Wartezimmer » (16-8, 3.03 ERA) can equal his career high for wins in a se

Bernard Hopkins wasted no time when he came to the podium on Monday to formally announce the last fight of his legendary career.In a bout dubbed Final 1, Hopkins will face light heavyweight contender Joe Smith Jr. on Dec. 17 (HBO, 10 p.m. ET/PT) at The Forum in Inglewood, California.Final 1, get right to the chase, Hopkins said at the news conference at the arena, which has a rich boxing history. This is history. Weve been here many times, not in this arena, but we been places where history was made by me multiple times. This is obviously different than everything I have ever done, because it is the Final 1.Hopkins, who turned pro in 1988 -- when Ronald Reagan was in his second term as president -- has been one of the best boxers in the world for virtually all of the 28 years he has fought professionally. His legacy was cemented years ago: undisputed middleweight champion, including a division-record 20 title defenses (although not all were of the undisputed title), three-time light heavyweight world titleholder (including ownership of the lineal title and having unified two belts) and lock first-ballot Hall of Famer.The wins on his record read like a whos who: Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright, Kelly Pavlik, Roy Jones (to avenge a loss when, OK, Roy was way past his prime) and Jean Pascal, to name the biggest ones.But the 51-year-old Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs), who has boxed in four decades and turned pro before the 27-year-old Smith (22-1, 18 KOs) was born, was not in the mood for a whole lot of nostalgia on Monday.I dont reflect now because I still have a task at hand, Hopkins said sternly.Hopkins picked Smith, a union laborer by trade, because when he was offered his name as a possible opponent he studied up on him and came away impressed by his upset first-round knockout of contender Andrzej Fonfara in June.I am against an incredible opponent who I dont think looks at himself as an opponent, Hopkins said. Joe Smith Jr. is coming to try to make a name for himself and if I didnt have that challenge in front of me it [would] just be a fight. Well, I never took the easy way out. I dont want no one to say they gave me anything. Give me an opportunity or give me a door and Ill open it myself. I dont have to convince anyone no more.Smith did not have much to say. Besides, Hopkins can usually talk enough for four or five people. Maybe more. But Smith did show his appreciation for being picked for the opportunity to fight Hopkins and did not sound like there was one bit of attitude -- since he was hand-picked in the belief that he would send Hopkins into retirement with a victory.Im so glad I was chosen to fight Bernard Hopkins in his final fight, said Smith, who is from New Yorks Long Island. Im going to train very hard for this fight and take full advantage of it. Im looking forward to putting on a great show for everyone.Im a hard puncher, Im a hard worker and Im gonna train super hard for this fight. I will take full advantage of it.Joe DeGuardia, Smiths promoter who also has a friendly relationship with Hopkins, gave Hopkins credit for his willingness to tangle with a much younger fighter and a big puncher.This fight was really easy to make, and that is a testament to Bernard Hopkins, because most fighters would shy away from a puncher like Joe Smith Jr., he said.Then DeGuardia gently ribbed Hopkins.Bernard has really picked a true, true challenge here, DeGuardia said before turning to Hopkins. I love ya. Youve been historic for boxing, but this time youre biting off a little more than you can chew.Sure, Smith will be the underdog, but he should not be written off. He is getting a near-elderly Hopkins, who has more knockouts than Smith has fights -- and more title fights than Smith has fights -- but has boxed an astronomical number of rounds, 506 to Smiths 73.Hopkins is also returning to the ring after a 25-month layoff and one-sided beating in a decision loss to Sergey Kovalev in a world title unification fight. Hopkins reason was simple: Because he wants to go out on his own terms.It will be the last hurrah, as a champion goes out in his terms, in his way, said De La Hoya, who is CEO of Golden Boy Promotions and Hopkins promoter, business partner, friend and onetime ring rival.Only legends can do that and superstars who transcend the sport. What excited me about this fight is that Bernard is not fighting someone who is a walk in the park. He is fighting a difficult fight, and this gentleman [Smith] has every opportunity in the book to win.It wasnt my first choice. Its gonna be a tough fight, a difficult fight, but this is who Hopkins is. Hopkins transcends the sport. Hopkins is a fighter who will be talked about for many decades to come.But boxing is young mans game. Hopkins knows that. Its one of the reasons he said he will not dwell on his past achievements as he prepares for his final bout. There will be time after the fight to reflect on his great career. He said he will do everything in his power to stay focused on the present, not the past.This is not emotional and it wont be emotional because I got a task at hand, he said. I dont have to act like a buffoon here on stage or push and shove. Ive done that already. But what I am gonna do is show you why Ive been called three different titles in boxing -- from The Executioner to B-Hop to The Alien. They all exist in me, but Dec. 17 you will see The Executioner. Full circle.Then for emphasis, Hopkins said it again, Full circle, as he drew an imaginary circle with his finger.Win, lose or draw, he said. There is no excuse. Final 1. Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys . 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The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. PHILADELPHIA -- If the Chicago White Sox are going to limit their opponents offensively, theyre going to need to keep them from running rampant on the basepaths.In a 7-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night, the White Sox allowed three stolen bases before Cesar Hernandez was thrown out trying to steal second in the eighth inning.That continues a troubling theme with rookie catcher Omar Narvaez behind the plate. In 215 innings, he allowed 21 stolen bases while catching only two runners, a success rate of 8.7 percent.Those steals proved troublesome against the Phillies (69-83), with Odubel Herrera (two) and rookie Roman Quinn putting themselves in scoring position for the top four of the Philadelphia lineup that went 8-for-15 on Tuesday.Manager Robin Ventura, though, didnt seem too worried afterward about the trend, hesitating to put all the blame on the 24-year-old from Venezuela who was first called up in July.Youre going to need some help from your pitchers, Ventura said. Those guys are pretty speedy, so its not for a lack of trying or having the arm to do it. Its just youve got to be able to time it up right.Stealing bases isnt something new to the Phillies, who are 11th in the majors in steals (87). But the addition of Quinn, a 23-year old rookie, to the lineup -- Phillies manager Pete Mackanin has had him batting second in the order -- gives them another set of afterburners on the base paths.Quinn has elite level speed, Jake Thompson said after winning Tuesdays game. Its fun watching those guys get going out there. Theres probably only maybe three or four teams in the league that have someone who can run like Quinn.dddddddddddd Whenever he gets his feet going, its fun to watch.Ventura has a veteran to help Narvaez out on the mound Wednesday in Chris Sale as the White Sox (72-79) attempt to even the two-game series.Sale (16-8, 3.03 ERA) can equal his career high for wins in a season. Hes one behind the 17 he won in 2012, his first season as a full-time starter and first of five straight All-Star appearances.In three September starts, hes 1-1 with a 2.52 ERA, striking out 30 against two walks in 25 innings.The Phillies counter with Jerad Eickhoff, who has been steady all season long despite a general lack of run support (3.4 runs per game), going 10-14 with a 3.74 ERA in his first full major league season.Since the All-Star break, hes 4-4 with a 3.66 ERA, though hes coming off a bit of a rough outing, when he gave up a three-run seventh-inning home run as part of allowing six runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings of a 15-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday.Eickhoff could benefit from the continued surge of center fielder Odubel Herrera, who is 15-for-28 over his last seven games after a 3-for-4, three-RBI performance Tuesday.Herreras swinging the bat very well and thats really nice to see, manager Pete Mackanin said. We needed him to do that. He looks like hes getting more selective. Hes not taking those wild swings and its paying off. ' ' '