De La Hoya Making Hopkins Promise That Smith is 'Final' Fight

By TMZ Sports

As previously reported, 51-year-old former two-division world champion Bernard Hopkins is jumping back into the ring one last time ... and it's really ONE LAST according to his Golden Boy Promotions partner, Oscar De La Hoya ... who says he's making Hopkins promise to hang 'em up FOREVER.

Oscar joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show and announced Hopkins' final fight to the world ... a brawl with 27-year-old knockout artist Joe Smith Jr. set to go down on December 17th at The Forum in Los Angeles.

Question is ... is it REALLY over? Hopkins has been known to beat the hell out of guys half his age ... take some time off ... then beat the hell out of guys half his age again.

De La Hoya says this it it ... telling the crew "I'm having him sign some kind of proclamation saying it's his last fight, because at 52 years old this should be the last fight for him. He's had an amazing career. He's had the best career out of any champion out there."

Hopkins vs. Smith is a 12-round light heavyweight battle presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will be televised live on HBO’s flagship series beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $205, 105, $75, $50, and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person, go on sale Monday October 24, 2016 at 10:00 am PST.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.  Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.