Bernard Hopkins Profile Biography – Biographyzone.com. Bernard Hopkins (born January 15, 1965 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) is an American professional boxer and former IBF, WBC, WBA and WBO world middleweight champion. He was the first boxer who could unite all the four recognized world title in weight class and is also regarded as the middleweight champion with the longest title reign and the most title defenses of all time.
Bernard Hopkins Career History
Bernard Hopkins
| Real name | Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Executioner B-Hop |
| Rated at | Middleweight Light Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Nationality | American |
| Birth date | January 15, 1965 (1965-01-15) (age 46) |
| Birth place | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Stance | Orthodox |
Since 21 May 2011 he is the current World Champion, the WBC light heavyweight. With 46 years and 126 days, he is the oldest boxing champion in history. In 1988 he began his professional career. He made his first fight at the mistake of choosing the wrong weight class, and thus lost his professional debut against a completely unknown Halbschwergewichtler, who also made his first professional fight. He then remained inactive for 1.5 years.
From 1990, he fought at middleweight and won the next 22 fights. Then he got on 22 May 1993, the opportunity to fight for the vacant IBF world title against Roy Jones Jr., but lost on points.
Since Jones had risen in the meantime in the super middleweight and had resigned his title, Hopkins was in 1994 a new opportunity to fight for the vacant IBF title. Trinidad had in his first fight against William Joppy middleweight yet so convinced that he was regarded as the clear favorite against Hopkins. Hopkins won the fight but was able to clearly and his rise to undisputed middleweight world champion at age of 39 years to win a lot of prestige. By winning the WBO title, he was the firstboxer who carried all four major titles in weight class.
Bernard Hopkins Photo
Also, the rematch on 3 December 2005, he lost to controversial points. Hopkins but returned to the ring and proposed on 10 June 2006 Antonio Tarver at light heavyweight. On 19 April 2008, officials at the Hopkins at this time in 44 fights unbeaten WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight title holder Joe Calzaghe. Hopkins lost the fight after twelve rounds for points. Then came against Hopkins in turn, still undefeated middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, who dethroned Jermain Taylor had in the meantime.
The fight took place in an agreed weight limit of 170 pounds (77.1 kg) instead, so that Pavlik did not stand middleweight title at stake. On 3 April 2010, the 45-year-old Hopkins punched a second time against the now 41-year-old Roy Jones Jnr. 17 years after their first clash in the middleweight was the rematch Hopkins light heavyweight, he won on points over twelve rounds. On 21 May 2011 he defeated the Canadian Jean Pascal unanimously on points, winning the WBC world heavyweight championship belt.
Successes as a professional
World Championships
- 29 April 1995: IBF world champion in the middleweight (20 title defenses)
- 14 April 2001: WBC world champion in the middleweight (7 title defenses)
- 29 September 2001: WBA (“Super”) world champion in the middleweight (6 title defenses)
- 18 September 2004: WBO world middleweight champion (1 title defense)
- 10 June 2006: IBO light heavyweight world champion
- 21 May 2011: IBO and WBC light heavyweight world champion
More titles and special features
- 1992 to 1994: US-American champion in the middleweight
- 2001: Elected Boxer of the Year of BWAA, the Ring Magazine and the World Boxing Hall of Fame
- 2002 to 2005: The Ring world championship belt recognized as the best boxer in the middleweight
- 2006 to 2008: The Ring world championship belt recognized as the best boxer in the heavyweight
- 21 May 2011: Diamond WBC light heavyweight champion
- The longest reigning middleweight champion of all time (29 April 1995 to 16 July 2005)
- Most title defenses as a middleweight world champion ever (20 in a row, 34 total)
- Elder middleweight world champion ever (40 years 6 months)
- The oldest boxing champion ever (46 years, 126 days)
Major opponents
Hopkins defeated during his career the 14 world champion Lupe Aquino (17 May 1994), John David Jackson (19 April 1997), Glen Johnson (20 July 1997), Simon Brown (31 January 1998), Keith Holmes (14 April 2001), Felix Trinidad (September 29, 2001), Carl Daniels (2 February 2002), William Joppy (December 13, 2003), Oscar de la Hoya (18 September 2004), Antonio Tarver (June 10, 2006) Ronald Wright (July 21, 2007), Kelly Pavlik (October 18, 2008), Roy Jones Jr. (April 3, 2010) and Jean Pascal (21 May 2011).
Hopkins defeated during his career the 14 world champion Lupe Aquino (17 May 1994), John David Jackson (19 April 1997), Glen Johnson (20 July 1997), Simon Brown (31 January 1998), Keith Holmes (14 April 2001), Felix Trinidad (September 29, 2001), Carl Daniels (2 February 2002), William Joppy (December 13, 2003), Oscar de la Hoya (18 September 2004), Antonio Tarver (June 10, 2006) Ronald Wright (July 21, 2007), Kelly Pavlik (October 18, 2008), Roy Jones Jr. (April 3, 2010) and Jean Pascal (21 May 2011).
In addition, it get more wins over top boxers, such as the Interim world champion Robert Allen, the World Junior Champion Enrique Ornelas, or the two European champions Morrade Hakkar and Howard Eastman.
(Source : http://biographyzone.com/bernard-hopkins-biography/)
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