Hopkins/ Fisher Part Ways, This Time for Good

source: saddoboxing Hopkins, Fisher part ways again By BERNARD FERNANDEZ phillynews.com Did the devil make Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins do it? "The devil's always busy. The devil finds a way," Hopkins' longtime trainer, Bouie Fisher, said in confirming that he and the former undisputed middleweight champion again have come to a parting of the ways - this time for good. Fisher, 77, whose role as Hopkins' chief second has been assumed by associate trainer Brother Naazim Richardson, said a dispute over money led to the breakup, as was the case in 2002 when he and Hopkins had an acrimonious falling-out that lasted 18 months. Another Philadelphia trainer, Sloan Harrison, took over for Fisher in that instance and worked the corner when Hopkins stopped Morrade Hakkar in eight rounds on March 29, 2003, at the Wachovia Spectrum. In September 2002, Fisher filed a breach-of-contract suit against Hopkins, claiming he was underpaid $255,000 for Hopkins' title bouts against Keith Holmes, Felix Trinidad and Carl Daniels. Fisher and Hopkins (46-3-1, 32 KOs) settled out of court and reconciled, but Fisher - whose sons, Andre and James, also were members of Hopkins' support crew - claimed Hopkins did not offer "fair compensation" for their work in preparation for Hopkins' Dec. 3 rematch with Jermain Taylor (24-0, 17 KOs), the man who took his WBC, WBA and IBF and WBO titles on a controversial split decision on July 16. "Bernard is a very difficult person to deal with," Fisher said from his home in Albion, N.J. "When it comes to money, Bernard wants it all for himself. He wants all the glory, he wants all the credit, he wants all the money. It's all about him, him, him. "He's made some bad decisions in the past, and this is another one. What's wrong with this guy? "He told me 3 years ago, 'I'm the captain of my ship.' I said, 'OK, captain. You're taking water.' " Hopkins, contacted by phone in Big Bear Lake, Calif., said Fisher was not working with him for this fight because of family medical problems. He said Fisher's wife, Peggy, is ill and so is Fisher. "Bouie is sick," Hopkins said. "It's a personal thing so I'd rather not go into detail, but he's been sick since, like, three fights ago. Plus, he can't handle the altitude. "People always want to bring negativity into the situation, but let's call this for what it is. Even Eddie Futch, as great as he was, wasn't the same guy at the end. "I'm dedicating this fight to Bouie because he came up with the blueprint. But this shouldn't be about who is or isn't in my corner, you know? I'm a pro's pro. Can't nobody teach me nothing about boxing I don't already know." Fisher admitted he has been staying round the clock with his wife, but he said other family members would have been willing to take over those duties. "She needs 24-hours-a-day support," Fisher said. "But I would be with Bernard right now if he was paying me right." Bouie Fisher also attributed Hopkins' loss to Taylor on obstinance. "He can't blame anybody but himself for what happened in that last fight," Fisher said. "Bernard wouldn't accept my instruction like he normally would. He thought he'd just show up and knock that kid out." Richardson, the father of 2004 Olympic boxer Rock Allen, said he didn't think the change in trainers would significantly affect Hopkins. "Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt Jr... . when they go around the track and they're a second off, they don't overhaul the car," he said. "This is no big deal."