Credited with being one of the greatest fighters of all time, Bernard Hopkins once named the best opponent that he crossed paths with during his decorated professional boxing career.
Known as ‘The Executioner’, Hopkins made his debut back in October of 1988 although he would suffer an unfortunate defeat at the hands of Clinton Mitchell in Atlantic City.
Despite this, Hopkins would go on to become a world champion in two weight classes, including a reign as the undisputed world middleweight champion which he held between 2001 and 2005.
The Philadelphia-native later made the move up to 175lbs where he would become the oldest world champion of all time, reigning as the unified WBA and IBF light-heavyweight champion at 49-years-old.
Speaking to The Ring Magazine, Hopkins spoke fondly of legendary rival Roy Jones Jr who he claims is the best fighter that he shared a ring with during his career.
“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.”
Jones became the second man to defeat Hopkins when they locked horns for the vacant IBF world middleweight title at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington back in May of 1993.
Their rematch took place 17-years later and it was ‘The Executioner’ who got the better of Jones this time around, outpointing the former pound-for-pound superstar at the conclusion of their non-title clash in Las Vegas.
