JRE MMA Show #148 with Bernard Hopkins

5-Oct-23

JRE MMA Show #148 with Bernard Hopkins Topics

This podcast features a fascinating conversation with boxing legend Bernard Hopkins, offering insights into his unique journey from prison to boxing stardom and beyond. Provocative topics include the corrupt nature of the boxing industry, the power of mental toughness, and the challenges of transitioning from fighter to promoter. Underlying themes explore the importance of discipline, resilience, and navigating a world where appearances and perceptions often overshadow true merit.

Topics:

1. Transitioning from Fighter to Promoter:

Hopkins’s transition wasn’t a sudden leap but a gradual evolution, shaped by his experiences as a fighter taking control of his own career in the latter years.
He emphasizes the need to learn the business side of boxing, highlighting the challenges of navigating a small, often resistant community.
Hopkins’s outspokenness against promoters throughout his fighting career made his transition even more difficult, as he had to prove he wasn’t like those he criticized.
He highlights the importance of mentorship and learning from successful figures like Oscar De La Hoya, showcasing the importance of finding the right partners.

2. The Challenges of Boxing:

Hopkins reveals the rampant corruption within boxing, where those who make the rules often break them.
He details the lack of regulation and checks and balances, leaving fighters vulnerable to exploitation by promoters, managers, and advisors.
He speaks openly about the need for greater transparency and accountability within the sport, emphasizing the necessity for fighters to educate themselves and avoid being taken advantage of.
Hopkins’s personal experiences with unfair contracts and bad deals showcase the importance of fighting for fair compensation and protecting your own interests.

3. The Power of Mental Toughness:

Hopkins’s incredible longevity in boxing is attributed to his unwavering mental strength, honed during his time in prison.
He emphasizes the importance of discipline, focus, and determination, believing that mental fortitude is as crucial as physical talent.
He describes the importance of finding your value and purpose, particularly after challenging experiences like incarceration.
Hopkins’s commitment to continuous improvement and a relentless pursuit of excellence showcases the power of setting goals and never giving up.

4. The Importance of Lifestyle and Training:

Hopkins emphasizes the critical role of lifestyle choices in maximizing athletic performance and extending a career.
He reveals his commitment to a disciplined lifestyle, prioritizing rest, nutrition, and avoiding harmful substances.
Hopkins’s dedication to unconventional training methods, including mental conditioning and mindfulness, showcases his holistic approach to fighting.
He highlights the importance of finding the right training partners and coaches who can help you unlock your potential and adapt to changing circumstances.

5. The Legacy of Bernard Hopkins:

Hopkins’s remarkable career, spanning almost three decades, is a testament to his exceptional skills, resilience, and dedication.
He reflects on the various personas he developed during his career, including “The Executioner” and “The Alien,” showcasing his ability to adapt and reinvent himself.
Hopkins’s willingness to challenge the status quo and speak truth to power in the boxing world solidified his reputation as a fighter who stood for more than just wins and losses.
He emphasizes the importance of leaving a lasting legacy, both within boxing and beyond, recognizing the power of storytelling and sharing his experiences.

6. The Boxing Industry:

Hopkins highlights the industry’s reliance on favoritism and exploitation, where promoters and networks often prioritize profits and control over the best interests of fighters.
He points out the lack of regulation, allowing those who make the rules to bend them for personal gain.
He criticizes the use of judges who may be influenced by financial incentives or pressure from promoters, questioning the legitimacy of some decisions.
Hopkins’s insights highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability within boxing, demanding that the sport prioritize fairness and athlete well-being.

7. The Importance of Mental Preparation:

Hopkins emphasizes the importance of mental preparation, highlighting the role it played in his long and successful career.
He believes that mental toughness, including discipline and focus, is as crucial as physical training.
He details his strategies for using mental tactics to gain an edge over opponents, including disarming them with doubt and pushing them to make mistakes.
Hopkins’s insights showcase the importance of understanding the mental game of boxing and developing strategies to control the narrative of a fight.

8. The Fight Against Corruption:

Hopkins’s outspokenness against corruption in boxing extends beyond his own experiences and into the broader implications for the sport.
He expresses his commitment to fighting for change, using his platform and influence to shine a light on the problems plaguing boxing.
He highlights the need for increased transparency and accountability in all aspects of the sport, calling for a more ethical and responsible approach to promoting and managing fighters.
Hopkins’s determination to expose and combat corruption showcases his commitment to protecting the integrity and future of boxing.

9. The Power of Unconventional Training:

Hopkins’s training methods, influenced by his mentor Mackie Schulstone, incorporated unconventional techniques to push him beyond conventional boundaries.
He reveals the use of mental conditioning strategies, including visualization and war simulations, to prepare for the mental and physical demands of fighting.
Hopkins’s commitment to holistic training, embracing mental and physical aspects of the sport, showcases his dedication to maximizing his potential.
He emphasizes the importance of finding innovative and effective training methods that go beyond traditional practices, constantly striving to improve and adapt.

