Earlier tonight, on December 17, 2016, Bernard Hopkins (55-8-2, 32 KOs) fought for the last time in what was a legendary career, though it did not end as he would have hoped.
Joe Smith Jr. (23-1-0, 19 KOs) derailed the 51-year-old’s plans for a final win by sending Hopkins out of the ring with a fight-finishing combination to win by eighth-round TKO and defend his WBC International Light Heavyweight title at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
The scheduled 12-round fight headlined an HBO triple-header in the U.S.
Smith, as expected, pushed forward early in order to remind Hopkins of his significant age disadvantage. Hopkins circled the ring carefully, though not on the legs that carried him to victory several times before.
Instead, Hopkins looked much slower than ever before as he evaded Smith’s offense and took a hard right hand in Round 2.
In Rounds 3 and 4, Hopkins began to land shots from the outside, scoring jabs and right hands on Smith. In Round 5, Smith began to get frustrated and increased the power of his shots. The increase payed off as he landed a hard right hand before the round ended.
In Round 7, the tide seem to turn to Hopkins’ favor as he intelligently defended much of Smith’s offense while on the ropes. In between Smith’s harder and wider punches, Hopkins landed short shots before ducking and slipping punches, earning the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native another round.
However, in Round 8, Smith pushed Hopkins against the ropes and landed a fight-finishing combination that sent Hopkins out of the ring. Hopkins’ fall was broken a bit by a photographer, but he nevertheless fell on his back and head.
“I was throwing the right hand and a combination and then using the rope as an offensive as I’m known for,” said Hopkins.
“He got frustrated, and I might have gotten glazed with a left hook and next thing I know he was throwing me out of the ring,” said Hopkins. “He got frustrated, and I might have gotten glazed with a left hook and next thing I know he was throwing me out of the ring. I injured myself and hit my head first and hurt my ankle.”
According to the rules of the California State Athletic Commission, Hopkins had 20 seconds to get back into the ring.
However, as he would confirm in the post-fight press conference, Hopkins was more concerned with an injury he sustained to his right ankle than with getting back into the ring.
“I knew of the twenty seconds, but couldn’t stand up on my feet because my ankle was injured, I said I could walk but I couldn’t box. I had a choice to make, but I guess the referee made it for me,” said Hopkins.
“I know if I hadn’t made a mess and gotten knocked out of the ring, I would’ve come back like I’m known for and would’ve had my chin,” said Hopkins.
The fight was stopped then at 53 seconds into round eight, and Hopkins ended a 28-year career with the first knockout loss of his career. However, Hopkins was upset at losing by TKO because he felt he was able to continue and that Smith through him out the ring. Had that not happen, Hopkins believes, he would have continued.
“The reason I said I’m upset they are giving Smith the TKO is because the momentum threw the ropes, I didn’t dive through the ropes,” said Hopkins.
Hopkins was thrown out the ring by legal punches, so technically it is a knockout. But had he not fallen out of the ring, he most likely would have continued. Hopkins as earned the benefit of the doubt in that respect.
For Smith, a 28-year-old of Long Island, New York, his career has taken a spectacular turn for the better with two knockout victories against two of the best Light Heavyweights in the world.
Earlier this year in June, Smith knocked out Andrzej Fonfara in the first round of what was supposed to be a showcase fight for Fonfara. With tonight’s victory Smith earned himself another solid win and will perhaps fight for a title very soon.
“It feels great, it’s the best feeling in the world to accomplish something I set out for and wanted to do,” said Smith.
“I had seen him every time I threw the right hand, he was throwing the left. I had seen him fall, and I kept hitting him until I saw him go out, and I landed that left hook until he went out,” said Smith of the way his punches knocked Hopkins out of the ring.
“I knew he had time to go out, but I hit him with four or five clean shots and they were good shots on the button,” said Smith.
“I knew he was a true champion, and if he didn’t get injured he’d be back here. I came here to do my job, and this is my coming out party too. I had to finish him, it was either my career was going to end and his was going to end, but I needed mine to continue,” said Smith, who still holds a job as a general laborer in New York.
“I’m going to get back in the gym and train hard for my next opponent. I’m up for anything. I have lots of respect for Bernard. He is a true champion. Lots of people love Bernard and still will because he’s a true champion,” said Smith.
Hopkins did not get the fairytale finish he wanted, but he ended his career by doing what he did his entire career, fighting the best in his era and in today’s era. Hopkins represents a mentality that one sees too rarely with today’s fighters.
“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,” said Hopkins.
“I know the fans will know I went out as a solider, fighting the toughest, baddest opponents.”
Photos by Julio Sanchez/RBRBoxing
