Hagler when he defeated Felix Trinidad on Sept. 29

PHILADELPHIA -- Bernard Hopkins hobbled into the gym before a sparring session using a cane to aid his small steps. He scrapped his usual stylish Prada glasses for a cheap pair old fogeys might wear and a fake gray beard that sprouted several inches past his chin.Hopkins chuckled as he wagged his cane toward amused onlookers. Long a contender in the jumbled alphabet concoctions of boxing organizations, Hopkins seemed more fit in disguise to apply for an AARP membership. Hopkins is in on the joke and has the sober realization that not even he can KO Father Time.At 51, Hopkins may have enough Executioner left in him to make it seem like old times again inside the ring.Hopkins has forged his life by hook -- like the left one he threw to knock out Oscar De La Hoya -- or by crook, the time served at Graterford Prison that steeled his resolve for a boxing career. Just about a month before he turns 52, Hopkins will fight on both his word and contractual obligation for the final time in a 28-year career when he faces 27-year-old Joe Smith Jr. in a light heavyweight bout Saturday in Los Angeles.No one savvy enough around boxing will count out Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) for a final victory. Even as the years ticked from his late 30s to his late 40s, the days of thinking of Hopkins as a washed-up fighter sure to see his career end in a thunderous embarrassment have long ended.Nobodys laughing at me anymore, Hopkins said. That laughing made me motivated. How do I know its time? I cant find no one to laugh no more.Hopkins once promised his mother hed retire at 40. He vowed to quit at 41 after he defeated Antonio Tarver in one of his greatest fights in 2006. The Associated Press wrote of the fight that Hopkins had a storybook finish and noted Tarver starred in the final installment of the `Rocky series.Yet much like the fictional Rocky Balboa, Hopkins had many more rounds left in his story.At 48, Hopkins scored a 12-round unanimous decision over Tavoris Cloud to become the oldest boxer to win a major title.Im glad I reneged on that 10 years because Ive added to my legacy even further, Hopkins said. And nobody is complaining.Hopkins packs a punch on the short list of great geezers that include Nolan Ryan throwing a no-hitter at 43 or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still sinking hook shots at 43. Chris Chelios hung up the hockey stick at 48.But fighting at 50? George Foreman, another geriatric great, had already traded gloves for grills by the time he hit the Big 5-0.Once Hopkins shed the old man getup, he hit the ring and physically looked like he was in prime, save for the salt-and-pepper beard. Hopkins dismisses the wisecracks about his age. He is about as serious and dedicated as any athlete in his training. Hes carved a straightedge lifestyle that bans drinking alcohol, keeps a healthy diet and a curfew of about 9 p.m. The two-weight world champion is known to splurge on a slice of cheesecake after a victory.His fitness, his daily physical commitment, has allowed him to thrive long after fighters of his era have retired.If he can, and his body allows him to, why not? Its not like anybody is hurting him, De La Hoya said. It just proves to everyone that age doesnt matter as long as you do the right thing.Hopkins is a minority owner in De La Hoyas Golden Boy Promotions and he will continue to broadcast fights in retirement. Hopkins said he planned to become involved in a yet-to-be-announced boxing series that could help revitalize the East Coast boxing scene.Whatever he does, the mouthy Hopkins will let the world know.Ive done just about everything, Hopkins said. Peoples points are well taken on how they think. But thats why we dont have a lot of people thats me.Hopkins wore an alien mask to the ring in his last few fights and his loquaciousness always stood out even among the cartoonish personalities in boxing. He enraged a country when he stomped on a Puerto Rican flag in San Juan. He said that Manny Pacquiao should fight more black fighters. Hopkins biggest foe was his most bizarre one; a one-sided verbal lashing of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.While never stylistically pleasing, few middleweights ever performed better than Hopkins during a 10-year reign as champ. He called himself the reincarnation of Ray Robinson and Marvin Hagler when he defeated Felix Trinidad on Sept. 29, 2001 in the defining fight of his Hall of Fame career.Hopkins lost