Philadelphia native Bernard Hopkins is a celebrated boxer, decorated with numerous awards and prestigious titles. He’s held championships across the WBC, WBA, IBO, and WBA, and was even recognized by American magazine “The Ring” as the best boxer pound-for-pound. Yet, his early life was anything but easy. Young Bernard fell into a life of crime and eventually faced incarceration. Find out more on iphiladelphia about how that experience forever changed his life.
The Boxer’s Formative Years
Bernard Hopkins was born in Philadelphia on January 15, 1965. His family lived in a crime-ridden neighborhood of Philadelphia, and from an early age, he joined a local gang. By 13, he had become a seasoned street mugger, often getting into fights and bearing scars from knife wounds.
In 1979, Hopkins’s criminal activities were exposed. He was sentenced to 18 years in a Pennsylvania state correctional institution. There, he witnessed the murder of a cellmate over a pack of cigarettes. That moment spurred him to learn self-defense and martial arts. Boxing techniques became an accessible way to build his body. The prison had a gym, and amateur fights were occasionally organized among inmates.
Engaging in boxing not only impacted Bernard physically but also mentally. He began to dream of a professional career. After five years, he was released from prison and decided to pursue his dream, resolutely turning his back on his criminal past. Instead, Hopkins converted to Islam and started a new life.
Professional Career Highlights
After a brief amateur stint, Hopkins turned professional as a light heavyweight in 1988. In his debut fight, he faced Clinton Mitchell and lost, despite high expectations for his performance.
Six months later, Bernard launched his career in the middleweight division. He defeated Greg Page and continued to rack up win after win. His fights often ended in spectacular knockouts, catching the eye of professionals and sponsors alike.
His next loss came in 1993 against Roy Jones Jr. However, after that fight, Hopkins became a contender for the IBF international federation title. He went on to defeat Segundo Mercado twice, showcasing brilliant striking and blocking techniques, and earned his champion status.
For the next five years, the boxer held onto his hard-won reign at the top:
- He defeated John David Jackson, Simon Brown, Antwun Echols, and the then-undefeated Glen Johnson.
- Bernard’s fight against WBC champion Keith Holmes was a triumphant victory.
- In 2001, he faced Félix Trinidad, whose trainer and father called for the judges to stop the bout.
Thus, Hopkins earned the title of the first undisputed middleweight world champion. The Ring magazine and the World Boxing Hall of Fame named him the best boxer of 2001. He went on to defend his title six times, securing victories over Carl Daniels, Morrade Hakkar, William Joppy, and Robert Allen.
In 2004, Hopkins faced Oscar De La Hoya in the highest-paying fight of his career. He knocked out De La Hoya and received a staggering $10 million purse. The boxer’s next record came with his consecutive defense of the undisputed middleweight world title, thanks to his victory over Howard Eastman.
Defeat awaited Bernard in 2005 in a fight against Jermain Taylor. Nevertheless, Hopkins decided to continue his career and moved up to the light heavyweight division. He emerged victorious in his fight against Antonio Tarver. Persistent training once again brought him to peak form and to a win over Winky Wright, who was the undisputed junior world champion.
One of the standout bouts of this stage of his professional career was his fight with Jean Pascal. The Philadelphian emerged victorious, earning new titles and the prestigious honor of being named the best boxer by The Ring. After this win, Hopkins became the oldest world champion in professional boxing history. At the time, he was just over 46 years old.
Bernard Hopkins set his next record in 2014, unifying the highest titles of the WBA Super and IBF associations. These were on the line during his fight with Russian Sergey Kovalev, but this time, the renowned boxer lost. His opponent knocked him down in the very first round and maintained his advantage throughout the fight.
Towards the end of his career, Hopkins stepped into the ring against Joe Smith Jr. This fight served as his official farewell to fans and also ended in a loss for the boxer.
Retirement from Boxing and Personal Life
After retiring from his professional career, Hopkins turned his attention to philanthropy. He is dedicated to caring for children and adolescents who find themselves in disadvantaged circumstances. Bernard aims to protect young people from a life of crime, knowing firsthand where such activities can lead.
The boxer’s personal life has been a happy one. Shortly after his release from prison, he met a woman named Jeanette, who became his wife. Bernard adores her and his family and makes no secret of his feelings. In interviews, the boxer has repeatedly stated that he would never have achieved such success without love. It was his wife’s love and the dream of becoming a boxer that truly transformed his life.