INGLEWOOD, Calif.
Harold Carmichael Womens Jersey . -- Bernard
Hopkins legendary, 28-year career came to a thudding conclusion Saturday night,
when Joe Smith Jr. punched him out of the ring and onto The Forum floor in the
eighth round in a wild scene.Hopkins, a month shy of his 52nd birthday and
participating in the 67th and final fight of a career that began when Ronald
Reagan was president and the year before Smith was born, landed on his head but
complained of an ankle injury and was unable to continue.Referee Jack Reiss
administered a 20-count, as is the boxing rule when a fighter is ejected from
the ring. When Hopkins could not get back into the ring in time, Reiss waved off
the light heavyweight fight at 53 seconds, to the disappointment of most of the
6,513 who turned out to see whether Hopkins could go out with a win in his first
fight in 25 months. On Nov. 8, 2014, the date of Hopkins prior fight, he lost
two light heavyweight world titles to Sergey Kovalev in a one-sided decision in
a unification fight.While the result was a career-making victory for Smith,
Hopkins handpicked opponent for his career finale, it was an ignominious ending
for one of the greatest fighters in boxing history. Hopkins was the undisputed
middleweight champion. He made a division-record 20 title defenses, was a
three-time light heavyweight titleholder and set several age-related records,
including becoming the oldest fighter to win a world title, first at age 46 and
then again at 48.Those are stats that will be remembered when Hopkins (55-8-2, 2
no contests, 32 KOs) goes into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, but the
wild ending of this fight wont soon be forgotten.In the eighth round, Smith
caught Hopkins along the ropes with a six-punch combination, including a
finishing left hand that caught Hopkins as he was bending over. Hopkins fell
between the ropes and crashed to the arena floor.I was throwing the right hand
and a combination and then using the rope as Im known for and making a mess,
Hopkins said. He got frustrated, and I might have gotten glazed with a left hook
and next thing I know he was throwing me out of the ring.I injured myself and
hit my head first and hurt my ankle. I knew of the 20 seconds but couldnt stand
up on my feet because my ankle was injured. I said I could walk but I couldnt
box. I had a choice to make, but I guess the referee made it for me. I know if I
hadnt made a mess and gotten knocked out of the ring, I wouldve come back like
Im known for and wouldve had my chin.The ending was somewhat reminiscent of a
middleweight title defense Hopkins made against Robert Allen in Las Vegas in
1998, when he was accidentally pushed out of the ring in the fourth round by
referee Mills Lane as he tried to break the fighters. Hopkins suffered an ankle
injury, and the fight was declared a no contest.I knew he was a true champion,
and if he didnt get injured, hed be back here, Smith said.There were several
minutes of uncertainty in the eighth as nobody seemed to know whether the fight
was over, even though Reiss had counted to 20 in the ring.The fighter got hit
with a legal punch and went out of the ring and injured himself on the way out,
Reiss said. He wasnt going to continue. I counted to 20, and he couldnt
continue, so the fight is over.At the time of the stoppage, Smith was ahead
69-64 and 67-66 on two scorecards and Hopkins was up 67-66 on the third card.
ESPN had Smith ahead 67-66.This was the round I was going to make something
happen, Hopkins said of the eighth round.When the fight was made, Hopkins
announced it would be his last one -- win, lose or draw -- and he stuck to that
after the fight.The reason I said Im upset they are giving Smith the TKO is
because the momentum threw me through?the ropes, Hopkins said. I didnt dive
through the ropes. This is my last fight, I promised it would be, and you come
to that point in life where it is final and Im happy with my retirement. I know
the fans will know I went out as a soldier, fighting the toughest, baddest
opponents. Im not saying I agree, Im not in denial. Joe was a tough,
heavy-hitting fighter.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,
outlanding 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 opened a cut over
Smiths left eye on a head-butt that did not look accidental.Hopkins has guile
and experience, but he cant go three hard minutes per round anymore. However, he
fought in spurts and 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. Its 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.
Im going to get back in the gym and train hard for my next opponent. Im up for
anything.As he prepares for retirement, Hopkins says he will 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 dont want the fight to
end the way it did. Id rather get beat or a win where its clear to everybody.
But Ill say it one last time. Im really serious about this: Win, lose or draw --
trust me, if it had been the other way around -- win, lose or draw, or
controversy, thats it.I have no regrets.
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had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden
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quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later
on Wennbergs first of the game.
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Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World
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. "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization
and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith missed his second straight practice
Thursday, leaving his status for Detroit in question.Smiths brother was shot and
killed in Valdosta, Georgia, on Sunday. Smith traveled to Valdosta on Monday and
has been there since. Adding to his emotional week, Smiths girlfriend gave birth
to their son Wednesday.Jaguars coach Gus Bradley is taking a wait-and-see
approach with Smiths return, uncertain if he will play against the Lions on
Sundaay.
Wilbert Montgomery Jersey. Bradley says, I
know hes doing everything he can. Hes had conversations with me, with coaches,
so hes staying on top of all the game-planning things, so knowledge-wise hes in
good shape. I think its just the matter of seeing where his minds at. I think
thats the big thing.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and
http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
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