Actually, it was a technical knockout. He got up with more than enough time to climb back in the ring, even after falling on his head. He seemed coherent, he was probably just embarrassed, so he pulled the bad ankle back out from the first Robert Allen fight.
They called it a tko buying his excuse that he hurt his ankle. When they announced Smith the winner, the ring announcer noted Smith the winner due to Hopkins being unable to continue due to injury. We all know from the replay Hopkins didn't hurt his ankle, so if we are all real about the whole scenario, Hopkins got punched out of the ring and couild'nt make it back into the ring within the allowed 20 seconds. That's as good as being given a 10 count in the ring which means Smith should have been awarded a knockout victory.
Or, an out of ring injury, like him landing on his head, may have had him not thinking clearly for a few moments. Either way, Smith one fair and square. Hopkins was up with more than enough time to climb back in the ring. Only he knows whether he was bullshitting, angling for a no contest so he could have a rematch, or what.
I'm not gonna lie even if I'm a little ashamed to admit I kinda hoped his motive would work too, at least in the moment
I'm not going to judge his career on this fight. Amazing boxer, and a legend. Adios B-Hop, and thanks for the memories...
Why not? He's been a lying, spoiling, cheating mutt his whole career, and this fight encapsulated all of that so it's the perfect one by which to judge his career.
He should never have taken a fight with a puncher at his age. He didn't win a round either on my card.
Hopkins interview with Kellerman was one of the most delusional laughable cringeworthy things I have ever seen. He was knocked out. There was no push or elbow. Also, there was no ankle injury. He essentially quit. Just like he did against Dawson. Disgraceful.