By Steve Kim
Bernard Hopkins last fought on November 8th, 2014, when he dropped a twelve round decision in a light heavyweight unification to Sergey Kovalev in Atlantic City. Since that point he's been dormant but he's made it clear that he has one more fight left in him at age 51.
When asked about his future, he told BoxingScene.com - "I want my future to be on my terms leaving out and that is with a credible guy and also, whether it's the top of the year which it looks like more than anything - and just go out like the way I deserve and I will."
" It will be very respectful and it will be a testimony to how people appreciated me, which I know they do. To do it in a celebration, I want it to be a celebration fight."
'"The Final Execution', that's the title I already got in my head for the fight, when I fight, not if I fight. I definitely want it to be somebody undefeated, somebody that's in the light heavyweight division and win, lose or draw, yeah, you heard it 10, 15 years ago - I'm done."
For Hopkins, who has amassed a professional record of 55-7-2 (32 KO's) while becoming the unified middleweight and light heavyweight champion of the word, it's time for him to fully concentrate on the next chapters of his life.
"I got so many great things going on, not only with HBO but Golden Boy Promotions, with my personal business, I've been successful with it. I just feel like this is the time but I just want to go on my terms with respect in a way of celebration," said Hopkins, who then joked - "Sort of like Kobe Bryant - maybe not score 50 points but duck 20 punches."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.