Comparing Bernard Hopkins to Other Athletes His Age, Hall of Famers Long-Since Retired:
There is one thing that virtually every professional athlete born in 1965 has in common – retirement from professional sports. The only exception is current Light Heavyweight titlist Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins. On November 8, just two months shy of his 50th birthday, Hopkins will face Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev at a time when most athletes his age have seen their skill set fade and have long since walked away from their respective sports.
Yet, Hopkins continues to enjoy his “prime”. After nearly 25 years, in arguably the most physically demanding of all sports, Hopkins defies retirement by continuing to defeat and outbox up-and-comers that are many years his junior.
Bernard Hopkins was born on January 15, 1965, and on November 8, 2014 he will step into the ring for his 64th professional bout. On that night Hopkins will attempt to break his own astonishing record, again, becoming the oldest champion in the history of major sports to win a world title. To appreciate Hopkins’ unbelievable, age-defying accomplishments, one should consider where other notable athletes born in 1965 are today.
- Former Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis was born on September 2, 1965. Lewis last fought professionally in 2003 when he stopped Vitali Klitschko. In 2004 he retired from the sweet science. More than a decade after Lewis’ last professional bout Hopkins is still fighting on.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Rod Woodson, was born on March 10, 1965. Woodson, who made an impressive 11 Pro Bowls and was elected first-team All-Pro six times over his 16-year NFL career, elected to hang up the cleats in 2003.
- Another NFL Hall of Famer, Cris Carter, was born on November 25, 1965. Carter, who was elected to the NFL 1990’s All-Decade Team, was an eight-time Pro Bowl player. He was elected first-team All-Pro twice, and second-team All-Pro once. After 15 seasons in the NFL, Carter played his last professional game in 2002.
- Former MLB standout Craig Biggio was born on December 14, 1965. The seven-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner, played an astounding 19 seasons in the majors, all of them with the Houston Astros. Biggio played his last professional game in 2007.
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member David Robinson, one of the NBA’s most dominating forces over the last half-century, was born on August 6, 1965. The 10-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner and 1995 NBA MVP had a prolific presence down low. Robinson was notorious for taking tremendous care of his body throughout his career, but even he was forced to retire, playing his last professional game in 2003.
- Another NBA Hall of Fame inductee, Scottie Pippen, was born on September 25, 1965. During his 16 seasons in the NBA, Pippen amassed six NBA Championships, two Olympic Gold Medals and an NBA All-Star Game MVP. Pippen was selected as an NBA All-Star seven times, and during the 1996-1997 season he was dubbed one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. He played his last professional game in 2008.
- Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Mario Lemieux is widely considered one of the greatest NHL players of all time. Lemieux was born on October 5, 1965. He played during portions of 17 seasons, tallying three NHL MVP awards, two Stanley Cup titles and six Art Ross Trophies as the league’s leading scorer. Lemieux laced up his skates professionally for the last time in 2006.
Despite the greatness and longevity they exhibited throughout their playing careers, and all of the titles and awards they won, every other professional athlete that was born in 1965 has retired from their respective sport. Many have gone on to experience successful post-playing careers as coaches, analysts, actors and philanthropists. Some even came back for encore performances after their first retirement from their sport, but none continue to compete professionally, nonetheless at a championship level in 2014.
