Twenty questions with Bernard Hopkins

As improbable as Bernard Hopkins' run to the light heavyweight title at age 46 has been, his reinvention from tactical boxer to exciting fighter has been just as unpredictable.

Hopkins' stock -- or as he calls it, his "brand" -- has never been hotter. The ageless wonder outboxed and outhustled light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal on May 21 to break George Foreman's record as the oldest fighter to win a world championship in history.

Not only does he appear to have been aging in reverse during the past decade, Hopkins has clearly evolved and improved with age. But one thing that has never been in question concerning the future Hall of Famer's career has been his ability to provide interesting (albeit sometimes controversial) quotes.

Hopkins stopped by the ESPN campus less than a week after his record-setting victory over Pascal to talk about his life, career and future -- both his and boxing's.

What is it about fighting at 175 pounds that has somehow added years to your career? I think with everything other than my talent, the longevity comes from my lifestyle. That has bought me these months and these years and these fights. Without that lifestyle, even as good as I think I might have been, it would have shortened my career. So because of my lifestyle, the candle is burning twice instead of burning once. But I do feel quicker at light heavyweight than I even did at middleweight. My lead right hand is one of my favorite punches that I have thrown more over the last two fights with Pascal. It comes off like a jab, and it's not even set up. I don't have to set and hit you, because too much time goes by. They never see [the lead right], and it just snaps back.

Good question. There is history to surpass, what 'Jersey' Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles did when they won a championship at 46 and defended it two or three times. [Walcott was actually 37 when he won the world heavyweight title from Charles in 1951. He made one title defense before losing to Rocky Marciano.] I would have to create something in my own mind to motivate me to continue as long as history is legitimately there. That is one of the reasons I would continue to fight at least one or two more times before retiring.

Where should your record as the oldest boxer to win a world title rank among the greatest achievements in sports history by an athlete over 40? I fall a little short under Jack Nicklaus [who won the Masters at age 46], but I think that I rate somewhere in the top five. Anywhere in the top five is great amongst the best achievements in all of sports in the world. I'll settle for five, but wherever Jack Nicklaus is at, I can make a strong argument that I am right behind him.

Home Workout | Learn to Dance like the Stars !!

Now, women are not the only souls who have decided to bring their workout routines home. The need to cut back on extraneous expenses (gym membership included) as well as the hectic demands of career and family has caused a boom in popularity with home workouts for men, as many men are now making the transition and completing their workout routines right from the comfort of their very own homes.

For men, the home is not just a place to rest after a long day at work. It’s also a haven for keeping trim and fit. At home, they don’t have to compete with others who are already way ahead in the game, judging from the look of their ripped abs. They can go at their own pace without feeling pressured to look as good as the next gym buddy they meet during their sessions. More importantly, men who work out at home do so for the sake of staying fit and healthy, not for anything else.

The best home workouts for men are those that involve cardio and strength training programs. While you can create your own home workouts, here’s a sample regimen that you newbies out there might want to follow to stay fit and lean. Take note that it’s better to perform your cardio exercises after your strength training program so you can develop muscle mass and strength while getting rid of the fat. Before doing these exercises, be sure the warm up for a good ten minutes first to avoid strain and injury. Cool down with stretching exercises afterwards.

Start your home workout with squats. Do about 20-25 of these to give your lower body and legs a great workout. Next, do push ups for as many repetitions as you’re comfortable. You can do a basic push up or any of the variations like doing it on a chair or on an exercise ball. This is a good upper body workout that develops your core muscles as well. Continue your exercises with lunges and dips for 20 repetitions each. If you have a sturdy bar in which to hang on to, do as many pull ups as you can.  Then, incorporate 30 crunches in your routine to give your abdominal muscles a good workout.

Your cardio session could comprise of running up and down the stairs, sprints, box step-ups, jogging or aerobic routines. To achieve the full benefits of a cardiovascular workout, try performing these exercises for a full minute each, resting for about 30 seconds before proceeding to the next one.

As you gain more strength and stamina, build intensity into your routine. You can vary these exercises, add more routines and lengthen your workout time. You might start by only doing these for at least 15 minutes in a day. Gradually increase your time as your body starts to get used to it until you’re doing these workouts for 40 minutes. You don’t want to exercise for more than an hour per session since you’re building muscle. Also, you have to give your body time to repair and heal itself, so exercising three to five times a week is ideal. Doing more than that does not achieve your purpose of muscle building and is potentially harmful.

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