"I'm proud to recognize Bernard Hopkins, Jr., as one of our own. He's a Philadelphian," said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
Nutter honored Hopkins Wednesday afternoon, a little more than a week after the 46-year-old beat Jean Pascal to become the oldest fighter to ever win a world title.
"He is the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion," said Nutter, pausing, then correcting himself. "LIGHT Heavyweight Champion. He's working on it."
It was fitting Hopkins was recognized in a ceremony outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art in front of the Rocky Statue. Just like the main character in the Hollywood story, Hopkins, too, was once down on his luck. But he overcame the odds to become the champ.
"It's the underdog who should have made it and should have won. That's me," Hopkins told Action News.
Hopkins wasn't just inspired by the Rocky movies. He trained like Rocky before he even stepped into a ring. Hopkins ran the Art Museum steps. He even ran them last month to train for his fight against Pascal.
"It means a great deal for me to be somewhere where I train at, literally run Boathouse Row, literally run up those steps," he said, gesturing to the Art Museum.
It's clear no matter how far he goes, Hopkins will never forget where it all started.
