[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 126 (Thursday, October 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING BERNARD HOPKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 2004

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor 
Philadelphia's own, Bernard ``The Executioner'' Hopkins. Mr. Speaker, 
my hometown is one of the greatest sports cities in the world. We have 
honored many champions over the years. But none of them is more revered 
than the undisputed Middleweight Champion of the world, Bernard 
Hopkins.
  Bernard always dreamed of being a champion. He first showed his 
championship form at an early age, winning the Pennsylvania Junior 
Olympics at age nine. Mr. Speaker, Bernard Hopkins' name is frequently 
and properly mentioned in the same breath as the best middleweights in 
history. Men like Sugar Ray Robinson, Carlos Monzon and Marvelous 
Marvin Hagler. Even his latest opponent, Oscar De La Hoya once said 
that Hopkins is ``one of the great talents we've had in this 
generation.'' De La Hoya, who lost and was ko'd by a Hopkins left hook 
to the body, called the champ one of the top 5 boxers in history. And, 
like his championship, that description is undisputed. After all, he 
has won 45 professional bouts, 32 by knockout.
  Let's put his record into perspective. Carlos Monzon formerly held 
the seemingly unbreakable record for successful title defenses, beating 
back 14 attempts to take his crown. But, Hopkins shattered that record 
back in 2002. Altogether, he has successfully defended his title 19 
times since January, 1996.
  This record is historic and he should be proud of it. But, Mr. 
Speaker, Philadelphians don't simply love and respect Bernard Hopkins 
the fighter. They love and respect Bernard Hopkins the man. He rose 
from humble beginnings to reach greatness. And he never left behind the 
city of his birth.
  Bernard is a true role model. He works tirelessly with offenders, 
especially youth, to help them get on and stay on the straight and 
narrow. He is a husband and a father and great American.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that all my colleagues join me in honoring a 
great champion, and an even greater person, Bernard Hopkins.

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