Amidst the tension and high stakes, fans finally got a lighthearted moment to enjoy. Among those present at ‘The Last Crescendo’ to cheer on their fighters were boxing legends Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena. However, in the excitement of the event, ‘B-Hop’ appeared to forget the name of one of Golden Boy Promotions’ rising stars – Vergil Ortiz Jr.

The Grand Rapids-born light middleweight secured arguably the biggest win of his career, defeating heavy favorite Israil Madrimov. Madrimov, who recently went the distance against Terence Crawford, was outclassed as Ortiz claimed a unanimous decision victory. But while Ortiz earned well-deserved praise for his performance, fans couldn’t overlook how his legendary promoter mistakenly mixed up his name with a former Golden Boy fighter.

Did Bernard Hopkins Just Confuse His Own Fighter’s Name?

Bernard Hopkins was speaking with DAZN Boxing’s reporter Emily Austin. She asked, “A mad card, if there’s one you want the fans to keep an eye on, which one is that?” “I will say ah, Victor Ortiz,” responded Hopkins. “That’s going to be the fight that might steal the show,” he added further.

When Austin pressed for a possible outcome, the former world champion replied, “Victor by knockout.” According to him, despite entering the fight as an underdog (Victor) Vergil Ortiz would prevail and secure a victory.

To clarify, Victor Ortiz – a former welterweight champion best known for his controversial 2011 knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. – was once part of Golden Boy Promotions. However, he and Vergil Ortiz Jr. are two entirely different fighters from two different eras.

Naturally, fans had a field day with Hopkins’ slip-up. Let’s check what some of them had to say.

Social Media Erupts Over Hopkins’ Funny Mistake

This fan couldn’t control their laughter. “😂😂😂 I thought I was tripping. How did you forget your own fighter name? 🤦🏾‍♂️,” they said. Perhaps the mix-up might have stemmed from the shared last name between Vergil Jr. and Victor Ortiz. Another fan echoed similar sentiments with one noting, “Bernard Hopkins doesn’t even know his own fighters name😭😂 dude said “Victor Ortiz” get the name right it’s Vergil!.”

NBA star Damian Lillard also chimed in, “Not B Hop calling Virgil Ortiz “Victor” Ortiz twice lol.” Interestingly, several fans pointed out that others, including Shawn Porter and some commentators, had also mistakenly swapped their names before.

Another user called out Hopkins: “Haha…I noticed that too. Come on, Bernard!!!!” With many emphasizing the importance of getting names right, Hopkins’ blunder stood out – and social media had a field day with it.

But given Bernard Hopkins’ stature in the boxing world, a few voices of sympathy did emerge. This fan said, “Cut him some slack; a lot of wars.” And they might have had a point. Considering Hopkins’ storied career and immense contributions to the sport, an occasional slip-up could be overlooked. But the teasing didn’t stop there. Another fan sarcastically remarked, “Doesn’t even know his own fighter name. 🤦🏾‍♂️.”

Given the scale of the event and the packed schedule, it’s understandable that even an industry veteran like Hopkins might overlook a detail or two – unfortunately, this time, it happened to be a name.

Regardless, Vergil Ortiz Jr. had the last laugh. He battled through adversity to claim victory, retaining his WBC interim light middleweight title. More importantly, the win could open the door to major fights in the near future.

Who do you think should be Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s next opponent?