Bernard Hopkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bernard Hopkins |
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Hopkins in 2018
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| Real name | Bernard Hopkins Jr. |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in |
| Reach | 71 in |
| Born | January 15, 1965 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 67 |
| Wins | 55 |
| Wins by KO | 32 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 2 |
Bernard Hopkins Jr. (born January 15, 1965) is an American former professional boxer. He competed from 1988 to 2016. He is known as one of the most successful boxers of his time.
Hopkins won many world championships in two different weight classes. He was the undisputed champion at middleweight from 2001 to 2005. He also held the lineal championship at light heavyweight from 2011 to 2012.
He first became a world champion in 1995. He won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title. He defended this title 20 times. In 2001, Hopkins became the undisputed middleweight champion. He beat Félix Trinidad to win the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), and Ring magazine titles.
In 2004, he beat Oscar De La Hoya for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title. This made him the first male boxer to hold all four major world titles at the same time. The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America named him Fighter of the Year in 2001.
After losing his middleweight titles in 2005, Hopkins moved up to light heavyweight. In 2006, at 41 years old, he won the International Boxing Organization (IBO) and Ring titles from Antonio Tarver. In 2011, Hopkins beat Jean Pascal for the WBC and lineal light heavyweight titles. This made him the oldest boxer ever to win a world championship, at 46 years old. He broke George Foreman's record. Hopkins broke his own record two more times. He won titles at ages 48 and 49.
Hopkins was nicknamed "The Executioner" and later "The Alien". People admired him for how long he stayed successful in boxing. He was known for being a smart and defensive boxer. He had good speed and power. He also used counterpunching skills. Hopkins believed his strong defense and basic boxing skills helped him stay in the sport for so long.
Contents
Early Life
Bernard Hopkins grew up in Philadelphia. He was a promising amateur boxer. He won the Philadelphia Jr. Golden Gloves championship at age 9. He had a great amateur record of 95 wins and 4 losses.
As a teenager, Hopkins faced challenges. He spent time in Graterford Prison. While there, he decided to change his life through boxing. He was released in 1988. Hopkins used boxing as a way to escape his past. He became very disciplined, which he credited to his experiences.
Professional Boxing Career
Middleweight Division
Starting Out
Hopkins started his professional career as a light heavyweight in 1988. He lost his first fight. After a break, he returned as a middleweight in 1990. He won 21 fights in a row between 1990 and 1992. Many of these wins were by knockout.
First Title Shot
In 1993, Hopkins fought Roy Jones Jr. for the vacant IBF middleweight title. Hopkins lost this fight by a decision.
Becoming a World Champion
Hopkins got another chance for the IBF title in 1994. He fought Segundo Mercado in Ecuador. The fight ended in a draw. They had a rematch in 1995. Hopkins won by technical knockout in the seventh round. This made him a world champion.
He defended his IBF title many times. He beat strong boxers like John David Jackson and Glen Johnson. By the end of 2000, he had defended his title 12 times without losing.
Unifying the Middleweight Titles
In 2001, there was a tournament to unify the middleweight titles. This meant one boxer would hold all the major belts. The champions involved were Hopkins (IBF), Keith Holmes (WBC), William Joppy (WBA), and Félix Trinidad.
Hopkins vs. Holmes
On April 14, 2001, Hopkins won against WBC champion Keith Holmes. Many people thought Félix Trinidad was too strong for Hopkins.
Hopkins vs. Trinidad
On September 29, 2001, Hopkins fought WBA champion Trinidad. This was for the undisputed middleweight championship. The fight was in Madison Square Garden. Hopkins was not expected to win. He even bet $100,000 on himself.
During the fight, Hopkins showed his skill. He was winning clearly. In the final round, he knocked Trinidad down. The fight was stopped, and Hopkins won. This was Trinidad's first loss. Hopkins became the first undisputed world middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler in 1987.
He defended his undisputed title six times. He beat boxers like Carl Daniels and William Joppy.
