Boxer Bernard Hopkins Named New Ambassador of Barclays Center

Middleweight boxer Bernard Hopkins, who holds the mark for being the oldest human to win a world title, has been named “goodwill ambassador” of the boxing program at Barclays Center. 

The IBF champion, a Philadelphia native, was a former convict but after his release in 1988, Hopkins turned pro and has made good on his vow to never return to lockup. 

Now an executive with Golden Boy Promotions, Hopkins (53-6-2) will serve as a spokesperson at Barclays Center fight cards and appear at news conferences and boxing community clinics in the city. The fighter will also do meet-and-greets with Barclays Center customers and business development meetings. 

“I’m honored to represent Barclays Center,” Hopkins told NYFightblog after he finished presiding over Golden Boys’ Manhattan presser to announce an Aug. 19 card in NYC. “At this stage of my career, I have more time to do things such as this assignment than physically fight. I’m excited.” 

Barclays CEO Brett Yormark told NYFightblog that he believes Hopkins can be integral in continuing to build a base of boxing fans in Brooklyn and beyond. “We’ve introduced boxing to the community and wanted to take that a step further,” he said. “It’s an important to have Bernard as an ambassador, as a face for the program. I think he’s a wonderful spokesperson and I’m honored to have him with us.”