BERNARD HOPKINS
PROFILE AND BIO

— As at October 2008 —

Bernard Hopkins is a master craftsman of the sweet science.  For years, watching the future hall of fame middleweight and light heavyweight champion in the ring has been like watching a master painter at work.  Using broad strokes and subtle nuances, Hopkins painted opponents with his fists – a jab here, a hook there, a dash across the ring, and a right cross for emphasis.  It’s a method that has established “The Executioner” as one of the best all around fighters of his era and a dominate regular on boxing’s pound for pound list for more than a decade. 

Never one to back down from young and upcoming talent, Hopkins has faced the very best that his divisions had to offer.  After defending his middleweight title for over a decade, Hopkins captured the light heavyweight title from Antonio Tarver on June 10, 2006, scored a dominate and triumphant victory over Winky Wright at a catch weight of 170 pounds on July 21, 2007 and narrowly lost to Welshman Joe Calzaghe last April in a fight many ringside reporters had him winning.

In a thorough and dominating performance in his most recent outing in October 2008, Hopkins won a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Kelly Pavlik, Experience, skill and speed were displayed by the ageless 'B-Hop' and Pavlik (34-1) just didn't have any answer and he lost 11 of the 12 rounds.

The real story of Bernard Hopkins begins 43 years ago on the tough streets of Northern Philadelphia, where a young man did what he felt he needed to do survive in the face of daily life.  Unfortunately, the decisions the young Hopkins made led him to Graterford State Penitentiary at the age of 17.  Determined to not let this setback define him, Hopkins boxed while in prison, hoping to get his chance to turn his life around.  That chance came in 1988, when Hopkins, 23, was released after 56 months.

He turned pro later that year, but lost a four round decision to Clinton Mitchell on October 11, 1988.  Discouraged, Hopkins went back to his day job working at a local hotel, and didn’t fight again until February 22, 1990 when he scored his first professional win with a decision over Greg Paige. 

From 1990 to 1992, Bernard Hopkins put his heart and soul into boxing and the results were visible every time he stepped into the ring, as he scored 19 consecutive victories over that period.  With the boxing world starting to take notice of this hard-nosed warrior from Philly, Hopkins got his chance at a big fight when he signed to fight veteran Wayne Powell for the USBA middleweight title on December 4, 1992.  Powell didn’t stay around long, getting knocked out in a mere 21 seconds.  Hopkins would defend his USBA title once with a decision win over Gilbert Baptist.

Five years removed from Graterford, on May 22, 1993 Hopkins’ boxing dream came true when a world title shot presented itself in the form of a fight with Roy Jones Jr. for the vacant IBF middleweight crown.  After 12 hard fought rounds, Jones won a unanimous decision over Hopkins, who suffered only the second loss of his career.  He wouldn’t lose again for over 12 years.  “I made a vow to myself which I’ve held up for 11 years now, that I’ll never lose on my feet again,” Hopkins told a reporter in 2004.  “I train that way, I think that way, and it’s been 11 years.  Some people don’t think that’s important.  I think it’s very important to make a statement and to work hard to live by it.”

Disappointed but not discouraged, Hopkins immediately went back into the gym and four months after losing to Jones, he defended his USBA crown with a TKO win over then-unbeaten Roy Ritchie.  Two more defenses followed and on December 17, 1994, Hopkins got a second shot at a world title against Segundo Mercado.  Fighting in oppressive conditions in Mercado’s native Ecuador, Hopkins was knocked down twice by the Ecuadorian, but still was able to fight his way to a draw.

In a rematch five months later on April 29, 1995, there would be no questions as Hopkins dispatched of Mercado in seven rounds.  Finally, the dream had come true and Bernard Hopkins was a world champion.  But for him, the real work was just beginning – not only in the ring, but also outside of it. 

Becoming an outspoken advocate for fighters’ rights, Hopkins took every opportunity to try to right the wrongs committed against boxers, or at least make people aware of them.  Making many enemies along the way within the boxing industry, he even testified before Congress in support of the Muhammad Ali Act.  As long as Hopkins kept winning, no one could stop him from achieving his goals or speaking his mind on a world stage.

So he kept winning, and through the late-90’s and early 2000’s, quality contender after quality contender fell at the hands of “The Executioner”.  The list of victims comprises a who’s who of middleweight boxing in this era – John David Jackson, Glencoffe Johnson, Simon Brown, Andrew Council, Robert Allen, Antwun Echols and Syd Vanderpool.

