Bernard Hopkins is undoubtedly one of the greatest fighters of the last 30-years.
Known more commonly as ‘The Executioner’, Hopkins had a professional boxing career to remember, which began back in 1988, The American great actually suffered defeat in his debut, but bounced back to write his name deep into the sport’s history books.
He rose to prominence during the middle stages of the 90’s, becoming the IBF world middleweight champion when he stopped Segundo Mercado in the seventh round of their bout in 1995. Hopkins made a number of successful defences of his crown before he eventually captured the undisputed championship with a victory over Oscar De La Hoya in 2004.
Hopkins eventually made the move up to 175lbs where he won the WBC world title when he beat Jean Pascal in 2011. After falling short to Chad Dawson just one year later, ‘The Executioner’ went on to win a version of the light heavyweight title once again when he outpointed Tavoris Cloud to capture the IBF title.
Speaking to The Ring Magazine, Hopkins gave an honest assessment of his chances against a prime version of Roy Jones Jr, claiming he wouldn’t have been able to get the better of his former rival.
“He was smart enough to neutralise my best weapons and smart enough to not get hit by my big shots. Even though I got my shots in he wouldn’t get hit by more than one. Like if I got one in … and that’s the thing about fighting unique guys … if a guy lands that one shot, normally there’s another coming behind that.
“He was an all-around thing – best boxer, best defence, offence…. Early career Roy Jones Jr. – speed, reflexes, unorthodox, that type of thing. No one, no one would have beat Roy Jones at that level, where he was at right there and then.”
Hopkins and Jones fought each other twice, in 1993 and 2010, with both fighters claiming one victory apiece. A trilogy showdown never did happen, although fans and pundits often wonder what would have unfolded had they fought for a third time in their respective prime years.
