Let me add to why Hopkins should be respected by everyone:
-Age of 15 saw his brother murdered
-Age of 16 stabbed twice in stomach and back
-Age of 17 sentenced as an adult to 28 years in prison.
While in prison, joins boxing program, becomes amatuer inmate champ.
-Released after serving 5 years in prison.
-1988, fresh out of prison, loses his pro debut. Takes two years off, dedicates himself to learning his craft, wins next 22 fights in a row.
-Loses to a more experienced Roy Jones in 1993, then goes the next 12 years undefeated setting MW record with 20 title defenses, doesn't lose until he hit 40 years of age, which were highly desputed losses to Taylor.
-At age 41, coming off back to back losses, moves up two weight classes and defeats the true light heavyweight champion in Tarver, who was coming off victories over Roy Jones and Glen Johnson.
-At age 46, becomes oldest champion in the history of the sport surpassing George Foreman's record of 45.
-At age 48 breaks his own record becoming champ once again after beating Tavoris Cloud.
Additionally:
-Lives clean lifestyle
-Extremely dedicated.
-SAVES his money. Never will you see him flaunting cash, wearing expensive jewelry, cars, etc.
-Managed himself most of his career; fought against the system despite losing out on paydays as a result.
-After beating Oscar, he didn't sign with Golden Boy, he became a partner in the company.
-One of the only active fighters that testified in Congress supporting the Muhammad Ali Act, which is essentially something that protects the workers (fighters) providing them with rights. Many fighters were scared and threatened not to support it in fear of backlash from "the powers that be" in boxing but Hopkins stood up for what he believed in.
-Never talks about his religion or tries to promote it (he's Muslim ).
-Has been married with the same woman for over 20 years, whom you will almost never see (keeps his family life very private).
-Invests in his community and donates generously to charities without public knowledge
