(Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime) By Yannis Mihanos: This Saturday night a special fight takes place between the ageless IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (54-6-2, 32 KO’s) and WBA light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov (14-1, 9 KO’s) at the DC Armory in Washington, DC. Each age sets limits first in our mind and then in our hearts and bodies. For example, how many Hopkins type fighters do I know in boxing? None. There were maybe few in the past. Why is that?
It is obvious that it comes a time when people in boxing want to retire. They have lost part of their focus, part of their energy, and they feel and look old. Then it is right time to retire, Bernard doesn’t.
Hopkins doesn’t feel nor look old in the ring, he is just like any other fighter.
Hopkins has the perfect mindset. People are looking at him as an alien. No wonder his new nick name is “THE ALIEN.” His presence in boxing changes people’s beliefs: that if you are at a certain age you cannot box and be at your peak. Hopkins is changing everything. He might not be the best fighter in boxing ever but he is a master tactician and yes at times uses some dirty tricks.
But in the middle of war everything is allowed. Boxing is war. “Get a life,” some boxing would say to Bernard. They want Hopkins to retire from the sport already. But for Hopkins, boxing is life and that’s why I don’t see him quitting any time soon. He will likely go on for at least 2 more years.
Win or lose tonight in his fight against Shumenov, Hopkins will continue because he still looks and feels strong.
His example I think many others will follow. It is time people stop following the stereotypes of the age and do what they want to do!
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