“How You Gonna Con An Ex-Convict”: Bernard Hopkins Makes Heartfelt Confession To Joe Rogan About Stigma Fighters Face In Boxing

The boxing industry can sometimes break the strongest. We often hear athletes and boxers complain about the nerve-wracking pressure and politics. Given these points, staying alert and wary of people with malicious intent becomes necessary. Bernard Hopkins has been there and done it. In two decades of his career, he has witnessed his fellow boxers fall victim to such a system. In fact, the years before he became a professional had been more challenging.

Hopkins left an indelible mark on the sport with his exceptional skills and longevity. His record-breaking career, marked by numerous world titles across multiple weight classes, solidified his legacy as one of the greatest middleweight champions in boxing history. Appearing on a podcast with Joe Rogan, Hopkins opens up in front of the commentator about the realities of the boxing world and how he managed to escape the trap.

Bernard Hopkins’ foolproof defense

Hopkins had a tough childhood. The ‘Executioner’ was sent to prison and lost a sibling to the large-scale crime prevalent during the time. All this happened at the tender age of 17. These experiences molded Hopkins into a mentally robust man. Hopkins learned to filter the fake from the real when it came to people. He was cautious. The years he spent inside the lock-up prepared him to deal with the stigma attached to the sport.

On the podcast, Hopkins explained “If I didn’t have that experience, I spoke about 20+ minutes, I would’ve been swallowed up like most of them. I hear the Tyson story, even when he was on the show, on the undercard, many times, in Vegas, and I hear a lot of the names and I say to myself, they say game recognize game, how you gonna con an ex-convict? Don’t you know I had the talk to get off the block?” While the rest of the boxers fell prey to the make-believe, Hopkins had his guard up even outside the ring. He isn’t the only boxer to have learned these lessons outside the squared circle.

Mike Tyson’s $100 million lawsuit

This is similar to what happened to the legend Mike Tyson. ‘Iron Mike had to file a $100 million lawsuit against renowned promoter Don King and his company, Don King Productions, in federal district court. Tyson alleged fraud and theft (conversion) against King. Additionally, Tyson claimed that King had concealed profits from the overseas broadcast rights of Tyson’s fights. Eventually, Tyson had to settle for an insignificant amount through a confidential settlement.

Read More: “The Flame Came Back”: Bernard Hopkins Ropes In Muhammad Ali Example While Detailing Life-Changing Moment

Though Hopkins managed to dodge the trouble, Tyson had to face a significant financial setback. A little caution goes a long way. Clearly, Hopkins had drilled into himself. What do you think of the stigma that the boxer talks about? Let us know below.

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