Hopkins vows age no concern

Veteran declares he is fighting fit at 43

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 16th October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hopkins vows age no concern

Hopkins: Faces tough test

It's an investment I put in myself 20 years ago to be here at this table fighting for millions at this stage.

Bernard Hopkins
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Former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins has declared that he is in peak condition and aims to prove it in the ring on Saturday when he takes on the undefeated Kelly Pavlik.

Hopkins, who defended his middleweight crown 20 times in his prime, has compared himself to other old timers such as George Foreman, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Sugar Ray Robinson and Archie Moore but admits he has certain advantages.

He said: "We have all the stuff that they didn't have back then. The fighters were not taking vitamins, they was drinking blood. These guys were eating raw eggs that would give you clogged arteries. They wouldn't tell me to eat a raw egg today."

The 43-year-old insists that only an elite few can make successful comebacks.

He said: "There's only two or three athletes in sport history (NFL quarterback) Brett Favre is one, myself is another and (cyclist) Lance Armstrong just came back."

Lifestyle

The veteran admitted that doctors were shocked by his actual age when studying his test results but insists it is all down to his lifestyle.

He said: "It's an investment I put in myself 20 years ago to be here at this table fighting for millions at this stage.

"The most damage that is done to a fighter is not in the ring. It's because the candle was burning at both ends, because of a lifestyle."

As well as overcoming the age barrier Hopkins has to find a way to beat his big-hitting compatriot.

WBC and WBO middleweight champion Pavlik is undefeated in 34 fights, with 30 stoppages, and is looking for more of the same in the non-title catchweight bout in Atlantic City.

He said: "I go in there to win. If the knockout comes, that's great. I'm definitely ready. This is my chance now.

"Bernard is a legend. He's had a great career. He's going to go down in the books as the greatest middleweight.

"I have the same goal. I want my legacy to be great also and I'm not done yet."