Legends of Boxing: Bernard Hopkins
Ageless B-Hop battled back from life's adversities to adapt and rule
Name: Bernard Hopkins
Nickname: The Executioner/The Alien
Date of First Fight: 11th October 1988
Date of Retirement: 17th December 2016
Titles: World champion at middleweight and light-heavyweight
Biography:
Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr was born on 15th January 1965, in Philadelphia. Hopkins is noted as a success story in both boxing and life. Growing up on the streets of Philadelphia, Hopkins soon fell into a life of crime and received a long prison sentence at 17 years old. Determined to avoid returning to prison,n Hopkins dedicated himself to boxing.
He had enrolled in the prison’s boxing rehabilitation programme so was already familiar with the sport when he got released. Losing his first professional bout in 1988 did not deter Bernard, who went on to box Roy Jones for the world title unsuccessfully. Still believing in his abilities, Hopkins drew with Segundo Mercado in Ecuador for the IBF title before winning the rematch by KO.
Hopkins defeated good fighters like Glen Johnson and Robert Allen by knockout as part of a run of defences. He was a strong underdog in 2001 when he defied the odds once again and knocked out unbeaten puncher Felix Trinidad to unify the middleweight titles.
A 2004 Oscar De La Hoya knockout earned the WBO belt and undisputed status at the weight. After losing twice to Jermain Taylor, Bernard moved up to defeat Antonio Tarver at light-heavyweight.
Every time the ageing maestro seemed ready to retire, he would defeat a younger, fresher fighter. Jean Pascal and unbeaten duo Kelly Pavlik and Tavoris Cloud all came unstuck against ‘B-Hop’, who was still boxing heavy punchers like Sergey Kovalev right up until the end.
This all came from a man who promised his late mother, Shirley Hopkins, that he would retire when he reached 41 years old. Veteran trainer Bouie Fisher and Naazim Richardson were in the corner for many of his biggest nights.
Hopkins is recognised as a modern-day great. He made multiple defences of his IBF middleweight title and unified the division. Hopkins boxed for 28 years across 67 bouts. He gathered Ring Magazine, lineal and undisputed honours along the way. He was only stopped once, in his final fight, when Joe Smith Jr knocked him out of the ring.
Hopkins’ style changed gradually. Early in his career, he would take more chances. He used a more defensive, counter-punching style as he got older and wiser. Bernard liked to slow the pace of fights right down so he could land single shots, especially with the right hand, and win rounds. Hopkins was never afraid to get dirty and used any method available, gradually becoming a seasoned master of his craft.
Despite having a tough early life, Hopkins turned himself around and was a model professional in the final stages of his career. When he left prison, a warden remarked that he would see him again soon. Hopkins replied that he would never be back in prison, and he never was.
Hopkins later joined up with former victim Oscar De La Hoya, working for Golden Boy Promotions. Bernard also gives motivational speeches and has been featured as an analyst on fight broadcasts.
Image Credits: Stacey Verbeek (℅ Eastside Boxing), New York Times.
About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
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