Hopkins is all business

AT 48, most people are in the prime of their careers. They have worked their way up the ranks,and are comfortably settled into their respective businesses.

This is not the case for Bernard Hopkins.

While he has worked his way up the ranks of the boxing world, he realizes that his fighting days are almost over. Nobody has had such a sustainable career as the Philadelphia native, but all good things must come to an end.

Three-two-one - cue talent:

Hopkins has found that he can talk for extended periods of time, and get paid for it! The "Alien" stepped in for fellow fighter Paulie Malignaggi on Showtime to be a commentator for Malignaggi's bout against Adrien Broner earlier this year. Though he was called a natural as a broadcaster, Hopkins does not necessarily want to head down that path.

"I'm not going to call it a new career because I have only done it a few times," Hopkins said. "Do I like it? It's good, but I don't see it being something that I can bring excitement to me like boxing does. You know you can't box forever, but I don't see commentating as a thing where it excited me the way I think I need to be once I officially call it a day."

What does bring excitement to Hopkins is the world of boxing. He has been strapping on the gloves professionally for over 25 years, and it will be hard for him to step away from the sport. If he has it his way, he will stay connected to the sport that he loves when he does hang up the gloves.

"I would rather be, as crazy as it might sound, I would rather be on the business end of boxing," Hopkins said. "I think I would fit in and would really get my juices flowing is to be in boxing in a way where I can really get excited about it after I'm done."

Regardless of what anybody says, Hopkins is still not done with his business inside the ropes. He just retained his title as the oldest IBF light-heavyweight champion ever when he took down Karo Murat by unanimous decision on Oct. 26.

"I think I am at my third stage of a long legacy of what will be very hard to duplicate," Hopkins said. "I think I set the bar extremely high where in many years I will sit back and enjoy my records."

Hopkins (54-6-2, 32 KOs) is still looking for fights. One rumor, which started just after his win over Murat, is that Hopkins will fight unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. (45-0, 26 KOs), who holds titles in several weight divisions, including the WBC light-middleweight and WBC welterweight belts. But that seems like a longshot because Mayweather would probably have to move up several weight classes to take on B-Hop.

The most likely next contender for Hopkins would be Adonis Stevenson, who is the current WBC light-heavyweight champion, and has a record of 23-1.

Hopkins is ready to let the cards fall where they may.

"You look at it like this: It is not who I want to fight, but who I can fight," Hopkins said. "People expect me to name someone, but I think that does myself a disservice by mentioning names because that would be putting them against my status and hall of fame career, and I'm not trying to be cocky in any way. For me to say I am going to fight X, Y and Z is just giving them a commercial. It is not who I want to fight, it is who I can fight."

Who Hopkins will fight next is yet to be determined, but no matter which direction his career takes, expect to be seeing a lot of him around the world of boxing.

Here is a look at what the other Philadelphia-based boxers are up to:

Last fight: The heavyweight lost to Thabiso Mchunu in a unanimous decision on Aug. 3.

Next fight: Nothing scheduled.

Last fight: Defeated Lucas Matthysse in a unanimous decision on Sept. 14 to retain light-welterweight belt.

Next fight: Nothing scheduled. Rumors abound that Garcia might be in line to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., supposedly in May.

Last fight: Knocked out Terrence Wilson on Sept. 28.

Next fight: Tomorrow vs. Tyrell Hendrix (10-2-2). Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

Last fight: Defeated Andrey Fedosov in a referees' technical decision in the sixth round on June 14.

Next fight: Nothing scheduled.

Last fight: Defeated Olusegun Ajose in a unanimous decision on July 19.

Next fight: Nothing scheduled.