Donovan McNabb and Bernard Hopkins: One Is Classy, the Other a Loudmouth Punk

Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb requested that his agent release a statement Thursday to rebut the race-fueled insults legendary prizefighter Bernard Hopkins made about him earlier this week.

Hopkins (51-5-2-1, 32 KOs) was in Philadelphia training for his May 21 rematch with The Ring, WBC and IBO light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal when he nonsensically implied McNabb wasn’t black enough to be a champion.

"Forget this," Hopkins said, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, and pointed to his own skin. "He's got a suntan. That's all."

If Hopkins’ words weren’t pathetic enough, he then pledged support to the excruciating hemorrhoid that is Terrell Owens in his feud with McNabb.

"T.O. got (into) the boardroom and saw the way they talked to McNabb. Coming from where he (comes from)—that's strange to some white people, when a black man speaks." said Hopkins, 46, an ex-convict who is destined for future induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Hopkins said Owens "(wasn't) used to this language. (He's) used to speaking up.'"

Agent Fletcher Smith deemed Hopkins’ comments “dangerous and irresponsible” in a letter sent to The Associated Press.

"It perpetuates a maliciously inaccurate stereotype that insinuates those African-Americans who have access to a wider variety of resources are somehow culturally different than their brethren," Smith said.

Hopkins grew up in a gritty section of North Philadelphia, "The City of Brotherly Love.”

By the tender age of 17, Hopkins was sentenced to 18 years in Graterford Prison for committing nine felonies.

Conversely, McNabb was raised by hard-working parents in a modest suburb outside of Chicago, Illinois. 

“Hopkins grew up in the ghetto and was a criminal,” said Brad Sherwood, 30, a resident of South Boston who works as a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym in Medford, Mass. “That means he’s blacker than McNabb?”

“B-Hop” is notorious for his inane and cockeyed rants.

Hopkins, a pugilistic marvel who once successfully defended his middleweight title a record 20 times, is a loudmouth and he has no right to judge anybody.

He is essentially a tremendous boxer who remains a deeply flawed individual.

“Big” George Foreman was 45 when he monumentally knocked Michael Moorer onto Queer Street in the 10th round to capture the WBA and IBF heavyweight crowns to become the oldest world titlist in boxing history.

Hopkins turned 46 on January 15 and he will attempt to overcome historic odds and trump Foreman’s record next weekend.

“Hopkins is not in it for the money,” said Mike Cappiello, a native of Brockton, Mass, who once fought for the IBO super featherweight title and retired with an impressive mark of 33-6. “He loves to fight.”

There is no question Hopkins “loves to fight” and he is an elite ring talent.

Nevertheless, black, white or “with a suntan,” the classy Donovan McNabb is a far better person than Bernard Hopkins.