Light heavyweights, 12 rounds
Kelly Pavlik: 169 lb
Bernard Hopkins: 170 lb More...

© Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

Philadelphia’s only current boxing world champion, cruiserweight ring king Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, took a little time out from preparing for his December 11, IBF title defense against Tomasz ‘Road Warrior’ Adamek to gives his verdict on this weekend's big fight between young gun Kelly Pavlik and fellow Philly star Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

On Saturday October 18, 2008 one of boxing’s legends will step into the ring at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, NJ to face one of the hardest hitting young champions in the sport today. The same city where he lost his professional debut twenty years ago could very well be where his career comes full circle and end by being knocked out, which would be the first time in his long career.

Bernard Hopkins 48-5-1 (32) has accomplished more in his career than most fighters can dream. He became the middleweight champion in 1994 and defended his title a record twenty times through 2005 before finally losing to Jermain Taylor in two controversial decisions. The forty-three year old veteran is 2-3 in his last five fights; after facing Taylor he won unanimous decision victories over Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright and most recently a split decision loss to Joe Calzaghe earlier this year.

Enter Kelly Pavlik 34-0 (30) who is the biggest puncher Hopkins has faced since defeating Felix Trinidad in 2001. With a knockout percentage of 88% Pavlik packs a bigger punch than any opponent he has ever faced.

During this week’s final press conference at BB King’s Blues Club in New York City Hopkins attempted to goad Pavlik into a wager about the possibility of him getting knocked out. More...

Lee Samuels: We just had a wonderful press conference in New York City with Kelly Pavlik and Bernard Hopkins for “Unstoppable” – their light heavyweight battle at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City and sponsored by Affliction Clothing. The show’s will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View this Saturday night, beginning at 9 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. PT. More...

Tonight's edition of ESPN’s prime-time newsmagazine E:60, at 7 p.m. ET, will include a profile of Kelly Pavlik, the undefeated middleweight boxing champion from Youngstown, Ohio. Pavlik takes on two-division world champion Bernard Hopkins in a 12-round light heavyweight battle Saturday, October 14 at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. More...

Like Christopher Columbus, two-division world champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins is about to?make a new discovery, courtesy undefeated World Middleweight Champion Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik. Pavlik and Hopkins battle in a 12-round light heavyweight rumble this Saturday, October 18, headlining "Unstoppable", a four fight pay-per-view extravaganza broadcast live from Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. More...

Lee Samuels: We’re here with the champ, the world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. He’s in Youngstown with his trainer Jack Loew. They’re both here on the call and we’re talking about the big fight with - against Bernard Hopkins, October 18, Atlantic City Convention Hall. It’s called “Unstoppable.” It’s live on HBO Pay-Per-View. And Kelly’s been training very, very hard for this event which he’ll talk about. At this time Hall of Fame promoter, Bob Arum. Bob?

Bob Arum: Thank you Lee and everybody welcome to the call. After we finish here we’re going to turn you over to Kelly Swanson for the Hopkins conference call. Kelly and Jack are in Youngstown, Ohio finishing up training. As always Kelly has trained at a fearsome pace. We’re very proud of Kelly because when he comes into the ring he comes in 100% and gives 150%. So without further ado I’d like to turn you over to Kelly Pavlik to say a few words and then his trainer Jack Loew. Okay Kelly. More...

Back in action October 18, 2008 is Philadelphia tough kid, Danny "Swift" Garcia as he showcases his skills on the Bernard Hopkins vs Kelly Pavlik card televised live on HBO PPV.

The young 20 year old undefeated prospect will enter the ring with a perfect record of 7-0 (6). In his last fight, Garcia stopped Tyrone Wiggins with a stiff body blow, followed by a two devastating left hooks to the head, forcing the referee to stop the bout at 1:04 of the first round. More...

Bernard Hopkins is back in Miami, surrounded by the beach and the punishing heat, preparing for his October 18th battle against Kelly Pavlik. He has returned to a place where he has trained for over 10 bouts, holding every training camp but four (Wright, Taylor II, Tarver, and Calzaghe) there since 2001 when he prepared to face Tito Trinidad. He is focused on the task at hand and confident that his intense regimen will prove that at 43 years old he has not lost a step. More...

One year ago, Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik transformed himself from the No. 1 middleweight contender into world middleweight champion and boxing folk hero.

It was on Saturday, September 29, 2007, in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, that Pavlik pulled himself off the canvas after a second round knockdown, served up by undefeated defending champion Jermain Taylor, to come roaring back, knocking out Taylor in the seventh round. More...

Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall is three weeks away from “Unstoppable”, the light heavyweight rumble between undefeated world middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and legendary two-division world champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, yet fight fans who are eagerly anticipating the showdown have more reason to want October 18 to get here quickly as an undercard packed with talent is planned for the show. More...

