Perhaps one of the most celebrated middleweight boxers of our time, Bernard Hopkins is indeed a soul with much determination. His fight of Saturday, December 3, at the Mandalay Bay Event Center entitled, 'No Respect' proved that two world class fighters can add class to the world of boxing and good sportsmanship. Before a sold out crowd of over ten thousand, Hopkins didn't waste any time in scoring points.

From a young age Hopkins has had his share of battles with the law, which at one time at the age of seventeen was incarcerated for five years in Philadelphia's toughest prison. He however used that experience to discipline himself as a fighter and to succeed in life. "When you're a boxer you become somewhat of a hero—your reputation gives you respect. I look at all my lessons in life as training and discipline. It comes from being in a situation like the military, which is prison life. I needed that part of my life to be here," says Hopkins. Bernard Hopkins on July 16th before a sold out crowd at MGM Grand Garden lost his title to a young Jermain Taylor. Although the media felt he won the fight, especially because of the 12th round where judge Duane Ford scored it for Taylor, Hopkins realized that this is another lesson in life. It could not have been a better script for Bernard Hopkins. The former champion says, "I understand the blessings of the July 16th fight. The only regret I have, knowing what I know now, is not knocking out Jermain Taylor when I had him."

Such were the statements Hopkins made before the fight on December 3, at a work out. Hopkins said, "This is the last dance of greatness to show that not only did I do it my way, but (for Taylor and others) to pay homage and bow down." In that statement, we must remember that Hopkins was voted 'Fighter of The Year' by Ring Magazine, Manager of The Year by Ring, and then he has crossed all bounders not only as a business partner with Oscar De La Hoya, of Golden Boy East, but also as a ringside commentator. That is not to say that he will not fight at a higher weight at a later date but he is making room for one of his fighters, Kingsley, to get a chance at the middleweight belt. The other fights on the card were as follows:

The 12-round World Super Bantamweight championship unification bout had Oscar Larios (56-3-1-36 KO's) of Guatalajara, Mexico defend his title against Israel Vasquez (39-4-27 KO's) of Mexico City, Mexico. In a ten-round Jr. Middleweight bout, Ike 'Bazooka' Quartey, (37-2-1 30 KO's) of Accra, Ghana beat out Carlos Bojorquez (26-8-6 21 KO's) of Mira Loma, California. Joshua Clottey (29-1-20 KO's) of Bronx, N.Y. won the WBC Continental Americas Interim Jr. Middleweight championship in a ten-round bout against Marcus Prinera (20-12-2-12 KO's) of Durham, North Carolina. A very promising Demetrius Hopkins (22-0-1-9 KO's) of Philadelphia, PA TKO'd.