elgigante
03-09-2005, 08:55 PM
http://boxingaction.com/gallery/galleries/cat_bernardhopkins/hopkins022.jpg
NAME: Bernard Hopkins(The Executioner)
Weight Class: Middleweight
Record:46-2-1 (32 ko's)
Notable Wins:Simon Brown, William Joppy, Felix Trinidad,Oscar De La Hoya
When one thinks of the great middleweights of the past 20 years or so in Boxing, They think of names such as Duran, Hearns and Leonard. But now one more name can be added to the list of all time Great Middleweights and that is Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins has fouhgt his way through years of adversity, including a stint in prison, to be recognized as one of the premier fighters in the game today. With an adaptable style, Hopkins has been able to Ko Knockout Artists, outbox supposedly slick Boxers and do whatever it takes in order to win. Hopkins pro career started on a down note as he lost his first professional fight in 1988. He would then manage to rack off 23 straight wins before he entered his first title challenge at Middleweight in 1993 against one Roy Jones Junior.
Hopkins unfortuanetly ran into Roy Jones just as he was starting to hit his prime in the middleweight division. Hopkins gave a game effort against Jones that evening but he just did not have the handspeed nor the savy at that time to keep up with Jones and lost a unanimous decision.(I was lucky enough to be at that fight ) This would be the last loss that Hopkins has suffered in his career to date.
Many believe that the loss to Jones was a catalyst of sorts for Hopkins. Bernard thought he was destined for the glory that Jones was recieving and he started back at square one fighting the way up the ranks in order to earn another title shot. Hopkins won his next four fights and recieved a shot at the IBF middleweight belt in December of 1994 against a Ecuadorian fighter named Segundo Mercado. Two factors against Hopkins at the time were that Don King was Mercado's promoter and the fight was in Quito Ecuador. Despite punishing Mercado repeatedly throughout the fight with right hands and throughly outworking him, The fight was ruled a draw in a questionable judging call. Hopkins got his revenge though in early 1995 though as he gave Mercado a beating in the rematch, knocking him out in the 7th round and beginning what would turn out to be a record setting title run.
Over the next six years Hopkins would take on all comers , picking up the WBC middleweight title belt along the way with a win over then Champ Keith Holmes. Hopkins made a record setting 13 defenses in a row before he came into a fight in which everyone thought for sure that he would lose. The opponenet was one Felix "Tito" Trinidad, the undefeated sensation from Puerto Rico who had beaten the previously undefeated "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya boxing's mainstream star. The fight with Hopkins was actually thought of as sort of a stepping stone for Trinidad as most boxing experts belived he would win and then go onto a big money match against Roy Jones Junior. Hopkins would shatter that scenario as he put on a boxing clinic against Trinidad. Hopkins punished Trinidad with body work and was too quick for Felix's attempt at counters. In the 12th round Hopkins put Trindiad on the canvas and it was like a shark smelling blood . Hopkins raced over to finish Felix and landed several more heavy shots after the knockdown at which the point the fight was stopped and Bernard Hopkins was now a name to be reckoned with in Boxing's pound for pound circle.
Unfortunatly for fight fans. Hopkins has made some career missteps in the last couple of years and it is mainly due to greed. He was offered fights against James Toney and Roy Jones Junior but did not accept them due to the money terms not being to his liking. Hopkins has fought three times since the Trinidad win. Two nondescript title defenses and He picked the final piece of the middleweight triple crown as He battered William Joppy over 12 rounds to win the WBA middleweight crown in December of last year. Hopkins beat up Joppy so bad that he decided to retire after that fight. Hopkins then defeated mandatory challenger Robert Allen via a unanimous decision before a showdown with probably the best known active name in boxing, Oscar De La Hoya.
De La hoya believed he was going to be able to use his speed advantage to outbox the crafty veteran Hopkins. What Oscar failed to realize is that Hopkins is one of the most adaptable fighters in the game today. Hopkins never let De La Hoya get outside enough to really outbox him and in the 9th round dropped Oscar with a hook to the liver area that left De La Hoya wincing in pain for several minutes and the proud recipient of a KO loss. Bernards place at the top of the Pound 4 pound list had been established before this bout but it was cemented after the total destruction of the Golden Boy.
Hopkins is nearing the end of his career now as he is retiring at age 41 due to a promise made to his mother he wouldnt fight past that age. He already has outclassed Britain's Howard Eastman this year, winning a easy 12 round decision and putting on a defensive showcase in the process. He might only have two more bouts left in him so enjoy the man who executes the sweet science oh so well.
