I was called "Rembrandt" Hope in my boxing days, because I spent so much time on the canvas.

Hope uses a self-deprecating boxing joke built on a pun: “canvas” is both the surface a painter works on and the boxing ring’s mat. By claiming he was nicknamed “Rembrandt” because he spent so much time on the canvas, he implies he was frequently knocked down—hardly a champion—while simultaneously invoking a great painter to elevate the gag. The line exemplifies Hope’s persona: quick wordplay, mock-bravado undercut by humility, and a preference for humor that turns personal inadequacy into a punchline. It also reflects vaudeville-era comedic technique, where nicknames and occupational metaphors are used to compress a story into a single quip.