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Hopkins denies racial slur
by Nick Royle, 30 March 2008
Bernard Hopkins has insisted that his comments to Joe Calzaghe last December were not racist.
The Executioner infuriated the Welshman by stating: "I ain't never gonna lose to a white boy."
However, the 43-year-old insists that the remark was not a racial slur, simply an attempt to annoy the super-middleweight champion ahead of their light-heavyweight bout in Las Vegas, live on Setanta Sports on April 19.
"I wanted to test the pulse," Hopkins said. "I knew it would get under his skin and it did. I smell fear in people that others can't because of where I've come from. Everyone knows I'm not a racist. Most of my team are white, and that includes my coach."
Hopkins insists that there is no need to apologise or to explain his phraseology.
"What I said was a social comment," he continued. "Where I come from, in the North Philly projects, in the State Penitentiary, and especially in the boxing rings, I never saw a white face. So it's unacceptable to me that a white guy can defeat me after where I've had to drag myself up from."
The 43-year-old feels that it is personal ambition and a place in boxing history that motivates him to keep on fighting, rather than a need to keep earning money.
"There are always mountains to climb. You've always got something to prove, to yourself, to the doubters, to those who look down at you and to those who never gave you a chance,” he continued.
"But above all else it allows that person who still lives in a very dark place to rear his head every so often in the ring, to do what he has to do and to get out again. I've been keeping him in check now for 21 years, just releasing him when I have to, and when it's legal.
"This is what Joe doesn't understand because there's no way he would. I have no personal problem with the man. He's probably a nice guy, if a little emotional. I'll just be doing my job. And pretty soon after the first bell sounds, Joe's going to realise he's got one hell of a fight on his hands.
"Whatever Joe Calzaghe throws at me in the ring, it's nothing compared with what I've faced up to and managed to overcome in life. That's why there's only one ending to this story. You know it, I know it and, deep down, so does Joe Calzaghe."
B-Hop is taking that 0 from Joe.
by Nick Royle, 30 March 2008
Bernard Hopkins has insisted that his comments to Joe Calzaghe last December were not racist.
The Executioner infuriated the Welshman by stating: "I ain't never gonna lose to a white boy."
However, the 43-year-old insists that the remark was not a racial slur, simply an attempt to annoy the super-middleweight champion ahead of their light-heavyweight bout in Las Vegas, live on Setanta Sports on April 19.
"I wanted to test the pulse," Hopkins said. "I knew it would get under his skin and it did. I smell fear in people that others can't because of where I've come from. Everyone knows I'm not a racist. Most of my team are white, and that includes my coach."
Hopkins insists that there is no need to apologise or to explain his phraseology.
"What I said was a social comment," he continued. "Where I come from, in the North Philly projects, in the State Penitentiary, and especially in the boxing rings, I never saw a white face. So it's unacceptable to me that a white guy can defeat me after where I've had to drag myself up from."
The 43-year-old feels that it is personal ambition and a place in boxing history that motivates him to keep on fighting, rather than a need to keep earning money.
"There are always mountains to climb. You've always got something to prove, to yourself, to the doubters, to those who look down at you and to those who never gave you a chance,” he continued.
"But above all else it allows that person who still lives in a very dark place to rear his head every so often in the ring, to do what he has to do and to get out again. I've been keeping him in check now for 21 years, just releasing him when I have to, and when it's legal.
"This is what Joe doesn't understand because there's no way he would. I have no personal problem with the man. He's probably a nice guy, if a little emotional. I'll just be doing my job. And pretty soon after the first bell sounds, Joe's going to realise he's got one hell of a fight on his hands.
"Whatever Joe Calzaghe throws at me in the ring, it's nothing compared with what I've faced up to and managed to overcome in life. That's why there's only one ending to this story. You know it, I know it and, deep down, so does Joe Calzaghe."
B-Hop is taking that 0 from Joe.
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