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09.06.06 - by Chris Steel: Bernard Hopkins is an example of what we can achieve with work ethic and strength of body and mind. He proves that through hard work and pure discipline we can achieve our goals and our dreams given that we make them the very core of our being and proceed to perfect our ability to perform.
Amongst the greatest pound for pound fighters not only of our time but of all time Bernard Hopkins left his mark in the ring their can be no doubt, but before I begin to recollect his impressive resume let me go back to the beginning. I will examine how Bernard Hopkins begun his journey, what made the man, the fighter and the role model.
Bernard grew up in Philadelphia (USA) and at an early age he took to the streets, becoming involved in gangs, crime and drugs. He even got stabbed to the point where he nearly died; the assault was totally motiveless which illustrates just how rough that the area was. He is self-confessed to be around 50-0 on the streets of Philadelphia regarding street fighting and learnt how to survive with the hand he was dealt..
When his mother decided to relocate them to a better area of the city Bernard learned how to box winning titles all over the place, Golden Gloves Titles, Local Titles etc but when he became bored with the amateur scene he resorted to a life of violence.
In 1982 when Hopkins was still at a relatively young age he was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in the state penitentiary for "strong-arm robbery" (not armed robbery - beating people and taking their money). For fifty-six months, from 1984 through 1989.
This is when the transformation begun to happen, Bernard was now possessed with a new purpose in life, he joined the boxing gym in jail and begun to train and fight, he even won the national penitentiary middleweight championship three times.
When he was released from jail in 1988 and begun his professional boxing career with Bouie Fisher he had one purpose in life, champion of the world. He notched up an impressive 22 wins in a row to give him the chance for the vacant IBF world time against a prime Olympian and unbeaten professional Roy Jones.
I think that the Roy Jones fight came too soon for Bernard and if it had come a later in his career then there is no doubt in my mind he would have beaten Roy. These two are among the best fighters ever too step into the boxing ring, it’s just a shame they didn’t meet in their primes or the outcome would most likely have been different. I don’t think at that point that Hopkins had developed the technical prowess that he was renowned for later in his career.
Not letting the Roy Jones defeat hold him back he then notched up another 26 fight unbeaten streak making a record breaking 20 title defences of his middleweight crown, unifying every middleweight crown available to him. He was undeniably the best pound for pound fighter in the world with wins over great fighters like William Joppy, Glen Johnson, Howard Eastman, Oscar Dela Hoya, Robert Allen, not to mention the absolute decimation of Felix Trinidad.
With this impressive professional resume in mind I’m going to make a case for Hopkins being the best middleweight ever to grace the ring. He undoubtedly achieved more at Middleweight than any other fighter in history. I think that the only rivals to his crown are Marvellous Marvin Hagler and the late Carlos Monzon. Hopkins Vs Hagler, it is a fight that has intrigued me ever since I seen both of them in action. Both of them were technical geniuses. Early in Hopkins career he brutalised his opponents, while later in his career he adapted and opted for a more defensive and technical style which in turn increased his longevity, explaining why he is still on top at 40 years old a feat not achieved by more than a handful of fighters. Then we have Marvin Hagler who is also one of the best technical fighters we have ever seen. Both could do everything, switch, fight defensively, offensively, counter punch, they could be an offensive whirlwind, they could be a defensive nightmare. What made both of these fighters special is their ability to adapt to their opponent’s styles. I think both fighters are on the same par but when you take into consideration both fighters achievements in the record books, Hopkins places above Hagler.
Head to head I cannot visualise how a fight between Hopkins and Monzon would pan out, Monzon has an impressive career record, and defended his Middleweight crown 14 times before suffering a tradgic death. Who knows what would have happened if the both of these fighters had fought prime for prime but the record shows that Hopkins has a more impressive middleweight reign and considering were examining Hopkins as the best middleweight of all time then Hopkins takes the top spot.
In 2006 Hopkins is nearing the end of a truly amazing boxing career, he is an inspirational speaker who speaks to people who can relate to him, people who are now in the same situation that he was in years ago. He tries to prevent kids making the same mistakes he did as a youth which is something he should be truly commended for. I rate him as the best middleweight ever to step in the ring. A true role model for the everyman. It’s not finished yet hes 40 years of age and still fighting at World Championship level and is soon taking on Antonio Tarver at Light Heavyweight for the title. If he wins this fight with all the odds stacked against him then he must surely be elevated into the top five fighters of all time.
Bernard Hopkins returned to the jail where he was once confined to find a 60 foot mural in the boxing gym where his life began to change for the better and as he stood admiring the mural, a single tear welled up in his eye and who can blame him.
“Everyone who knows Bernard Hopkins says he boxed his way out the hood, you gotta think your way out, everyone has their own natural talent and when you find it ... Master it” – Bernard Hopkins
