Hopkins eyes old glory

At an age when most athletes are retired, coaching or lining their wallets signing autographs at the local mall, Bernard Hopkins is one knockout from history.
If the 46-year-old Hopkins defeats WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal on Sunday in Montreal, boxing's golden oldie will dethrone George Foreman as the oldest boxer to win a world title.
Foreman was 45 years, 10 months when he knocked out heavyweight champion Michael Moorer in 1994. Hopkins will be 46 years, four months and six days old in his rematch with Pascal.
"You're dealing with the guy that's not the norm," Hopkins said.
Hopkins has always been unconventional, and defeating Father Time - alongside Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, and Roy Jones jnr through the years - may be his biggest achievement yet.
Hopkins has his blueprint for the next two years. He plans to convincingly defeat Pascal, then fight three more times and retire as champion.
Of course, the call is out of the same playbook written by a boxer who promised his mother he'd retire at 40.
Hopkins (51-5-2) has something to prove after a lacklustre finish in the first Pascal bout. The Haitian-born Pascal knocked down Hopkins in the first and third rounds.
However, Hopkins rallied and won on the US judge's scorecard. Judges from Canada and Belgium ruled it a draw. The WBC ordered an immediate rematch after the majority draw, with the fight to be held near Pascal's adopted hometown.
Known as "The Executioner," Hopkins said he realised he couldn't leave the decision to the scorecard.
"I want to instigate and agitate a little bit up there," he said. "You understand what I'm saying?"
Hopkins, who has served five years in state prison, actually has possession of the title belt. He kept it after the 28-year-old Pascal playfully handed it over to him at a press conference. He has the title on display at his Philadelphia condominium and figures it's time to slip it around his waist.
"I know I've got to make it official on paper."
Foreman said he would watch the fight on HBO and root for Hopkins to break the mark. Foreman predicted Hopkins would win.
"I'm expecting Bernard to load up in the latter end of the fight, and go for the knockout, break that record, and break it fair and square where everybody can see it," Foreman said.
"The first fight is going to have to be erased. The decision was not of quality. The second time around, Bernard will get a knockout."
Hopkins swears there's no secret to his longevity, no magic formula or pills that keep him in top shape. His straight-edge lifestyle bans junk food and booze, bedtime is 9pm, and he runs daily through Philadelphia's parks.
Unlike so many ageing fighters, Hopkins shows no outward sign of the effects of those punishing blows to the head.
"I don't stutter," he said. "I don't slur my speech."
He's right. In fact, his mouth works fine. Hopkins was heard loud and clear last week when he unloaded a series of racially tinged insults at former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
As disciplined as he's lived at staying fit and stashing away his millions, Hopkins has been loose with his lips.
He has curiously lashed out at McNabb for years, questioning his heart and leadership, and attacking his upbringing as reasons to dislike him.
McNabb had "got a suntan, that's all," Hopkins said of the player's level of blackness.
Hopkins was criticised for the unprovoked remarks.
"I'm not trying to make news, man," Hopkins said. "I'm just trying to tell you the truth."
The truth is the controversy took away from the focus of Hopkins' run at the geriatric record book.
"This could add another page to the historic legacy that I will leave behind one day," he said.
And that day is ... ?
"I don't know when that day is," he said.
"I don't look for the ending of anything until there's signs that the end is near. I just think positive ..."
The McNabb bashing was about more than a personal vendetta. It was also a gear in boxing's hype machine.
"It got everybody talking, huh?" Hopkins asked, laughing. "I guess they'll watch the fight.
"Well, McNabb ain't gonna watch it," he said.AP