Bernard Hopkins has little doubt on the hardest puncher he ever faced.
Hopkins, also known as ‘The Executioner’, had an exceptional professional career which saw him win world titles in two weight classes, as well as becoming the first undisputed middleweight champion of the ‘four belt era’ back in 2004.
He finally drew the curtain on his 28-year tenure a short while after he was defeated by Joe Smith Jr in 2016 in what was his 67th career outing. He holds the record for being the oldest world champion in boxing history, which he achieved when he defeated WBA light-heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov in 2014 at 49-years-old.
Despite facing an abundance of heavy hitters and sharp shooters throughout his career, including the likes of Roy Jones Jr and Oscar De La Hoya, Hopkins’ answer to his bigger punching opponent may come as a big surprise.
In an interview with the Ring Magazine, ‘The Executioner’ says Antwun Echols, who he defeated on two occasions between 1999 and 2000, was the hardest puncher he ever crossed paths with.
“He was clubbing, not swift. Thumping. Also, Felix Trinidad, but that’s all. He was really one dimensional. He had great success fighting one-dimensional people. … That’s not a knock on him but when you run into a Bernard Hopkins, who’s more than one dimensional, then you got a problem. Kovalev was a big puncher but I’m going to stick with Antwun Echols, he could crack.”
Echols challenged for the middleweight and super-middleweight world title on a number of occasions during the late 90’s and early 00’s, but came up short each time. After a long battle with Diabetes, he tragically passed away in July 2023 at the age of 52. Of his 32 wins, he scored 28 knockouts, including a thrilling fight with former champion Charles Brewer.
