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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 4246

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 796 Session of 2006


        INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, BEBKO-JONES, BEYER, BISHOP, BLACKWELL,
           CALTAGIRONE, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CRUZ, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS,
           FORCIER, GEIST, GEORGE, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHART, HERMAN,
           HERSHEY, JAMES, LEDERER, McGILL, MILLARD, NAILOR, PALLONE,
           PETRARCA, ROEBUCK, SABATINA, SAINATO, SANTONI, WALKO,
           WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, SURRA, RAMALEY, O'NEILL,
           PHILLIPS, DeWEESE, TURZAI, FAIRCHILD, READSHAW AND B. SMITH,
           JUNE 19, 2006

        INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
           JUNE 19, 2006

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Congratulating Bernard Hopkins on winning the International
     2     Boxing Organization world light heavyweight title and
     3     recognizing his success as a professional boxer.

     4     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins was born on January 15, 1965, in
     5  North Philadelphia; and
     6     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins did not allow his early life's
     7  adversity, which included serving 56 months, beginning at the
     8  age of 17, in Graterford State Penitentiary, to deter him from a
     9  successful future; and
    10     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins learned how to box while in prison,
    11  hoping to turn his life around; and
    12     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins began his career as a professional
    13  boxer in 1988, losing his first professional boxing match; and
    14     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins won his first professional boxing
    15  match on February 22, 1990; and

     1     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins posted an additional 19 consecutive
     2  victories before winning the United States Boxing Association
     3  middleweight title on December 4, 1992; and
     4     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins won his first world middleweight
     5  title on April 25, 1995, by defeating Segundo Mercado; and
     6     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins has been a public spokesman for
     7  boxers' rights and the fair and professional treatment of
     8  boxers, testifying before Congress in support of the Muhammad
     9  Ali Boxing Reform Act; and
    10     WHEREAS, Boxing experts attribute Bernard Hopkins' continued
    11  success at the age of 41 to a Spartan work ethic and philosophy
    12  of clean living; and
    13     WHEREAS, Inspired by his idol Sugar Ray Robinson, who in 1955
    14  moved from the middleweight division to challenge for the world
    15  light heavyweight title, Bernard Hopkins challenged Antonio
    16  Tarver for the International Boxing Organization world light
    17  heavyweight title; and
    18     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins won the world light heavyweight
    19  title by unanimous decision on June 10, 2006; and
    20     WHEREAS, Bernard Hopkins has announced his retirement from
    21  professional boxing, with a 47-4-1 career record; therefore be
    22  it
    23     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
    24  hard work, dedication and perseverance of Bernard Hopkins in
    25  winning the International Boxing Association world light
    26  heavyweight title on June 10, 2006; and be it further
    27     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend Bernard
    28  Hopkins for a successful professional career, for his out-of-
    29  the-ring advocacy for fighters' rights and, above all, for
    30  transcending mistakes and adversity early in his life to achieve
    20060H0796R4246                  - 2 -     

     1  great success and realize his dreams.




















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