“In recalling a rather disastrous anecdote regarding Randall “Tex” Cobb, and commenting on sports-writing in general, John Schulian wrote that, “the sentiment still outweighs the results.” It is an idea that easily applies to the endless twilight of Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins, who won a split decision over Beibut Shumenov at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C., last night, has been dealing more in sentiment than result for as long as his age has been the focus of his fights. A 49-year-old man thriving in a bloodsport is story enough: it is a remarkable feat, and will not be reproduced. But in writing about Hopkins, the sentiments, that spectrum of color mixed from a limited palette, provide the real interest. The longer he keeps winning, the stronger those sentiments—both laudatory and critical—will become. And Hopkins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just keeps winning.”

Read That Sentimental Feeling: Bernard Hopkins W12 Beibut Shumenov on The Cruelest Sport.