By Edward Chaykovsky

47-year-old Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KOs) is still considering the possibility of returning to the ring. The oldest man to capture a major championship has been sitting on the sidelines since the majority-decision defeat to Chad Dawson on April 28 in Atlantic City. Hopkins doesn't rule out the possibility of that loss being his final fight.

If he does continue to fight it won't be for a paycheck. He wants the fight to have meaning, but says a lot of managers and promoters are scared to match their up and coming fighters against him.

"I always think there's another fight in me because I'm a fighter," Hopkins said to the Philadelphia Daily News. "But it would have to be for a very good reason. I won't fight again just for money. I've turned my back on dollars before."

"People ask me all the time if I'm done or not done. It might not be my decision to make. There are a lot of guys out there who are afraid of Bernard Hopkins, and they should be. I've upset too many plans. Jean Pascal hasn't fought in, like, a year-and-a-half. I ruined him. Kelly Pavlik hasn't been the same since he fought me. Other guys' managers and promoters know that.

"Look, I'm more than halfway through my life on this earth. I'm fast approaching 48 [his birthday is Jan. 15], and I'm loving it. So I got to ask myself, what is the rest of the time that I have going to be like? I won't be boxing forever. That's not going to happen. Who knows? Maybe at this time next year, I'll just go fishing."

Tags: Bernard Hopkins