By Mark Vester
Now at age 44, Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) is poised to hang up the gloves in 2009. Hopkins is waiting for one last fight before he calls an end to his very lucrative career. Hopkins would like to rematch Joe Calzaghe, who won a close split decision over the Philadelphia fighter last April. He remembers the fighters who circled his era and he outlasted them all, including rival Roy Jones Jr. Hopkins would like to return to the ring by late spring.
"I'm waiting to get a reasonable date to fight between now and late spring. Then it's a wrap. Meaningful fights, they're not there anymore. I've outlasted them all. I still have one great win in me, and I'd like to give it to the fans in 2009, even if I have to go to Wales," Hopkins told USA Today.
At the same time, Hopkins told the paper that he doesn't need Calzaghe. He appears to be happy with his new gig as an expert analyst for ESPN2's Friday Night Fights. After dominating Kelly Pavlik last October, there are few options left for Hopkins. He had hoped for a rematch with Jones, but those dreams were crushed when Calzaghe busted Jones up last November in New York. Though, Hopkins is willing to risk it all by going to Wales to fight Calzaghe.
"This is how I want to be remembered: 'He was a man who was willing to fail to win.' That ain't Shakespeare. That's Bernard Hopkins," Hopkins said.
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