PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Growing up in the North Philadelphia projects, Bernard Hopkins smoked marijuana and was arrested for assault and robbery more times than he can remember. He was so feared that – long before he forged a reputation inside the ring as The Executioner – he was better known on the streets as Heads.
“Everybody who hit me broke their hand,” Hopkins said. “You don’t have gloves on in the street, buddy. You hit this rock and the fight’s over. Most people hit this rock and guess what they did with the other hand? They dug into their pocket and gave me the money.”
Hopkins was sentenced to Graterford Penitentiary as a teen, and feared he would never be set free. He could have been forgotten; a meaningless life set to rot behind bars.
Instead, look at the man on the poster.
Hopkins is stone-faced, hands on his hips, looking ready for another fight. But instead, it’s time to party: “Join us for a celebration!”