Hopkins, 49, chasing history in ring

The buzz at Joe Hand's Gym that came with Bernard Hopkins' media day last week had simmered. A day later, it was time for the 49-year-old to focus again on Saturday's fight against Sergey Kovalev.

The dozen spectators - mostly members of Hopkins' camp - pulled up chairs or sat on the tile floor. They watched in near silence, speaking in whispers, as Hopkins readied to spar at the Northern Liberties gym. Hopkins called his opponent "Iron Fists," a 27-year-old Ukranian who was instructed to mimic Kovalev's fighting style.

If history is to be written Saturday night at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, it was afternoons like this on which it was made. Already boxing's oldest champion, Hopkins is out to unify the light-heavyweight division next year.

Hopkins prepared for one of the stiffest tests of his career like he always does: with relentless dedication. He was in the gym five days a week. The weekends are intended for him to relax, but trainer Naazim Richardson said he knew Hopkins was unable to sit still. Richardson said a 20-year-old fighter would break if he tried to train like Hopkins. Hopkins, who turns 50 in January, compared himself to a classic car. old, but well kept.

"The engine and the mechanics are brand new because he took care of it," Hopkins said. "He got those bolts oiled. He got the car cleaned out. The pistons are cleaned. The spark plugs are new. You're looking at the car and the year, but you didn't pop the hood."

Hopkins said he is often asked why he still does this. It's not money - Hopkins said he has enough saved that his spending money is his interest. It's not fame, either. He could have walked away a decade ago and still been inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame. He does this, he said, because he can.

The opening bell sounded and Iron Fists pressed toward Hopkins, which is what many expect Kovalev to do. Hopkins absorbed some blows, shifted his body, and battled back. Each punch Hopkins threw was counted by an assistant outside the ring. The round finished and the number was scribbled into a notebook. Hopkins returned to his corner and took a swig of water. The crowd broke its silence and applauded.

Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 knockouts) has won three straight fights since he lost in 2012 to Chad Dawson at Boardwalk Hall. But none of his opponents has had the punching power of Kovalev. One of the 31-year-old's opponents died after a 2011 bout. He has knocked out his last 10 foes, crumbling opponents with gut-wrenching body shots and devastating hooks.

But Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs) may also be a bit untested. His stiffest opponent was Nathan Cleverly, whom Kovalev stunned in a fourth-round knockout to gain the World Boxing Organization title. Kovalev also stopped Cedric Agnew and Blake Caparello, two undefeated fighters who lacked much traction in the light-heavyweight division. Caparello even scored a first-round knockdown of Kovalev.

"What we need to assess now, this close to a fight, can't be assessed outside the ring," Richardson said. "You have to be in there, you have to feel Kovalev's punches to know if we're dealing with a freak of nature. Maybe this is the hardest punching man in the history of boxing. Or maybe this is something we've faced before."

Hopkins said he often drives through his old neighborhood, past the now demolished projects he grew up in, and reflects on how far he has come. The people in North Philadelphia and Germantown know him from his ring success. Boxing is a hungry man's sport. And these drives, he said, keep his hunger fresh. Nothing in life was ever given to him, Hopkins said.

"If I didn't do that, I don't believe that I'd be around as a history-breaking-making winner," he said. "I don't believe that my mind or my spirit or my discipline would have held up long enough to say: Why am I here?"

The seventh round finished and Iron Fists removed his sparring helmet. He was exhausted and believed the afternoon was finished. He walked toward Hopkins' corner to shake hands. But Hopkins was not done. One more round, he told the younger fighter. Iron Fists strapped on his helmet again. There was history still to be made.