Bernard Hopkins’ goodbye bout at the Forum on Saturday deserves appreciation

Boxing’s final major card of the year arrives Saturday at the Forum, headlined by a 51-year-old man.

Bernard Hopkins, who accomplished both a record 20-title-fight reign as middleweight champion and broke George Foreman’s record as oldest-ever world champion, has said he’ll retire following his HBO-televised light-heavyweight bout against New York’s Joe Smith Jr.

The wonder of this occasion – whether it be the distractions of the holiday season or the fact that Philadelphia’s Hopkins chose the home of his Golden Boy Promotions company for his farewell – will probably be lost on many.

But Hopkins’ business partner and friend, Oscar De La Hoya, predicts time will be an ally in providing a lasting tribute to the retiring former champion.

“Hopkins, when all is said and done, will have more longevity as an ambassador, as a world-class athlete, than many in this sport, including [Floyd] Mayweather,” De La Hoya said.

“Twenty years from now, we’re going to talk about Hopkins as an amazing fighter and an inspirational figure for someone who wants to accomplish something … if you feel you want to do something and you feel age is not a barrier, that’s what Hopkins represents.

“Today, sometimes people might overlook him, but tomorrow, the world will acknowledge this legacy he has left behind.”

That sentiment of being overlooked was never more in play than in June, when I sat next to Hopkins at the Boxing Writers Assn. of America dinner in New York.

There to support Golden Boy’s fight-of-the-year winner Francisco Vargas, Hopkins was seated at a table where his chair backed just across from a neighboring table occupied by fighter-of-the-year winner Mayweather, who announced his retirement in September 2015.

During breaks in the ceremony, many diners would rush to Mayweather, asking for a picture or autograph, and in many cases, they would brush their backsides against Hopkins or bump into him, expressing little regret or interest in his notable stature.

Hopkins’ hurt facial response to the treatment will be difficult to forget.

But who could forget Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 knockouts)?

How he honored America in his 9/11-postponed bout in New York by defeating Felix Trinidad Jr.? How he knocked out De La Hoya with that famed 2004 liver punch? How he took apart the younger “lion” Kelly Pavlik, after promoter Bob Arum dared to compare Pavlik to Marvin Hagler?

How he successfully defended his light-heavyweight belt at the record age of 49 years, three months?

Hopkins even dared to fight Sergey Kovalev later in 2014, getting knocked down in the first round and knocked upside the head but remaining upright until the end of a unanimous-decision loss.

Even if Hopkins took pride in being surly through most of his career, explaining now that he looked for the tiniest amount of negativity for inspiration, his story is an inspiration.

When he left prison in his 20s, the warden told him he expected Hopkins back.

Instead, the fighter had vowed he’d never return and maintained a strict, clean-living, frugal lifestyle that he continues today. When someone presented him a cake in his honor a few years ago, he took only a nibble to be polite because he doesn’t want sugar in his system.

And now comes the end, the farewell bout serving as his final ring action against a 27-year-old union construction worker in Smith (22-1, 18 KOs), who disposed of his most recent foe with a first-round knockout and is the No. 2 World Boxing Council contender.

Hopkins said he chose the Forum as a way to honor his friend, De La Hoya, who made his pro debut in the arena.

“I’m honored to be a partner, to be part of a legacy he’s leaving behind, not only in boxing, but in the fact he can transcend the sport because of what he’s been able to accomplish by fighting at 51 years old,” De La Hoya said.

“I strongly believe he’s going to be an ambassador for men – young and old – about how if you keep in shape and take care of yourself, you can do whatever you want.”