Hopkins came back because he wanted to finish his career on his own terms, and while the fight might not have ended how he wanted, he put in a good effort before the wacky ending.
Smith got off to a solid start, out-landing Hopkins 14-4 in the first round and maybe surprising Hopkins with his power as he backed him up.
In the early going, Hopkins seemed to be trying to shake off the long layoff. His timing looked off, and his legs were a bit shaky as Smith went after him and landed a left to the body that stood up Hopkins in the second round. But Hopkins responded with a right hand and also opened a cut over Smith’s left eye on a head butt that did not look accidental.
Hopkins has guile and experience, but he can’t go three hard minutes per round anymore. However, he fought in spurts and also landed some powerful right hands, especially in the fifth round, in which they both connected.
Smith, who earned $140,000 to Hopkins’ $800,000, continually marched forward firing punches, while Hopkins would throw a right hand and then lunge to tie him up. But in the eighth round, Smith caught Hopkins along the ropes and fired the fight-ending combination.
While Hopkins was disappointed with the way the fight ended, Smith (23-1, 19 KOs), a 27-year-old union laborer from Mastic, New York, was happy to get the biggest win of his career and a second upset in a row. He had gained Hopkins’ attention with his upset, first-round knockout of contender Andrzej Fonfara in June, and months later, earned Hopkins’ pick for his final fight.
“It feels great, it’s the best feeling in the world to accomplish something I set out for and wanted to do,” Smith said. “I had seen him every time I threw the right hand. He was throwing the left. I had seen him fall, and I kept hitting him until I saw him go out [of the ring], and I landed that left hook until he went out.
“I hit him with four or five clean shots, and they were good shots on the button. I came here to do my job. This is my coming-out party too. I had to finish him. It was either my career was going to end and his was going to end, but I needed mine to continue. I’m going to get back in the gym and train hard for my next opponent. I’m up for anything.”
As he prepares for retirement, Hopkins says he’ll promote in his role as a partner in Golden Boy Promotions, and enjoy the fruits of his labor, his family and the millions he has earned.
He can also look back on a career in which he pulled memorable upsets against Felix Trinidad, Antonio Tarver, Kelly Pavlik and Jean Pascal — not to mention knocking out Oscar De La Hoya and becoming the first fighter in any division in the four-belt era to hold all of them at the same time.
“Things unfortunately happen,” Hopkins said. “I don’t want the fight to end the way it did. I’d rather get beat or a win where it’s clear to everybody. But I’ll say it one last time. I’m really serious about this: Win, lose or draw — trust me, if it had been the other way around — win, lose or draw, or controversy, that’s it.
“I have no regrets.”
Article Appeared @http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/18301362/bernard-hopkins-knocked-ring-joe-smith-jr-final-fight-ex-champ-career