10. The Importance of Storytelling:

Hopkins recognizes the power of storytelling, using his platform to share his journey and inspire others.
He reflects on the pivotal moments of his life, from his time in prison to his boxing career, highlighting the lessons he learned along the way.
He emphasizes the importance of sharing personal experiences to connect with others, offering insights and motivation to those who may be facing similar challenges.
Hopkins’s commitment to using his story as a tool for inspiration showcases the transformative power of sharing personal narratives.

11. The “B-Hop” Brand:

Hopkins discusses the evolution of his personal brand throughout his career, from “The Executioner” to “The Alien.”
He describes how he used these personas to create a unique identity and appeal to fans.
Hopkins’s ability to reinvent himself and stay relevant in the boxing world highlights the importance of branding and marketing in the sport.
He recognizes the power of creating memorable moments and experiences to connect with audiences and solidify a legacy.

12. The Future of Boxing:

Hopkins expresses concerns about the future of boxing, particularly with the decline of traditional boxing networks like HBO and Showtime.
He believes that the industry needs to embrace creativity and innovation to adapt to the changing landscape of sports broadcasting.
He highlights the importance of making the best fights happen, regardless of promotional affiliations, to ensure that fans continue to be engaged.
Hopkins’s insights underscore the need for a more collaborative approach to promote boxing and ensure its long-term sustainability.

13. The Impact of Tyson Fury:

Hopkins praises Tyson Fury’s unorthodox style and personality, acknowledging his unique place in the heavyweight division.
He questions the legitimacy of Fury’s upcoming fight against UFC champion Francis Ngannou, suggesting it’s more of a show than a true boxing match.
Hopkins believes that Fury would be successful against a traditional boxer but may face more challenges against Ngannou’s unique fighting style.
He highlights the impact of Fury’s marketability and the novelty of Ngannou’s transition to boxing, attracting a wider audience for this unlikely matchup.

14. The Underrated Arthur Beterbiev:

Hopkins believes that Arthur Beterbiev, an undefeated light heavyweight champion, is an underrated fighter who deserves more recognition.
He attributes Beterbiev’s lack of high-profile fights to the fear of potential losses and the tendency of fighters to avoid challenging matchups.
Hopkins recognizes Beterbiev’s dangerous knockout power and his ability to secure wins but points out the challenges of finding opponents willing to face him.
He underscores the importance of taking risks and pursuing challenging fights to solidify a legacy and elevate the sport.

15. The Importance of Staying True to Yourself:

Hopkins emphasizes the importance of staying true to yourself, even when facing pressure from the boxing world.
He advises fighters to avoid being influenced by external pressures and to focus on their own goals and values.
He highlights the dangers of seeking validation from those who may not have your best interests at heart, urging fighters to trust their instincts and stay true to their authentic selves.
Hopkins’s journey from prison to boxing stardom showcases the importance of self-belief and staying true to one’s values, regardless of the obstacles faced.

16. The Legacy of Don King:

Hopkins discusses Don King’s controversial legacy, acknowledging his impact on boxing and his ability to navigate a complex and often corrupt environment.
He highlights King’s unique style of promotion, often using bold tactics and controversial strategies to generate excitement and publicity.
Hopkins expresses his own experiences with King, both positive and negative, acknowledging the challenges of dealing with a powerful and influential figure.
He underscores the importance of understanding the complexities of King’s legacy, recognizing both his contributions to boxing and the criticism surrounding his methods.

Memorable Quotes:

“I’m not a savior. I’m not running and trying to save anyone. But trying to understand my job and my role before my lights go out is that I love the sweet science. But I also understand that boxing gave me a way not to be rotten in the penitentiary or in the graveyard.”
“The people that set the rules, break the rules.”
“The world is not just Raymond Rosen projects. The world is not just Ramen roasting projects. So I start understanding now, like even sitting there watching at that time, how the fork and the spoon and the butter knife is on one side of the table. And I’m looking at this guy’s taking an act and putting it on the floor. I think he’s putting on this is lap. I mean, this is my sounds ignorant but you got to understand from that mindset of what I’m saying not understand my experience because some haven’t, but I start paying attention. That was the key.”
“The auto war has always been a guideline for me when I say always, most of my adult career, I say from 23 to now, I started pro at 25. When I tell you how people try to write your own destiny, where you going to the grave or to success, because you said it, I gave him the middle finger, I gave him the middle finger, not physically, I gave him the middle finger. I gave him the middle finger not physically. I gave him the middle finger in action. Indeed. Which holds a lot more weight. It does a lot more weight. And I want to let them know that.”
“I’m here bigger than just who I became. I’m gonna say that again. I’m here. This one it comes not overly spiritual, but this what I believe. I’m here. The proof to me can speak for anybody else.”