Bernard Hopkins

The oldest boxer to ever win a world title and a future Hall of Famer is Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr. The Executioner, as he is oftentimes referred to, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1965. Let's take a look at one of the best boxers of all-time.

Bernard Hopkins 53(32)*-6-2 *(32 knockouts)

Hopkins is a former world middleweight champion who defended that title a record 20 times. He turned 48 years old in January of 2013 but age has not stopped this former world champion. He became the oldest boxer in history to win a world title when he beat Jean Pascal in 2011 at the age of 46; and he beat his own record on Saturday, March 9th, 2013 when he took on Tavoris Cloud for the IBF Light Heavyweight title and got a unanimous decision win at the age of 48.

Early Years

Bernard Hopkins began his boxing career in 1988 when he lost as a light heavyweight in his debut against Clinton Mitchell. He bounced back to win his second fight against Greg Paige in 1990. He continued to win bouts after that fight winning his next 21 bouts, 16 of which came by knockout, 12 in the first round.

Hopkins was beaten in 1993 by Roy Jones, losing a unanimous decision and he fought to a draw that he probably didn't deserve against Segundo Mercado. He beat Mercado in the IBF title rematch, getting a 7th round TKO. He defended that title 12 times without a loss. In 2001 it was Hopkins beating Keith Holmes and later that year he beat Felix Trinidad to hold the undisputed middleweight title. He defended that title a total of six times.

Hopkins vs. De la Hoya

In 2004 it was Hopkins beating Oscar de la Hoya in a mega fight that was the highest paying fight of his career and his 19th title defense. Hopkins made his 20th title defense in 2005 at the age of 40 when he defeated Howard Eastman. Hopkins was beaten by Jermain Taylor latter that year in a split decision. He lost another disputed decision against Taylor before he came back in 2006 to beat Antonio Tarver. In 2007 it was Hopkins defending his title against Winky Wright. He lost that tile to Joe Calzaghe by split decision in 2008. Later that year it was Hopkins upsetting Kelly Pavlik in a non-title fight.

Later Years

Hopkins fought Roy Jones Jr. in 2010 and Hopkins got revenge from his loss 17 years ago, winning a unanimous decision. In 2010, at the age of 45 it was Hopkins fighting to a majority draw with Jean Pascal for the WBC, IBO light heavyweight title. The two had a rematch in 2011 and it was Hopkins winning by unanimous decision to take the WBC, IBO, and The Ring Light Heavyweight belts. Hopkins was beaten later that year by Chad Dawson but later the WBC ruled that Dawson intentionally fouled Hopkins. In a rematch it was Dawson winning a majority decision in 2012. Hopkins didn't want to go out that way though, and fought again on a title match against Tavoris Cloud on March 9, 2013 which he won by unanimous decision in a match that he controlled since the beginning. Hopkins became the IBF light heavyweight title, and the oldest boxer in history to win a world title. Hopkins successfully defended his title against Karo Murat on October 26, 2013 with a unanimous decision win with two judges scoring the fight 119-108 and the third 117-110.
Bernard Hopkins, who now wants to be known as “The Alien”, is looking to become the oldest fighter in boxing history to unify world titles; he will be facing current WBA Super World Champion Beibut Shumenov on April 19, 2014 at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C.