It wasn’t until 2001 though, that the mainstream sports fan started to really take notice of Bernard Hopkins.  It was during that year that Hopkins threw his hat in the ring to compete in a four-man tournament to determine an undisputed middleweight champion of the world.  Hopkins easily decisioned Keith Holmes in his opening matchup on April 14, 2001 leading to a fight against seeming unbeatable Puerto Rican star Felix Trinidad (who defeated William Joppy in his opening matchup) on September 29 of that year.

What many expected to be a coronation for Trinidad that night in Madison Square Garden instead turned into the ‘execution’ of an icon as Hopkins systematically broke down Trinidad before stopping him in the 12th and final round.  It was the defining moment of Hopkins’ career to that point and one no boxing fan would ever forget.

There were greater mountains to climb though, and after four more defenses of his crown, the super-fight to end all super-fights was announced, with Hopkins to face De La Hoya for all the middleweight marbles on September 18, 2004.  It was a record-setting event and the talk of the entire sports world and in the end, Hopkins proved to be too much for the courageous “Golden Boy” as he stopped him in the ninth round of their epic bout.

Strangely enough, a few months after their battle, Hopkins and De La Hoya would meet again - this time as businessmen - and the two superstars would ink a historic agreement that would make Hopkins a partner in Golden Boy Promotions and place him at the helm of Golden Boy Promotions East, a branch of Golden Boy Promotions that specializes in the recruitment and education of East Coast fighters, while also promoting events in the eastern part of the United States. 

Yet while Hopkins was admirably preparing for life after boxing, there was still work to be done inside the ring, and like a fine wine, the then 40-year-old was still one of the best boxers in the game, something he owes to his Spartan work ethic and clean living philosophy.  To prove his point, Hopkins decisively decisioned hard-hitting British contender Howard Eastman before a packed house at Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center on February 19, 2005 to successfully defend his title for the 20th time.

Hopkins’ historic and unprecedented reign as middleweight champion came to a controversial end on July 16, 2005, when he was upset via a 12 round split decision against unbeaten former U.S. Olympic Bronze Medalist Jermain Taylor in Las Vegas.  With fans and much of the media believing he won the fight, ‘The Executioner’ became even more popular in defeat. 

To a great champion, a loss never sits easy, and on December 3 of the same year, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Hopkins looked to gain his revenge, only to drop another disputed decision to Taylor.

Never one to give up or be discouraged Hopkins turned his attention to a new height and told the boxing world that he was ready to emulate his boxing hero Sugar Ray Robinson and move up two weight classes to challenge then champion Antonio Tarver for the light heavyweight crown.  Although Robinson was unable to accomplish this feat, Hopkins was not deterred and the fight was set for June 10, 2006 in Atlantic City, N. J.

On fight night Hopkins looked comfortable at the new weight and immediately established a clear advantage with movement and ring generalship.  Working his game plan and methodically picking apart Tarver, it was clear by the sixth round of the fight that Hopkins would deliver another devastating performance.  After one knockdown, a supreme domination and unanimous decision win, Hopkins again was the victor in the ring and put another exclamation point on his illustrious career.  After the bout, Hopkins announced his retirement from the game.

While Hopkins enjoyed working as a promoter and spending time with his family, he could not resist the lure of the sweet science inside the ring and was back at it on July 21, 2007 in Las Vegas, when he went up against another “best of this era” candidate in Winky Wright.  They fought for the 175-pound Ring Magazine belt that Hopkins claimed in his win over Tarver and once again, Hopkins delivered a dominate performance, notching win 48 of his illustrious career.

Next up was Joe Calzaghe, the brash Welshman who was undefeated as a super middleweight and agreed to challenge Hopkins for his Ring Magazine light heavyweight title.  Following a first round knockdown of Calzaghe, Hopkins used his ring savvy and defensive tactics to frustrate the Welshman early.  Adjusting to styles throughout the fight, both pugilists fought gamely with Hopkins getting the best of the counter punching and aggressiveness.  Although many ringside observers felt Hopkins secured the victory, the judges award the win to his opponent. 

— Content In Part Courtesy: Top Rank/Golden Boy Promotions —