Bernard Hopkins defied the laws of time, by beating George Foreman’s record, to become a world champion at the age of 46.
While boxing is usually considered a young man’s game, ‘The Alien’ incredibly managed to continue competing at the top for an astonishingly long time.
Despite everything the naysayers had to say, the all-time great kept winning.
And on May 21, 2011, the icon made history.
WOW: George Foreman had an incredible career change after experiencing a spiritual awakening
Bernard Hopkins beat Jean Pascal to become the oldest world champion in boxing history
Back in 1994, George Foreman destroyed Michael Moorer in a victory that still holds a place in the heart of every boxing fan who saw it.
For almost two decades, he was the oldest world champion the sport had ever seen, until Bernard Hopkins went toe-to-toe with Jean Pascal.
After their first fight ended in a draw, the American was determined to pull off the win in the rematch, which he did, in a truly marvelous display.
At 46, Hopkins had become a world champion once again, claiming the WBC and Ring Magazine titles, but he wasn’t done there.
After losing his belts to Chad Dawson, many assumed that would be it for Hopkins. It was almost inconceivable that he’d win another championship.
But in a testament to his remarkable powers of self-belief, at the age of 48, he beat Tavoris Cloud, to win the IBF championship, which he later defended twice, once against Karo Murat, and then a second time at 49 in another tremendous showing against Beibut Shumenov in a unification bout, which was also for the WBA title.
George Foreman got pushed by Teddy Atlas before beating Michael Moorer
Both Hopkins and George Foreman carved out incredible legacies inside the boxing ring.
At the peak of his powers, ‘Big George’ was a truly terrifying competitor, with the powerhouse showcasing his nasty side every time he set foot inside the ring.
However, when he made his comeback, he’d mellowed, becoming a character that endeared the fans more than ever before.
But that didn’t stop Moorer’s coach from trying to provoke him.
In a brave move, Teddy Atlas shoved George Foreman.