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Strengths

FIGHT TO THE FINISH
TARVER vs HOPKINS

Fight to the Finish
Antonio Tarver vs Bernard Hopkins
12-Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Distributed by Canadastar Boxing Inc.
To Canadian Commercial Locations
On Closed Circuit-Pay Per View

BERNARD HOPKINS
PROFILE AND BIO

Updated Post Taylor vs Hopkins 2 (December 2005)

Watching former undisputed middleweight champion, Bernard Hopkins, in the ring is similar to watching a master painter at work. Using broad strokes and subtle nuances, he paints opponents with his fists - a jab here, a hook there, a dash across the ring, and add a right cross for emphasis.

It's a method that has established "The Executioner" as not only the premier middleweight of this era, but as one of the greatest 160-pound champions of all time, something which received an exclamation point when Hopkins scored a ninth-round knockout of future Hall of Famer, Oscar De La Hoya in September 2004. It was a win that not only brought the outspoken Philadelphia native into the mainstream spotlight, but one that enabled him to notch his 19th successful title defense - an all-time record.

The story of Bernard Hopkins begins 40 years ago on the tough streets of Northern Philadelphia, where a young man did what he felt he needed to do to survive in the face of daily life. Unfortunately, the decisions he made led him to Graterford Penitentiary at the age of 17, where he faced up to 18 years in prison. Determined to not let this setback define him, he boxed while in prison, hoping to get his chance to turn his life around. That chance came in 1988 when Hopkins was released from prison after 56 months at age 23.

Hopkins turned pro later that year, but lost a four-round decision to Clinton Mitchell in October. Discouraged, he went back to his day job working at a local hotel, and didn't fight again until February 1990, when he scored his first professional win by decisioning Greg Paige over four rounds. In his corner that night was a new trainer, Bouie Fisher, a man who would play a pivotal role in the career of this young fighter.

From 1990 to 1992, Bernard Hopkins put his heart and soul into his work with Fisher in the gym, 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, Hopkins got his chance at a big fight when he signed to fight veteran Wayne Powell of the USBA middleweight title in December 1992. He knocked out Powell 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 in May 1993, when he squared off against Roy Jones Jr. for the vacant IBF middleweight crown. After 12 hard-fought rounds, Jones won a unanimous decision and Hopkins suffered the second loss of his career.

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.

When Jones vacated the title to step up in weight to meet and defeat James Toney, Hopkins stepped into the ring with No. 2 contender, Segundo Mercado for the vacant IBF middleweight title in December 1994. For 12 rounds, the two exchanged blows, only to have the fight ruled a draw.

Five months later, in April 1995, there would be no questions as Hopkins dispatched of Mercado in seven rounds. Finally, his dream of becoming a world champion had come true.

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 suport of the Muhammad Ali Act, making many enemies within the boxing industry. But as long as he kept winning, no one could stop him from achieving his goals or speaking his mind on a world stage.

So Hopkins kept winning, and through the late 90's and early 2000's, quality contender after quality contender fell at his hands. 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 Hopkins. It was during this year that he threw his hat in the ring to compete in a four-man tournament to determine an undisputed middleweight champion. He easily decisioned Keith Holmes in his opening matchup in April 2001, earned his 13th successful defense of his IBF middleweight title and surpassed Marvelous Marvin Hagler on the all-time list for most successful middleweight title defenses. Next, he would face Puerto Rican star, Felix Trinidad (who defeated William Joppy) in September of that year.

Many expected to see a coronation of Trinidad but instead they witnessed Hopkins systematically break down the icon before stopping him in the 12th round. It was the defining moment of his career up to that poin, one no boxing fan would ever forget.

There were greater mountains to climb though, and after four more defenses of his crown, the superfight to end all superfights was announced, with Hopkins to face De La Hoya for all the middleweight marbles in September 2004. In a record-setting event which was the talk of the entire sports world, Hopkins proved to be too much for the courageous "Golden Boy". The veteran's 9th-round KO victory over De La Hoya provided him with a claim to fame as the undisputed middleweight champion of the world where he retained his WBA/WBC/IBF middleweight belts and secured the WBO middleweight belt in his 19th straight win.

Strangely enough, a few months after their battle, Hopkins and De La Hoya would meet again; this time as businessmen, and the two superstars would ink an historic agreement that would place Hopkins at the helm of Golden Boy Promotions East, a branch of Golden Boy Promotions that will specialize in the recruitment and education of east coast fighters, while also promoting events in the eastern part of the United States.

Yet, 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 40-year old is getting better with age, something he owes to his Spartan work ethic and clean living philosophy. To prove his point, Hopkins decisively decisioned hard-hitting British contender, Howard Eastman in February 2005 to successfully defend his title for the 20th time.

Hopkins' reign came to a controversial end in July 2005 when he was upset via a 12-round split decision against unbeaten former U.S. Olympian, Jermain Taylor. But, with the fans and much of the media still believing he won the fight, "The Executioner" became even more popular in defeat.

In December 2005, Hopkins was edged out by Jermain Taylor by another 12-round decision when they met for the second time.