Bernard Hopkins is one of the greatest fighters of his generation after breaking records and mixing it with top names including Oscar De La Hoya and Roy Jones Jr.
Known as ‘The Executioner’, Hopkins rose to prominence during the 1990s where he would reign as the IBF world middleweight champion, making a number of successful defences of his crown.
He would go on to become the undisputed champion in 2001 when he stopped Felix Trinidad in the final round of their showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Hopkins shared the ring with many legendary fighters throughout the course of his storied professional career, including Jones and De La Hoya. He first lost to Jones in 1993 but would avenge that in 2010. In between, in 2004, Hopkins beat De La Hoya via stoppage.
However, the sport’s oldest world champion once revealed to the Ring Magazine that Antwun Echols was the hardest-hitting opponent that he ever shared the ring with.
“Antwun Echols. 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.”
Hopkins faced Echols twice within the space of 12 months between 1999 and 2000, defeating his countryman on both occasions to successfully defend his IBF middleweight title.
Their first encounter, which took place in December of 1999, saw Hopkins defeat Echols via unanimous decision in a closely fought bout at the Miccosukee Resort in Miami, Florida.
Their rematch took place almost exactly one year later and after yet another competitive contest, Hopkins settled the score with a 12th round stoppage victory over ‘Kid Dynamite’.
Echols ended his career with a record of 32 wins, 22 losses and four draws, scoring 28 knockouts along the way. Since his own retirement, Hopkins has entered the promotional game with De La Hoya under the Golden Boy banner.
