Bernard Hopkins continues to provide catchy sound bites as his career winds down. During a recent interview with rolling out sports, the boxing champion had a few choice words for Floyd Mayweather and the sport of Ultimate Fighting. –amir shaw 

Floyd Mayweather is considered the top pound-for-pound boxer at this time. What are your thoughts on Mayweather?

He is a great fighter and will be remembered as one of the greats. But apart from boxing, he sends a bad message. The message he gives is that you can disrespect money. He is a stereotype of what corporate America thinks about black athletes. In 20 or 30 years, lets see who has wealth and who is rich. There is a big difference. A person has a right to spend money the way they want, but you must pay your taxes and take care of your business. Because once you put yourself out there as an extreme baller, they will find out if a light bill hasn’t been paid.

Do you think he is putting himself in a bad position by flaunting his wealth?

Let me say this. I will never have "MTV Cribs" at my house. Bill Gates is worth billions, but I have never [seen] his house. I have never [seen] his car. I see a man with an average sweater and a pair of Dockers on. People who have less want to show more, and people who have more don’t show it all. I think of my friend Mike Tyson and I think of the Vercace years and when he bought lions and tigers. He had a great kingdom. When years become decades, things change. You look at $300 million and now you have to pimp your name to be noticed. It can happen to anybody. I’m not 25 or 30 so I think differently now. One thousand dollars is important to me. I have a 10-year-old daughter and I want her to live off of what I establish now. It makes people angry at you when you come across as a cocky and arrogant. When I see people in the streets of Philly walking around trying to get [food] to eat, why would I burn money and let it rain when I can give out food or build a shelter? Not saying he’s not doing that, I just know what I need and I know what I’m comfortable with. I respect money. To give it away — I just can’t understand how [that] happens. I went through so much to get here that it makes me respect the dollar. 

You were recently criticized for your comments about Ultimate Fighting. Why are you against Ultimate Fighting?

I’m not into two guys wrestling on the ground. I’m from North Philly, that’s nothing because we see that everyday. What’s ultimate about it? I’m not excited by watching two men sweating and rolling on the ground. I’m seeing that anything goes, so where is the technique? Most of these guys couldn’t make it in boxing. They’re too wild, they are juiced up on weights and most don’t have chins. They are not geared to take punches. They’re out after one punch. These guys are just throwing punches. We live in a society where we teach peace, but we enjoy violence. Wrestling is a fraud, but it’s been big for over 50 years. Boxing will never be taken over by Ultimate Fighting. It is another sport where people can see an average guy beat up another average guy.