Sunday, August 19, 2007 Boxing body fines Hopkins $200T for weigh-in brawl
LAS VEGAS—Boxing regulators in the western state of Nevada fined Bernard Hopkins $200,000 on Friday for instigating a weigh-in brawl before his July fight with Winky Wright.
“In Nevada, no melees, no free-for-alls, no fighting should be taking place at a weigh-in,” State Athletic Commission Chairman Tony Alamo told Hopkins at a hearing. “The only time there should be fighting going on is the night of the fight.”
Hopkins’ fine, left to the discretion of the five-member panel, amounts to 6 percent of the $3 million purse he took away from scoring a unanimous decision over Wright on July 20.
No one was injured in the onstage scuffle, which erupted after Hopkins and Wright stood face-to-face at the weigh-in and Hopkins shoved his hand in Wright’s face. Wright did not face any disciplinary action from the fracas.
Asked to explain what set him off, Hopkins told the commissioners that Wright’s entourage was talking trash about his dead mother.
“I didn’t feel that it was appropriate. My mom is in her grave, leave that alone, that’s personal,” Hopkins said. “When his people were trying to cheer him on and get in my head, it worked a little.”
Several commissioners said they were surprised to see Hopkins before them, noting his clean record and his reputation for control in the ring.
“You’re a smooth, smooth fighter. ... I consider you a mature, savvy man, but you lost it that night,” Commissioner Joe Brown said. “We have to send a signal that we won’t tolerate this.”
Hopkins currently is the WBC’s sixth-ranked light heavyweight. (AP)
