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Happy Birthday Bernard Hopkins – Oldest champ in the sport is 49 today

Credit: Tom Casino / Showtime

Video- Bernard Hopkins I Am A Fighter Feature:

Happy Birthday to the legend himself, Bernard Hopkins, who turns 49 years old today. Hopkins is the oldest man in the entire history of boxing to win a world championship, and also the oldest man to defend a championship belt as well. Hopkins, now calling himself The Alien, after being known as the Executioner, and B-Hop, is still going strong, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Here are some choice quotes from the birthday boy today:

Hopkins’ biggest birthday wish:

“My birthday wish is to be the undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world. I want big fights in 2014.

“I want to fight twice this year. I know I can do it and be victorious.”

Wish for the sport of boxing in the coming year:

“I want the ‘cold war’ to end in boxing. Everybody in boxing should do what’s right for the sport and its fans.”

Advice for young fighters:

“Young fighters should pay their dues and continue to train and learn their craft before they call themselves superstars.”

Advice for the 40 and over crowd:

“A body that’s moving is alive, a body that’s still is dead. Be conscious of what you put in your body. Continue to be active and move your body.”

Advice for young people everywhere:

“Young people have to learn from the mistakes and bad decisions of others and make sure they don’t repeat them.”

This special Hopkins video feature is entitled I Am a Fighter, and it showcases Hopkins talking about himself, his past and his upbringing, and the reasons he turned to boxing. Clearly ended up being a pretty good move for him, wouldn’t you say? It was obviously a way out for Hopkins, who was on his way to a dead-end life of crime, and had already spent a chunk of his life in prison.

So what’s next for Hopkins? In the loaded light heavyweight division, he has plenty of intriguing options. Taking on either Adonis Stevenson or Sergey Kovalev, or the winner of a fight between those two, would be an excellent choice, of course. And with his skill and savvy, many would favor him to upset one of those high-rising fighters.

Happy Birthday, Bernard Hopkins!