ?God allowed to me to weather the storm and I?m so grateful for that,? Mitchell (25-0-1, 18 KO?s) said of a rocky first round in which he was almost knocked out. ?I did the stinky leg for a little but I was able to recover. I knew once I got out of the first round, I?d be able to recover. The dog hadn?t been brought out of me yet. But when you come to see Seth Mitchell fight, win, lose or draw, you?re going to see a fight.?
? Golden Boy promoter Oscar de la Hoya came to the presser and praised his heavyweight?s potential. ?He is the future of the heavyweight division,? de la Hoya said. ?He overcame the obstacles, he came back like a champ and proved what he?s all about.?
? As for the future of the unbeaten heavyweight, don?t expect to see him rushed into a fight with a Klitschko brother anytime soon. ?The Klitschko?s have mentioned Seth as an opponent in the past,? said de la Hoya. ?They have their eye on Seth Mitchell. We do have a plan for Seth Mitchell. We have to get back to the drawing board. We?ve discussed a possible fight with Michael Grant?a good 6?6, 6?7 heavyweight with a good record.?
? Attendance for the card was 7,705.
