By Mark Vester
Light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins is once again set to retire. Hopkins vowed to retire in 2006 after winning a lopsided decision over Antonio Tarver. He quickly came out of retirement in 2007 to win a lackluster decision over Winky Wright.
During a recent conference call with the media, Hopkins said that Calzaghe is the last man standing in the way of retirement. We've heard the retirement speech from Hopkins before, and many are not convinced that a win over Calzaghe will be enough to make him retire. Some say that Hopkins is only adding to the hype of the fight by proclaiming it as the final bout of his career.
"After April 19 I will retire, the truth is there will be no fights left for me. Calzaghe is the only fight that motivates me, I am doing him a big favor by taking this fight, but after that I am done. This is the only fight left for me on this planet," Hopkins said. "I am already one of the greatest, already a legend, but after I beat Calzaghe I will be an icon. I have run out of opponents, so that means I must retire."
"Joe compared me to Mary Poppins, well Mary Poppins was a very powerful lady. On April 19 Joe will regret any comments he has made about me. I have just as much at stake in this fight as Joe has, this is my final fight. I am cleaning my closet and Joe Calzaghe is the last item to clear."
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