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George Foreman: Bernard Hopkins should retire on top

Bernard Hopkins is 49 years old and still going strong, but George Foreman believes it's time for him to retire.

Martin Rose

Former world heavyweight champion George Foreman, who knows a thing or two about fighting forever, believes that current IBF and WBA light heavyweight titlist Bernard Hopkins should get out while he's still on top, and maybe even launch a grill line.

From TMZ Sports:

"I fought all the way until I was about 50. Around my 56th birthday, I was gonna come back. I saw a path to the heavyweight championship. My wife said, 'you're not gonna do it.' We all need someone like that. It was the best thing that could've happened to me. Leave while you can. When the curtain closes, you don't want to be laying on your back in the middle of the ring."

[What he'd say to Hopkins] "Bernard, you looked great! Fantastic! Isn't that the way you wanna go out? You looked unbeatable, now leave. I think Muhammad Ali would say the same thing. Get out and smell the roses.

"There's life after boxing. If he makes a Bernard Hopkins Grill, I'll have all my kids buy one! I have 10 kids, 10 grandkids, and 2 great grandchildren. He can make a lot of money just off us!"

Hopkins, 49, intends to face WBC and Ring Magazine champion Adonis Stevenson next, should Stevenson beat Andrzej Fonfara on May 24 as it's expected he will. "The Alien" (55-6-2, 32 KO) intends on unifying all four light heavyweight title belts by the time he's 50, but that will require a change in the political landscape of boxing, as WBO titleholder Sergey Kovalev fights on HBO, and Hopkins is with Showtime and Golden Boy.

Hopkins has also proposed a "50-50" fight with reigning pound-for-pound and dollar-for-dollar king Floyd Mayweather, who holds titles at 147 and 154 pounds, well below Hopkins' current division at 175.

Does Foreman have a point? Should Hopkins get out on top of the world, or is Bernard more than a number?

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