Bernard Hopkins continues to provide catchy sound bites
as his career winds down. During a recent interview with rolling out sports,
the boxing champion had a few choice words for Floyd Mayweather and the sport of Ultimate Fighting. –amir shaw
Floyd Mayweather is considered the top pound-for-pound
boxer at this time. What are your thoughts on Mayweather?
He is a great fighter and will be remembered as one of the
greats. But apart from boxing, he sends a bad message. The message he gives is
that you can disrespect money. He is a
stereotype of what corporate America thinks about black athletes. In 20 or 30
years, lets see who has wealth and who is rich. There is a big difference. A
person has a right to spend money the way they want, but you must pay your
taxes and take care of your business. Because once you put yourself out there
as an extreme baller, they will find out if a light bill hasn’t been paid.
Do you think he is putting himself in a bad position by
flaunting his wealth?
Let me say this. I will never have “MTV Cribs” at my house.
Bill Gates is worth billions, but I have never [seen] his house. I have never [seen] his car. I see a man with an average sweater and a pair of Dockers on. People
who have less want to show more, and people who have more don’t show it all. I
think of my friend Mike Tyson and I think of the Vercace years and when he
bought lions and tigers. He had a great kingdom. When years become decades, things
change. You look at $300 million and now you have to pimp your name to be
noticed. It can happen to anybody. I’m not 25 or 30 so I think differently now.
One thousand dollars is important to me. I have a 10-year-old daughter and I want
her to live off of what I establish now. It makes people angry at you when you come
across as a cocky and arrogant. When I see people in the streets of Philly
walking around trying to get [food] to eat, why would I burn money and let it
rain when I can give out food or build a shelter? Not saying he’s not doing
that, I just know what I need and I know what I’m comfortable with. I respect
money. To give it away — I just can’t understand how [that] happens. I went through
so much to get here that it makes me respect the dollar.
You were recently criticized for your comments about Ultimate
Fighting. Why are you against Ultimate Fighting?
I’m not into two guys wrestling on the ground. I’m from
North Philly, that’s nothing because we see that everyday. What’s ultimate
about it? I’m not excited by watching two men sweating and rolling on the
ground. I’m seeing that anything goes, so where is the technique? Most of these
guys couldn’t make it in boxing. They’re too wild, they are juiced up on
weights and most don’t have chins. They are not geared to take punches. They’re
out after one punch. These guys are just throwing punches. We live in a society
where we teach peace, but we enjoy violence. Wrestling is a fraud, but it’s been
big for over 50 years. Boxing will never be taken over by Ultimate Fighting.
It is another sport where people can see an average guy beat up another average
guy.