his first fight in Atlantic City in 1988 and didnt lose again until 1993. He made 20 successful middleweight title defenses and boasts multiple runs as light heavyweight champion.Hopkins saw quality opponents dry up the last few years and hasnt fought since a 12-round decision loss to Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 8, 2014.But Hopkins never stopped pushing for that final bout. He wanted to hear the bell sound for the last time on his own terms.Rules dont apply to everyone, Hopkins said. That can go a long way. I dont look at it as others do as Russian Roulette. Rolling the dice. I look at it as, Im one of those exceptions to the rules.Hell be the exception again when he steps inside the ropes at the Forum. The ex-con from the Philly streets who learned to box in prison has become nothing short of a model citizen forever stamped as one of the sports great fighters.I came, I proved and I showed that my legacy is always based on what they say I couldnt do, Hopkins said. Kurt Warner White Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Josh Rosen Jersey Sale . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. http://www.arizonacardinalsshoponline.com/patrick-peterson-cardinals-jersey.html . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Kurt Warner Jersey For Sale . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Customized Arizona Cardinals Jersey . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Defense, pitching and home games have been sources of irritation for the St. Louis Cardinals.But hitting homers can cover a multitude of sins, and St. Louis is currently in position for its sixth straight postseason berth because it continues to crush the ball over the wall.As the Cardinals start a three-game series Tuesday night with the New York Mets at Busch Stadium, theyll do so having belted a National League-high 173 homers, including 26 in their last 12 games.Only Baltimore (192) and Toronto (179) have drilled more homers than St. Louis, and both have the advantage of playing their home games in hitters parks.Its not the only way we can score runs, but its our main way, Cardinals first baseman Brandon Moss said. Weve got a lot of guys in the lineup that can do a lot of damage, and it puts some stress on pitchers. Its nice to have guys in the lineup who can change a game like that.Moss has done more than any St. Louis hitter to change games with the long ball, even though he missed nearly a month with a sprained ankle. In just 290 at-bats, Moss has cracked 23 homers, his latest on Sunday in a 9-0 win at Philadelphia.The Cardinals recorded four homers in that game, including their 14th pinch-hit blast of the year by Jeremy Hazelbaker in the eighth inning. That tied the all-time MLB record and capped a 6-3 road trip that gave St. Louis (66-57) a 1 1/2-game lead over Miami for the NLs second wild-card spot.However, the Cardinals play their next six games at home, where they are only 28-33 this year. That might provide a glimmer of hoppe for New York, which needs all the positives it can get at this point.ddddddddddddAt 62-62, the defending NL champs are 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis and need at least a series win, if not a sweep. They are coming off a series split in San Francisco, thanks to a 2-0 win on Sunday night.If youre going to win, your good players have to play good. We ride those guys, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Hopefully, this is the start of what we want to do.The series opener pits left-handers on the mound as the Cardinals trot out Jaime Garcia (10-8, 4.11 ERA) against Jonathon Niese (8-7, 5.30).Garcia has won his last three starts, although he was propped up by the offense in an 8-5 decision on Aug. 16 in Houston, allowing five runs in five-plus innings. His only outing against New York earlier this year resulted in a 3-1 loss on July 26 in the nightcap of a doubleheader.Niese has faced St. Louis three times this season while pitching for Pittsburgh, going 1-1 and allowing 13 runs off 24 hits in 16 innings. He absorbed a 13-5 defeat Wednesday night at Arizona in his first start with the Mets.In an appealing matchup Wednesday night, the Cardinals Carlos Martinez (11-7, 3.24 ERA) faces Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.73). Adam Wainwright (9-7, 4.71) will pitch Thursday nights series finale for St. Louis against a starter to be determined, as Steven Matz will skip his turn after being diagnosed with a left shoulder strain on Monday. ' ' '