Philadelphia's ageless warrior Bernard Hopkins gets one more chance to show the world of boxing that in his case age is just a number when he meets undefeated middleweight world champion Kelly Pavlik at a catchweight in a non-title bout in Atlantic City on October 18.

The 43 year old former longtime middleweight champion has proven time and time again that he can't be written off after a career of bucking conventional wisdom, but will "The Executioner" be able to impose his will on the much younger Pavlik as he has done with so many other opponents?

Hopkins needs to be able to control the pace of the bout and was able to do so against the likes of Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright over the last two years, winning those fights in convincing fashion as a result.

But Hopkins could not do the same against Joe Calzaghe in April and as a result could not keep up with the younger former super middleweight kingpin as the bout wore on.

Pavlik, while not as naturally big as Calzaghe or Tarver, is much younger and a great offensive threat to the defensive mastery of Hopkins and that could prove the undoing of the modern day great Philadelphian.

If Hopkins cannot outmuscle and outmaneuver Pavlik, it's likely that he'll be made to finally look old as the younger middleweight champion produces a pace that the old master cannot hope to keep up with.

When a powerful young champion and devastating knock-out artist meets a future Hall of Fame boxing legend and two-division world champion who has never been knocked out, there will be plenty of debate and speculation as to who will win. That will definitely be the case when Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik faces Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins in a light heavyweight battle at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday October 18 in a bout presented by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City. The fight will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. More...

Bernard Hopkins: I’m a boxing fan and I am a fan of Kelly Pavlik. I am a fan of Pavlik because he became a champion the right way. Not because of politics, but because he came up through the ranks and beat them all. I know what makes a good fight, but I never thought I would be fighting him. Kelly has a lot of heart and determination, but saying that, I’ve never been afraid of a ghost. More...

When a powerful young champion and devastating knock-out artist meets a future Hall of Fame boxing legend and two-division world champion who has never been knocked out, there will be plenty of debate and speculation as to who will win.

That will definitely be the case when Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik faces Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins in a light heavyweight battle at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday October 18 in a bout presented by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City. The fight will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. More...

It was ‘spot the celebrity’ on Saturday night as the stars came out for Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins as they battled for the Light Heavyweight Championship at the Thomas and Mack Centre in Las Vegas.

Both men fly out of their corners for the first round but after only one minute - Hopkins lands a left followed by a right punch straight through the middle, landing hard on the nose of Calzaghe and the Welsh man goes down to the canvas - for only the third time in his career.

“Super, Super Joe…..Super Joe Calzaghe…” the British fans sing. There’s a cut on the bridge of Calzaghe’s nose as he returns to his corner at the end of the first frame.

Mid-way through round two and a swinging left from Calzaghe, its impact can be heard clearly, lands on the face of Hopkins but the veteran doesn’t flinch from it! Seconds later and another solid right hand from Hopkins lands on the face of Calzaghe. More...

© Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Promotions

Like all fights of latter period Bernard Hopkins, last night's greatly anticipated showdown with Joe Calzaghe at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas was an ugly, untoward bout that proved difficult to score and generated a great deal of controversy as to who actually won.

Hopkins jumped out to an early lead on the strength of his patented leaping right hand lead, which he throws with perfect timing particularly against southpaws, which had Calzaghe on the seat of his pants in round one.

Calzaghe wasn't hurt and carried on but was clearly troubled by the type of spoiler tactics that have greatly lengthened the career of wily veteran Hopkins, who continued to slug and hold the visiting Welshman to build a commanding edge in the first half of the bout. More...

© Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Promotions

Despite the fact that Bernard Hopkins fights in an unorthodox style, known to lead with head followed by a punch, Joe Calzaghe has full confidence that referee Joe Cortez will keep things Kosher when they meet tomorrow night in The Planet Hollywood Ring at Thomas and Mack Center in a battle of Ring Magazine champions for Hopkins' light heavyweight title. More...

© Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions

Finally, it's upon us.

A fight that has been years, not months, in the making finally takes places this Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Its a fight at light heavyweight between two men with a combined 41 successful defences of their world titles.

Welshman Joe Calzaghe will be attempting to stop a disappointing run of results in Camp Calzaghe. After world title defeats for stablemates Gavin Rees and Enzo Maccarinelli, the undefeated World Super Middleweight Champion will be desperate not to make it third time unlucky.

Bernard Hopkins stands between Joe and a place in boxing history. A pro now for 20 years, Hopkins won the middleweight title at the third attempt, stopping Segundo Mercardo in seven back in 1995, having lost and drawn previous title attempts. More...

© Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions

Joe Calzaghe's trainer, Enzo Calzaghe:

“I can tell you right now, Bernard Hopkins will look for a disqualification rather than lose to Joe. If Hopkins’ is such a legend, he needs to prove it. He needs to fight like a man not foul like a coward.” More...