Hopkins started fighting four-round preliminary bouts while working as a cook. In 1988 he lost his first professional fight as the result of mismanagement and weak preparation. Hopkins, a natural middleweight, had been stuffed with fast food to move up to the light heavyweight division. Unaccustomed to the extra pounds, he was sluggish and lost to Clinton Mitchell, a middling opponent. After the loss and the poor treatment by his manager, Hopkins was so discouraged with boxing that he did not fight again for almost a year and a half. When he returned to the ring, he had a new manager, Bouie Fisher, and a new focus on conditioning.
Unfortunately this is pretty common. Boxing business is filled with hustler managers who will throw there fighter in with anyone just to get a payday.
Met far to many of these guys when I was in NYC. Saw one manager try to switch contracts on a fighter last minute, and had a lawyer there and all as a witness.
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