PHILADELPHIA — After being sentenced to prison as a teen, Bernard Hopkins feared he would never be set free.

Instead, he's getting ready for his 50th birthday with a bigger reputation in the boxing ring than the one he had growing up in the North Philadelphia projects.

It's a celebration of his two lives. His misspent youth and the man who has defied Father Time and reigned in multiple weight classes as one of the great fighters of a generation.

He says he's celebrating that he got there.

Hopkins (55-7-2 with 32 knockouts) knows the end of his career is near.

He wants to fight in his 50s but quality opponents have thinned and he might have to drop a weight class. There's nothing left to prove, though there hasn't been for.

He says he wants a meaningful fight.