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INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Joe Smith Jr. stopped Bernard Hopkins 53 seconds into the eighth round of their WBC international light heavyweight title fight Saturday night.Smith used a six-punch combination to send Hopkins through the ropes and on to the floor, effectively ending the 51-year-olds 28-year boxing career.Smith successfully defended his title when Hopkins was unable to return to the ring after 20 seconds. Hopkins hit his head on the way down and twisted his right ankle -- he cited the ankle as the reason he couldnt finish. A WBC official said the injuries incurred forced a TKO.I knew he was a true champion, and if he didnt get injured hed be back here, Smith said. I came here to do my job. This is my coming out party, too. I had to finish him. It was either my career was going to end and his was going to end, but I needed mine to continue.Hopkins was reluctant to accept the outcome, initially claiming that he was shoved out of the ring.I was throwing the right hand and a combination and then using the rope as an offensive as Im known for, and making a mess, Hopkins said. He got frustrated, and I might have gotten glazed with a left hook and next thing I know he was throwing me out of the ring.The reason I said Im upset they are giving Smith the TKO is because the momentum threw the ropes, he added. I didnt dive through the ropes.Hopkins (56-8-2) was looking to wrap his career with one last showing of defensive-minded boxing in front of an enthusiastic, star-studded crowd at the Forum. Instead, he finished in the same manor he started, with a loss.This is my last fight, I promised it would be and you come to that point in life where it is final and Im happy with my retirement, Hopkins said. I know the fans will know I went out as a soldier, fighting the toughest, baddest opponents. Im not saying I agree, Im not in denial -- Joe was a tough, heavy hitting fighter.Wearing his old Executioner shorts as a throwback to his earlier fighting days, Hopkins looked his age early as Smith (23-1, 19 KOs) was the aggressor to start. Hopkins regained some footing in the fifth and sixth rounds but Smith gained momentum and took it with him through the eighth, when he pummeled Hopkins in a corner and sent him through the ropes.I had seen him fall, and I kept hitting him until I saw him go out, and I landed that left hook until he went out, Smith said. I knew he had time to go out, but I hit him with four or five clean shots and they were good shots on the button.In his prime, Hopkins won a record 20 consecutive middleweight title fights. He became the oldest-ever champion when he defended his light-heavyweight belt at 49. However, Hopkins hadnt fought in more than two years, losing to Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 8, 2014, in his last bout.Oleksandr Usyk (11-0), a 2016 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist out of Ukraine, successfully defended his WBO cruiserweight title with a knockout of Thabiso Mchunu (17-3) with a knockout in the ninth round, his 10th.Local El Monte product Joseph Diaz (23-0), wearing Lakers colors in their former home, defended his NABF featherweight title, beating Horacio Garcia (30-2-1) of Mexico in the NABF featherweight title by unanimous decision.Drazen Petrovic Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. DeAndre Jordan Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. https://www.netsrookiesshop.com/Customized/ .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. David Nwaba Jersey .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Spencer Dinwiddie Jersey . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said.SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges was named the Southern Conference offensive player of the year in voting by league coaches and media.The league announced its end of season awards Tuesday.Hodges threw for 3,716 yards and 33 touchdowns. Hes also run for 207 yards and four scores as Samford went 7-4.SoCon coaches voted Chattanooga lineman Keionta Davis defensive player of the year while media gave Citadel defensive back Kailiik Williams the honor.ddddddddddddWestern Carolina quarterback Tyrie Adams was named freshman of the year in both votes. Citadels Brent Thompson also swept the coach of the year awards.Coaches voted Citadel offensive lineman Isaiah Pinson the Jacobs Blocking Award.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '