TRAINING CAMP UPDATE: BERNARD HOPKINS
NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Middleweight Great Bernard Hopkins opens training camp to students and unveils a secret weapon as he continues to prepare for a June 10 battle with Lightheavyweight Champion Antonio Tarver.
May 24, 2006
Middleweight great BERNARD "The Executioner" HOPKINS spoke to a group of middle-school young men yesterday during an open media workout at his New Orleans training camp where he's preparing for a June 10 light heavyweight showdown with Champion Antonio Tarver at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live
on HBO Pay-Per-View.
Before introducing his complete training team and getting down to serious business, Hopkins spent 15 minutes talking to the young men from Banneker School, who made signs for the middleweight great to show support of his upcoming fight and thanking him for choosing New Orleans as his training base.
Hopkins also revealed his secret weapon - Popeye and a special can of his spinach - that he said has been helping him train for the past six weeks. "Popeye was always strong to the finish because he ate his spinach," said Hopkins. "For the last fight of my career, which is appropriately named Fight to the Finish, I plan to have Popeye strength and fight to the very end. And then I will win."
Hopkins, who has been in New Orleans for the past five weeks, will wrap up camp on June 2 before heading to Atlantic City for his June 10th fight. "I think it's great that I will end my career where it started. It will be a legendary ending and one that boxing fans will never forget."
I knew I had to add the pieces to my puzzle to be successful for this fight. I could have stayed in Philly and ate my way to 176 pounds. But I wanted to do it right...
QUOTES FROM BERNARD HOPKINS:
A Message to the Young Students
"To not get knocked out and so you can be a great athlete, professional or anything else you want to be. You have to stay in the game, be true to yourself and be someone. But your team, like mine, are your coaches, teachers and parents - listen and let them be your guide."
On His Preparation:
"I knew I had to add the pieces to my puzzle to be successful for this fight. I could have stayed in Philly and ate my way to 176 pounds. But I wanted to do it right and fortunately I can afford to go out and get the best, the very best to make this happen. Mackie Shilstone has an undefeated record with fighters and is really the best with getting a fighter ready at
a new weight. He's the best and he's not cheap either."
On Antonio Tarver:
"I understand his psyche but who cares about the small things. I hope he keeps worrying about all the small things - if my ringwalk is better than his, if my outfit is going to outshine his. I hope he's worrying about what kind of shorts I'm wearing instead of keeping his hands up. That's what I hope he's worrying about the night we are fighting. It will be an easy night for me."
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