Boxing legend Bernard Hopkins has shown incredible longevity in his career, and ‘The Alien’ is a true history-maker.
From Hopkins stopping Oscar De La Hoya to dethroning George Foreman as the oldest world champion in boxing, the former two-division champion was a true talent.
Hopkins retired in 2016, with a professional record of 55-8-2. Remarkably, the former champion stepped into the ring for the final time just shy of his 52nd birthday.
With so many high-profile fights to his name, there have been countless excellent performances from Hopkins. However, in 2008, the legend was able to roll back the years as a true underdog.
Bernard Hopkins took on Kelly Pavlik in 2008
Hopkins had suffered the fifth loss of his career in April 2008 when he was on the losing side of a split decision to Joe Calzaghe.
The loss would be the third loss in his previous five fights, indicating an inconsistent stretch for ‘The Alien’.
However, despite a recent run of bad form, Hopkins would not take on an easier matchup for his next bout. Instead, he would take on Kelly Pavlik in October 2008.
Pavlik was the world middleweight champion, with a professional record of 34-0, with 30 wins by knockout. As well as this, he was 17 years younger than Hopkins.
Given the form of the two men and them being at different stages of their careers, Hopkins went into the bout as a huge underdog. The fight was a non-title fight, contested at 170 pounds.
However, the bout in Atlantic City would not go the way the bookmakers perceived. Instead, Hopkins was able to have a one-sided win.
The judges would score the bout 119-106, 118-108, and 117-109 in favor of the veteran, who handed Pavlik his first loss.
Bernard Hopkins would fight Roy Jones Jr. for a second time after Pavlik win
After his impressive win over Pavlik, Hopkins was able to earn back-to-back wins, defeating Enrique Ornelas (29-5) in December 2009.
After his two wins, Hopkins would finally get the opportunity to get revenge over Roy Jones Jr., who bested him in 1993.
Meeting in April 2010, the two men had a combined age of 86, as Hopkins was 45 years old, and Roy Jones was four years younger.
No title was on the line when the two veterans faced one another. However, Hopkins would get revenge over the great. Winning a unanimous decision, ‘The Alien’ was able to avenge his loss from 17 years earlier.