Bernard Hopkins Quotes

 Growing Up

The streets was basically my parents.

I was knocking guys out in the streets before I knew how to throw a jab and keep your chin down, …In most neighbourhoods, the guy that could fight gets respect. You got in the parties free. I never had to pay the dollar because people were scared of me. But back then I was ignorant.

Boxing was Bernard’s way out

It takes a very very strong individual not to be corrupt in any of those things as time moves on. Myself and other people who went that road and experienced that world, some got a second birth of life and some is in the dirt.

Championship Mentality

Hopkins had to adopt a Me vs. The World attitude to excel in boxing

I was made to be where I’m at. I just had to go through some challenges, so that I can educate others later.

Boxers are resilient guys. We know how to take of a big punch that hits us, we know how to survive

It takes no effort to be ordinary. Ordinary is not even a challenge. You can do nothing and be ordinary.

I function better when my back is to the wall.

“You’re hated by some, loved by others, but that’s what’s great about being different. If everybody loved you, that means you’re not doing the right thing most of the time.”

Bernard displayed a defiance to failure

If you don’t know your own value, somebody will tell you your value, and it’ll be less than you’re worth.

There’s no great person that lived that didn’t go through scrutiny or ridicule and prosecution in all types of ways, to be who they are in history.

The only way you can get experience is from the clock. Time works with some people and against some people. Fortunately, the clock has worked in my favour.

I’m not going to give up. If you pay attention to my plan and the way I live and the way I eat, then you have a chance to extend your life a few more years.

Hopkins has defeated some big names

Understand that I’m at my best when it comes to proving a point. Not only to show that I’m a better fighter and a better athlete at 40½ years old, but I’m at my best when I know I’ve got to beat the system again.

I must destroy everybody that comes in front of me. I must execute them and I must do it in grand style. I must slay Robert Allen like I must slay De La Hoya or anybody else that steps in that ring.

I got knocked down. Anybody could be knocked down, anybody can be knocked out, but it’s not what happened, but what happens next.

Fighting & Health

Hopkins leads a healthy lifestyle

I’ve got a history of frustrating guys and making them angry.

I wouldn’t wanna fight me, because I know it wouldn’t be a good outcome for both.

When I talk to young contenders, guys who are looking to make a name for themselves in boxing, I tell them two things. One, if you want to be champion, you have to be willing to sacrifice everything. Anything that interferes with your goals, and that includes sex, has to go. Or, number two, you can have your testicles out. Have your nuts removed. You’ll have to learn that there are going to be women around, women who, before a fight, will say, “Oh, wow, look at your big muscles.” I tell them the same thing: Just say no.

Hopkins is dedicated in training camp

Enjoy that you can see me now. I would love to see the great Michael Jordan and Julius Erving in their younger days, but they’re gone. Look at me at 50, I’m going to eat right and live right so I can take less punches and look normal.

I’m 100 percent clean. I’m doing this off of nuts and bananas.

Politics

“I’d rather be an adviser. I don’t wanna become a trainer because I think with the knowledge and the business sense that I’ve accomplished through my career and have credibility, why would I reduce myself down to being in a gym with a bunch of training which is not a bad thing to give advice, but I can do that with a suit and tie on and also be there when the cheques are written. I don’t wanna be there when the cheques are handed down from 3 or 4 people’s hands and then it hits mine as a trainer because 9/10 times, deductions have come out of that.”

Hopkins is happy behind the scenes now

“The powers that be don’t want athletes or boxers to become as smart as they are.”

“The NBA has a voice that’s why they have a lockout. The NFL has a voice that’s why they had a lockout. Boxing is the only sport that’s individually represented the individual people – Managers, Promoters and Boxers.”

“When you have somebody that’s smart and you’re not so smart, to me that’s modern day slavery because you’re being dictated to.”