Bio

For years, fight fans watching the great middleweight champion and future hall of fame fighter Bernard Hopkins in the ring was 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 not only the premier middleweight of this era, but also allowed him to capture the light heavyweight title over Antonio Tarver on June 10, 2006 and in his last fight, score a dominant and triumphant victory over Winky Wright, at a catch weight of 170 pounds, on July 21, 2007. 

But the real story of Bernard Hopkins began 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 his work and the results were visible when 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 by Hopkins in a mere 21 seconds. Hopkins would defend his USBA title once, with a decision win over Gilbert Baptist, and then a world title shot presented itself on May 22, 1993, when Hopkins squared off against Roy Jones Jr. for the vacant IBF middleweight crown.

After 12 hard fought rounds, Jones won a unanimous decision over Hopkins, who suffered the second loss of his career.  He didn’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 but still was able to gain a draw.

In a rematch five months later, on April 29, 1995, there would be no questions about the outcome 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.  He even testified before Congress in support of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, making many enemies within the boxing industry.  But 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 this year that Hopkins threw his hat in the ring to compete in a four-man tournament to determine an undisputed middleweight world champion.  Hopkins easily decisioned Keith Holmes in his opening matchup on April 14, 2001, and to set up a showdown Puerto Rican star Felix Trinidad (who defeated William Joppy) on September 29 of that year.

What many expected to be a coronation of Trinidad that night in Madison Square Garden instead became the ‘execution’ of a seemingly unstoppable 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 however, and after four more defenses of his crown, the superfight to end all superfights was announced, with Hopkins to face Oscar 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.

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 place Hopkins at the helm of Golden Boy Promotions East, a branch of Golden Boy Promotions that specializes in the recruitment, development and promotion of East Coast fighters, while also promoting events in the eastern part of the United States. 

While Hopkins is admirably preparing for life after boxing, there is still work to be done inside the ring, and like a fine wine, the then 41-year-old was still one of the best boxers in the game, something he owed (and still owes) to his Spartan work ethic and clean living philosophy.  To prove this 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’ reign came to a controversial end on July 16, 2005, when he was upset via a 12 round split decision against unbeaten former U.S. Olympian Jermain Taylor in Las Vegas, but with the fans and much of the media still believing he won the fight, ‘The Executioner’ became even more popular in defeat. 

But 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 boxer 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 such a feat, Hopkins was not deterred and the fight was set for June 10 in Atlantic City, N. J.

On fight night, Hopkins looked comfortable at the new weight and immediately established a clear advantage in movement and ring generalship.  Working his game plan and methodically picking apart the bigger Tarver, it was clear by the sixth round of the fight that Hopkins would deliver another masterful 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. 

Not one to rest on his laurels, Hopkins was back at it on July 21, 2007 in Las Vegas, when he went up against another “best of the era” candidate in Winky Wright.  They fought for Hopkins’ Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship and once again, he delivered a dominate performance in defense of his crown, notching win 48 of his illustrious career.    

It’s now up to Hopkins to make history again when he faces Joe Calzaghe on April 19 and looks to continue his trend of dominating world class opponents while he continues to live by his own creed—he is a fighter who always did things his way and never took the easy road.  It’s the only way for him to continue a storied career.