Despite being almost 52 years old, Bernard Hopkins has lost none of his famous passion for mind games with his opponents in the pre-fight build up.
He is now almost 24 hours away from what he has promised will be his final appearance as a professional boxer in a career that has spanned 28 years and has amassed a career record as a pro of 55-7-2 (32KO).
But he’s not done just yet.
Speaking at the final pre-fight press conference for his showdown with New York’s Joe Smith Jr in California on Saturday night Hopkins said:
“Common man, special man. Which one you want? Which one you want? I want the special one. You want that before you become that. Claim it. And if you want to work your way back down to common man there is a lot of people down there. But very few think the way I think.”
On what he’s going to do to Smith, Hopkins added:
“Remember he gave you all a prediction. See I’m not going to predict that I’ll end his career mentally, emotionally, physically. I’m not going to wish a Kelly Pavlik on him. But what I am going to do is spank him, teach him his ABC’s and then send him back to Long Island.”