NAME: Bernard Hopkins(The Executioner)
Weight Class: Middleweight
Record:46-2-1 (32 ko's)
Notable Wins:Simon Brown, William Joppy, Felix Trinidad,Oscar De La Hoya
When one thinks of the great middleweights of the past 20 years or so in Boxing, They think of names such as Duran, Hearns and Leonard. But now one more name can be added to the list of all time Great Middleweights and that is Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins has fouhgt his way through years of adversity, including a stint in prison, to be recognized as one of the premier fighters in the game today. With an adaptable style, Hopkins has been able to Ko Knockout Artists, outbox supposedly slick Boxers and do whatever it takes in order to win. Hopkins pro career started on a down note as he lost his first professional fight in 1988. He would then manage to rack off 23 straight wins before he entered his first title challenge at Middleweight in 1993 against one Roy Jones Junior.
Hopkins unfortuanetly ran into Roy Jones just as he was starting to hit his prime in the middleweight division. Hopkins gave a game effort against Jones that evening but he just did not have the handspeed nor the savy at that time to keep up with Jones and lost a unanimous decision.(I was lucky enough to be at that fight ) This would be the last loss that Hopkins has suffered in his career to date.
Many believe that the loss to Jones was a catalyst of sorts for Hopkins. Bernard thought he was destined for the glory that Jones was recieving and he started back at square one fighting the way up the ranks in order to earn another title shot. Hopkins won his next four fights and recieved a shot at the IBF middleweight belt in December of 1994 against a Ecuadorian fighter named Segundo Mercado. Two factors against Hopkins at the time were that Don King was Mercado's promoter and the fight was in Quito Ecuador. Despite punishing Mercado repeatedly throughout the fight with right hands and throughly outworking him, The fight was ruled a draw in a questionable judging call. Hopkins got his revenge though in early 1995 though as he gave Mercado a beating in the rematch, knocking him out in the 7th round and beginning what would turn out to be a record setting title run.
Over the next six years Hopkins would take on all comers , picking up the WBC middleweight title belt along the way with a win over then Champ Keith Holmes. Hopkins made a record setting 13 defenses in a row before he came into a fight in which everyone thought for sure that he would lose. The opponenet was one Felix "Tito" Trinidad, the undefeated sensation from Puerto Rico who had beaten the previously undefeated "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya boxing's mainstream star. The fight with Hopkins was actually thought of as sort of a stepping stone for Trinidad as most boxing experts belived he would win and then go onto a big money match against Roy Jones Junior. Hopkins would shatter that scenario as he put on a boxing clinic against Trinidad. Hopkins punished Trinidad with body work and was too quick for Felix's attempt at counters. In the 12th round Hopkins put Trindiad on the canvas and it was like a shark smelling blood . Hopkins raced over to finish Felix and landed several more heavy shots after the knockdown at which the point the fight was stopped and Bernard Hopkins was now a name to be reckoned with in Boxing's pound for pound circle.
Unfortunatly for fight fans. Hopkins has made some career missteps in the last couple of years and it is mainly due to greed. He was offered fights against James Toney and Roy Jones Junior but did not accept them due to the money terms not being to his liking. Hopkins has fought three times since the Trinidad win. Two nondescript title defenses and He picked the final piece of the middleweight triple crown as He battered William Joppy over 12 rounds to win the WBA middleweight crown in December of last year. Hopkins beat up Joppy so bad that he decided to retire after that fight. Hopkins then defeated mandatory challenger Robert Allen via a unanimous decision before a showdown with probably the best known active name in boxing, Oscar De La Hoya.
De La hoya believed he was going to be able to use his speed advantage to outbox the crafty veteran Hopkins. What Oscar failed to realize is that Hopkins is one of the most adaptable fighters in the game today. Hopkins never let De La Hoya get outside enough to really outbox him and in the 9th round dropped Oscar with a hook to the liver area that left De La Hoya wincing in pain for several minutes and the proud recipient of a KO loss. Bernards place at the top of the Pound 4 pound list had been established before this bout but it was cemented after the total destruction of the Golden Boy.
Hopkins is nearing the end of his career now as he is retiring at age 41 due to a promise made to his mother he wouldnt fight past that age. He already has outclassed Britain's Howard Eastman this year, winning a easy 12 round decision and putting on a defensive showcase in the process. He might only have two more bouts left in him so enjoy the man who executes the sweet science oh so well.