Philly boxer Bernard Hopkins rips his hometown

Philadelphia boxer Bernard Hopkins said that his next fight - most likely in October - win, lose or draw will be his finale.

"It will be my last fight," Hopkins, a 50-year-old surefire Hall of Famer, said Friday. "I'm doing it on my terms because I want to go out on my own terms. And I'm not asking for that right; I'm exercising that right."

Hopkins, the only fighter in history to hold all four sanctioned middleweight belts and to have defended them a record 20 times, had more to say.

Hopkins sounded like Charles Barkley when the 76ers star said on the radio in 1991 that "Philadelphia is a racist city." Hopkins, who turned professional in 1988 but has fought in Philadelphia only twice since 1993, echoed Barkley on Friday.

After saying that championship bouts don't take place here because of taxes that whittle purses - and pointing out that North Philadelphia super-lightweight champion Danny Garcia has never defended his title here but has fought five of his last six fights in New York - Hopkins said a racial element here has made him uncomfortable.

"This has been swept under the rug, but it's talked about. We have a problem in this town where we recognize Rocky - a fictitious boxer - and the ficticional gods that they create."

Is it a racial problem? Hopkins said yes.

"It's racially motivated and it's about 50 percent of the people," said Hopkins, who said he could fight IBF super-middleweight champion James DeGale this year. "I went to jail 27 years ago and they still talk about it. What they don't know is they motivated me to stay straight - to not get caught up in my fame and fortune and turn to alcohol and drugs because that is what sells."

Hopkins was released from jail in 1988 after serving time for multiple offenses. Married for 17 years, he said he refused to live a life that's reflective of stereotypes of African American athletes.

"They don't know that helped me to not get caught up in all of the drugs, alcohol, and the fame," Hopkins said. "I was told that if I started acting ignorant - having four and five babies out of wedlock - it would bring me more attention because people are interested in skullduggery.

"C'mon, man," Hopkins continued. "You mean to tell me that living a clean life is not news? I don't walk around Philadelphia with no bodyguards or anything like that. What I am is a role model - a guy who reinvented himself, not only professionally but personally."

Hopkins is just the latest celebrity to label the city racist. In April, actor Zach Woods of HBO's Silicon Valley and a Trenton native, said "Philadelphia's kind of a racist city" that "throws batteries at Santa Claus."

Recently traded Eagles running back LeSean McCoy told ESPN The Magazine that coach Chip Kelly got rid "of all the black players."

Hopkins said he has no regrets about not having fought more in his hometown. He doubts any world championships will be decided here in the near future.

"The chances of a major fight being held in Philadelphia are less than the 76ers winning the championship next year," Hopkins said.