Though they held a media conference earlier this week at the Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn, this show should have been held at a theater on Broadway.
The back and forth trash-talking between Bernard Hopkins and Don King stole the show at the media conference announcing the March 9 IBF Light Heavyweight championship title fight between Hopkins and Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud, the 30-year-old undefeated IBF Light Heavyweight champ (24-0, 19 KOs) from Tallahassee, Fla. Hopkins is the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title. At 48 years of age, he won a major world boxing championship on May 21, 2011, in Montreal, Canada, with a unanimous 12-round decision over Jean Pascal.
“I’m so happy I won the titles,” said Hopkins, referring to his WBC and Ring magazine Light Heavyweight titles.
It was coincidental that the media conference this past Tuesday, Jan. 8, was also Hopkins’ birthday. The legendary Brooklyn eatery Junior’s Restaurant presented Hopkins with a beautiful cake in celebration of his 48 years. “If you are disciplined and maintain your physical and mental health, anything is possible at any age,” said Hopkins.
King said, “Bernard, we’re going to help you retire gracefully after March 9 right here at the Barclays Center.”
And so it went, with Hopkins saying to Cloud, “Thanks for calling me out. How many athletes get a chance to do what I do?”
The championship throw-down between Hopkins and Cloud is being co-promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (De La Hoya was a no-show at the conference) and Don King Productions.
