I'm sorry but i just looked this guy up and he made everything but a late start. In fact, his last fight, in which he lost his WBA title in his 14th defense, came at age 25!!
There are two different stories on that, one with four and one with thirteen amateur fights. Since the movie scipt was reviewed by the Marciaono family and it mentions four fights, I take that to be more believable.
it's very difficult to make it in boxing if one starts late because its such a skill that needs to be ingrained at a very young age (most started boxing at 10 years old or younger) i can't think of anyone who didn't have any boxing education or practice then came into it beyond their 20s and made it guys like nate, hopkins, casamayor all boxed when they were very young but then had a gap before returning to it (prison in the case of nate and bernard)
Hmm see I used to think he started in prison and had zero amateur background then I remember hearing somewhere he was in golden gloves prior to being arrested. But I just looked at wiki and they say he found his love for boxing in prison and went pro immediately after getting out. Says he was in prison from 17 to 23. Anyone else know the background of hopkins?