Hopkins says fight his last

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Calling it quits on his remarkable boxing career isn’t enough for Bernard Hopkins. He wants to go out with a flourish.

The gritty Philadelphia middleweight, who successfully defended his title 20 times during an 11-year reign as champion before two losses last year, is jumping up to light heavyweight Saturday for a fight he says will be his last.

His opponent in the 12-round IBO title fight is Antonio Tarver, a bruising 175-pounder who took two out of three fights against Roy Jones, Jr.

“I want to go out on my terms. I could’ve picked Manny, Moe or Jack for my going-away party. I picked Tarver,” Hopkins said Thursday. “This is the how Bernard Hopkins has always done it — his way.”