Tragic Hopkins, 51, still the big story
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 Dec 2016
BERNARD Hopkins crashed out of boxing in tragic fashion. The Executioner was slaughtered, knocked out from the ring by a killer barrage in the neutral corner. He landed on his head against the concrete floor.
It was a dismal ending.
A disgrace, a head-on fall into the dustbin of boxing?
Not too fast, please.
**
The big story here does not belong to Joe Smith, the winner and still WBA International light heavyweight champion.
The true big sports story was authored by Hopkins, 51, who suffered the first stoppage in his career.
Rang Smith, young enough to be Hopkins? son, in fitting homage: ?He was a true champion and if he didn?t get injured, he?d be back here. I had to finish him.?
**
Hopkins, a month short of his 52nd birthday, was visibly diminished. Still, the fight could?ve gone either way. Hopkins was fully competitive when the unexpected ending came in the 8th round.
Hopkins, who had fought the toughest, the finest, the baddest, got smashed with a right, ducked but failed to raise his right to cover his head. He got chopped by a thunderous left, followed by a barrage that sent him sailing out of the ring like a wet piece of laundry.
He had 20 seconds to get back into the ring, was up at the count of 13, but chose to stay out claiming a ripping pain in the ankle stalled him.
**
Of course, the hardboiled warrior, one of a kind, did not surrender.
He took defeat humbly, standing erect.
?I went out as a soldier. This is my last fight, I?ve come to that point in my life when it?s final,? he said.
**
He broke the record for middleweight title defenses at 37, became a light heavyweight champion at 46. He continued to be a world class fighter into his 6th decade. His final record: 55-8-2, with 32 KOs.
Hopkins was a statue of heroic dignity in farewell.
?I?m happy with my life and retirement,? he declared.
Tributes poured:
?He?s a man who tried what men shouldn?t and did what others couldn?t,? wrote David P. Greisman of BoxingScene. ?He defied expectations, he defied odds, and all that defined him.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Past Week in Action 16 June 2025: Hitchins Stops Kambosos; Wins by Andy Cruz and Teremoana; Donaire Returns
By Eric Armit, Tue, 17 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 9 - MUHAMMAD ALI WINS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 17 Jun 2025OKC Nears First NBA Title in Thunder Era; Outclasses Indiana, 120-109 in Game 5
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Crawford Refutes #3 P4P Ranking; WBA Doesn't Forget Nonito Donaire
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 17 Jun 2025GM John Paul Gomez joins Touchmove in Roxas City
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Perfect foe, perfect outcome
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Prospects Collide Results: Rajon Chance Defeats Yan Carlos Perez
Tue, 17 Jun 2025Undefeated Russian super middleweight Petr “The Surgeon” Khamukov to headline This Friday in Long Beach on DAZN
Tue, 17 Jun 2025International Boxing & MMA Consultants Appointed to serve as El Salvador Professional Combat Sport Commission
Tue, 17 Jun 2025Sasotize teams champion and 1st runner up in 2nd JCI Senate Chess Tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 17 Jun 2025USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team Concluded World Boxing Championship 2025 With Nine Medals
Mon, 16 Jun 2025"The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire Makes Stunning Comeback, Wins Interim WBA 118-lbs Title in Argentina!! (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025DAZN is Set to Make Exciting Debut in Thailand with Thrilling Dream Boxing/Highland Boxing Show
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025Hitchins Dominates, Stops Kambosos Jr. in Eighth Round to Retain IBF Super Lightweight Title
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 15 Jun 2025THAI SIMSRI READY FOR CHRISTIAN ARANETA IN IBF WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN THURSDAY IN JAPAN; WILL THE CEBUANO “BOMB” STOP HIM?
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025