Hopkins vows to bring ‘heat’ against Wright
Bernard Hopkins welcomes the challenge Winky Wright will present when they meet July 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Hopkins, 42, will defend his Ring magazine light heavyweight title at a 170-pound catch weight against Wright, 35, on the HBO pay-per-view card.
He even enjoys his underdog role at Las Vegas sports books, where Wright is around a minus-135 favorite.
"What else is new?" Hopkins said with a laugh Wednesday during a conference call. "I wouldn't be comfortable if I wasn't the underdog."
Hopkins (47-4-1, 32 knockouts) last fought June 10, 2006, when he won the title with a unanimous decision over favored Antonio Tarver in an action-packed bout. Afterward, Hopkins announced his retirement, but soon realized he still had the passion to fight.
He's fighting Wright (51-3-1, 25 KOs), Hopkins said, because he's a boxer who "guys don't like to fight, but Bernard Hopkins is someone who always takes the hard road."
Critics think the fighters' defensive styles will result in a boring fight, but Hopkins said don't bet on it.
Hopkins said he can bring "the heat" despite his age. He said he feels better now than at a younger age and that his added weight gives him an advantage he didn't have then.
"Forty-two years old is not a death sentence," Hopkins said. "If Bernard Hopkins don't have anything left, then prove it."
Wright has said Hopkins fights dirty, but those comments didn't ruffle the champion. Wright simply is preparing his excuse for when he loses, Hopkins said.