Holding Four Belts
Hopkins vs. De La Hoya
On September 18, 2004, Hopkins fought Oscar De La Hoya. This was the biggest fight of his career. Hopkins won by knockout in the ninth round. He hit De La Hoya with a left hook to the body. With this win, Hopkins became the first boxer to hold titles from all four major boxing organizations. He earned $10 million from this fight.
At 40 years old, Hopkins continued to defend his titles. In 2005, he reached a record of 19 title defenses.
Hopkins vs. Taylor
On July 16, 2005, Hopkins lost his undisputed middleweight championship to Jermain Taylor. It was a close fight, and some thought Hopkins should have won. They had a rematch five months later. Taylor won again by decision.
Moving to Light Heavyweight
Hopkins vs. Tarver
After losing to Taylor, Hopkins decided to move up two weight divisions. In 2006, at 41, he fought The Ring light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver. Tarver was favored to win. But Hopkins won by a clear decision.
Hopkins vs. Wright
On July 21, 2007, Hopkins defended his The Ring light heavyweight title against Winky Wright. Hopkins won by a unanimous decision.
Hopkins vs. Calzaghe
On April 19, 2008, Hopkins lost The Ring light heavyweight title to Joe Calzaghe. Hopkins started strong, even knocking Calzaghe down. But Calzaghe adapted and won by a split decision.
Hopkins vs. Pavlik
On October 18, 2008, Hopkins fought middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Many thought Pavlik would knock Hopkins out. But Hopkins put on a great performance. He won by a clear decision. He called it the best fight of his career.
Hopkins vs. Jones II
Hopkins had a rematch with Roy Jones Jr. on April 3, 2010. This was 17 years after their first fight. Hopkins won by a clear decision.
Hopkins vs. Pascal I & II
At 45 years old, Hopkins fought light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal on December 18, 2010. The fight ended in a draw. Because it was so close, they had an immediate rematch.
On May 21, 2011, Hopkins defeated Pascal by a decision. He won the WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight championships. This made Hopkins the oldest person in history to win a major world title. He was 46 years, 4 months, and 6 days old.
Hopkins vs. Dawson I & II
Hopkins then fought Chad Dawson on October 15, 2011. Hopkins got injured and couldn't continue. The fight was first ruled a loss for Hopkins. But later, it was changed to a "no-contest" because of how the injury happened.
They had a rematch on April 28, 2012. Hopkins lost this fight by decision.
Hopkins vs. Cloud
Hopkins returned to the ring on March 9, 2013. He fought IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Tavoris Cloud. Hopkins won by a unanimous decision. He broke his own record again, becoming the oldest person to win a major world title.
Hopkins vs. Shumenov
Hopkins fought Beibut Shumenov on April 19, 2014. This was a fight to unify titles. Hopkins won by a split decision. He knocked Shumenov down in the 11th round. This made him the oldest boxer to unify titles in a weight division.
Hopkins vs. Kovalev
On November 8, 2014, Hopkins fought Sergey Kovalev. Hopkins' WBA and IBF titles were on the line. Kovalev's WBO title was also at stake. Kovalev knocked Hopkins down in the first round. Hopkins lost the fight by a clear decision, losing all his titles.
Hopkins' Final Fight
Hopkins announced he would have one last fight before retiring. On December 17, 2016, he fought Joe Smith Jr.. The fight was in California. In the 8th round, Smith Jr. knocked Hopkins out of the ring. Hopkins could not get back in, and the fight was stopped. This was the end of his 28-year boxing career. Hopkins said he was pushed out of the ring, but replays showed he was not. He confirmed it was his final fight.
Coaches
Hopkins was coached by English "Bouie" Fisher from 1989 to 2002, and again from 2003 to 2005. After that, Naazim Richardson, Fisher's assistant, became Hopkins' head coach.
Images for kids
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Hopkins in 2010
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Hopkins (right) vs. Pascal, 2011
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Hopkins at the U.S. Capitol, 2014
| 67 fights | 55 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 32 | 1 |
| By decision | 23 | 7 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| No contests | 2 | |
