Making weight was Hopkins' No. 1 priority, after taking care of No. 2

MONTREAL - As weigh-ins go, the one here yesterday afternoon in one of the large salons at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal was mostly uneventful.

Oh, main-event fighters Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins and Jean Pascal got nose-to-nose and yapped at each other after stepping on the scales, but no shoves were exchanged, and no one threatened to eat the other guy's children.

But it was what happened an hour after the open-to-the-public ceremony at 1 p.m. that produced the quote of the week, and one of the better ones of Hopkins' 22-year professional career.

After failing to make weight (the light-heavyweight limit is 175 pounds) for what he said was the first time, Hopkins had 2 hours to lose 4 ounces, in accordance with WBC rules. After leaving the stage, he returned at 2:05 p.m. and came in at 174 pounds, 14 ounces.

So how did B-Hop take off those extra ounces?

"I just found out I was full of a lot of [crap]," the North Philadelphia native said, smiling.

Hey, some of Hopkins' detractors have said that for years, although maybe not in such a literal sense.

"I ate pretty good this morning," Hopkins said, noting that a meeting with HBO officials before the weigh-in kept him from, uh, taking care of business at that time.

Initially, Hopkins came in at 175 pounds, 9 ounces, but after stripping off his shorts and socks, he still was 4 ounces over despite weighing in nude, with a towel tastefully held in front of his private part by members of his support crew.

Pascal also came in over the limit, at 175 pounds and 1 ounce, but he came in at 174.14 on an immediate reweigh after taking off both of the watchcaps he was wearing. Hey, his head must have been cold.

Hopkins said his fans should not be concerned that he made history of a different sort by not making weight on the first or even the second try.

"I feel perfect," he said. "I'm in great shape and great spirits." *