LOS ANGELES – Bernard Hopkins is cut from a different cloth and is old school through and through.
The Philadelphia-bred Hall of Fame fighter served nearly five years in jail before turning pro in 1988, winning titles in two weight classes throughout his career and becoming boxing history’s oldest belt-holder at 49 while fighting until he was 51.
Now a promoter and partner of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, “The Executioner” Hopkins, 59, is grooming the current generation.
The beau of Golden Boy’s stable is Ryan Garcia, who along with Golden Boy, is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Devin Haney in the wake of their controversial April 20 fight that has since ruled as a no contest after Garcia tested positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine. Garcia was also fined and suspended for a year as a result of the violation.
Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) is suing the principals for battery and fraud, among other claims, after Garcia knocked him down three times in a fight that originally was ruled as a majority decision win for Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs).
Hopkins, who has long butted heads with Devin’s father, trainer and manager Bill, does not agree with how the 25-year-old Haney is moving about his career.
“We’re in America. You don’t have to be right to sue,” Hopkins told BoxingScene. “When you get an opportunity to do something, most people will do it. The lawsuit doesn’t mean you are guilty or innocent. Let’s see how it play out. We’re in it to win it.”
Hopkins believes Haney is taking a beating in the court of public opinion as well.
“Look at what the fans are saying,” said Hopkins. “I don’t have to buy a ticket to his fight. The fans are the ones who keep your lights on when you’re fighting. I’m in the know, and I know what they are saying. And you know what they are saying. There is a time that you move on. Or you are stuck and traumatized. I thought I would never see a fighter literally get his ass kicked and turned around and sue months later. I hope this isn’t this generation, because I respect this generation to a point. I hope this doesn’t become contagious. I think it’s a bad look, personally. But what do I know?”
De La Hoya told BoxingScene that Haney’s claims are “frivolous” and added that he’ll be a “shot” fighter moving forward.
Hopkins said Haney should have called to settle the beef in the ring and not a courtroom.
“Maybe it will stick, maybe it won’t,” said Hopkins. “But you have to reevaluate yourself and look at the mockery and the foolishness of it. Let’s move on.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Guardian, Newsweek, Men’s Health, NFL.com, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Magazine and more. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
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