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This is from the MM interview
“I am the George Foreman of this era because I still have my skills. Sure, I’ve got big name value. But (Evander) Holyfield has that but nothing else, people are concerned about him (his health).
“Put it out there, Mike: I am looking for any and all legitimate offers. I have not been under contract to Golden Boy since before the Pavlik fight. Shane Mosley (fighting Floyd Mayweather on May 1 under the GBP banner) is not under contract to Golden Boy, either.
BHop also revealed to Michael Marley that Golden Boy does not have his fellow "vice president" Sugar Shane Mosley under contract, either
“So let’s put it on the table right now. I beat the Great White Hope, Pavlik, and Shane beat (Antonio) Margarito, two fights they did not think we would win but we did win them. So, after that great victory, I sat idle for 15 months and Shane sat idle for more than a year also?
“Let’s put it out there: We’re both top fighters, both African Americans and we sat idle after those kinds of victories?
“When I beat Pavlik, that was so great a victory it should’ve given everybody an erection. But nothing happened. You tell me why I sat for so long then...”
Hopkins, who revealed that he fell off his stool in the dressing room while untying his shoelaces after the victory over the diminished Jones, said he was not happy with GBP CEO Richard Schaefer’s postfight remarks on his future.
“What’s the agenda? That’s what I am asking. No one said, ‘Hey, you know Bernard got hurt by an illegal punch, by a rabbit punch to the back of the head, that it made me see spots in the ring, that I saw THREE Roy Jones coming at me.' That was not discussed.
“What he (Schaefer) should have done is to take the podium and say I want to discuss things with Bernard Hopkins’ team which means only me because I am my own team. I can understand Richard’s personal concerns but you don’t talk like that (retirement) without talking to me. You don’t do that because it’s not professional.”
Hopkins said he did not hear such doom and gloom in the wake of Oscar’s beatdown by Manny Pacquiao.
“Manny put the blueprint on retirement for Oscar and I didn’t hear that kind of talk from Richard or anyone else. I see a different agenda when it comes to me and to my career.”
As the conversation -- or, more accurately, the BHOP rant -- continued, I asked him if he was really infuriated at how a cloud was put over his victory.
“Yeah, I am upset because it (retirement) is my decision,” Hopkins said. “You can say that I am pissed because I am pissed. I lost a whole year of my career after beating Pavlik.”
Rumor has it, and tradewinds blowing out of Pensacola indicate, that Jones will pack it in. Should he, I asked his rival?
“I don’t think Roy should fight anymore, I really don’t. But that’s his decision to make.”
As for Hopkins, he’s still breathing fire and ready to fight onward.
Dial 1-800-BHOPWON’TQUIT. Operators are standing by.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)Comment
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It's about money. Bernards last two fights have lost so much money it's crazy. Goldenboy doesn't see a profit in the hopkins buisness.Comment
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Damn! i never thought I'd see that happen. B-hop leaving GBP? That's gonna be kinda weird. Oh well he knows what he's doing.Comment
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Hopkins needs to retire nowComment
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