Bernard Hopkins Jr. (born January 15, 1965) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2016. He is one of the most successful boxers of the past three decades, having held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed championship at middleweight from 2001 to 2005, and the lineal championship at light heavyweight from 2011 to 2012.
Hopkins first became a world champion by winning the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title in 1995. He compiled 20 defenses against 17 opponents, with 19 wins as a result of his no-contest bout against Robert Allen. In 2001, Hopkins successfully unified the middleweight division by defeating Félix Trinidad to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) (Super version), World Boxing Council (WBC), Ring magazine and lineal titles. A victory over Oscar De La Hoya for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title in 2004 cemented Hopkins' status as undisputed champion, while also making him the first male boxer to simultaneously hold world titles by all four major boxing sanctioning bodies. In 2001, Hopkins was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 2011, The Ring ranked Hopkins as third on their list of the "10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years." As of April 2021, he is ranked by BoxRec as the seventh greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Bernard Hopkins Jr.
- Born: January 15, 1965 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Reach: 71 in (180 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: Oct 11, 1988 (Loss by MD vs Clinton Mitchell)
- Last bout: Dec 17, 2016 (Loss by TKO vs Joe Smith Jr.)
- Total rounds boxed: 514 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Middleweight, Light heavyweight
- KO percentage: 58.2% (32 KO wins in 55 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): IBF middleweight title April 29, 1995 – July 16, 2005 (won the vacant title from Segundo Mercado; a long run of defenses per the bout table; added the WBC title on April 14, 2001 against Keith Holmes and the WBA (Super) title on September 29, 2001 against Félix Trinidad, and the WBO title on September 18, 2004 against Oscar De La Hoya, becoming undisputed; lost the WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring titles to Jermain Taylor); The Ring light heavyweight title June 10, 2006 – April 19, 2008 (won from Antonio Tarver, with the IBO title; defended against Winky Wright; lost to Joe Calzaghe); WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles May 21, 2011 – April 28, 2012 (won from Jean Pascal, with the IBO title; lost to Chad Dawson); IBF light heavyweight title March 9, 2013 – November 8, 2014 (won from Tavoris Cloud; defended against Karo Murat; added the WBA (Super) title on April 19, 2014 against Beibut Shumenov; lost both to Sergey Kovalev) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 67
- Wins: 55
- Wins by KO: 32
- Losses: 8
- Losses by KO: 1
- Draws: 2
- No contests: 2
- Born: January 15, 1965 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Reach: 71 in (180 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Middleweight, Light heavyweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 11, 1988 | Clinton Mitchell | Loss | MD | 4 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 2 | Feb 22, 1990 | Greg Paige | Win | UD | 4 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 3 | Apr 26, 1990 | Keith Gray | Win | TKO | 1 (?) | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 4 | May 18, 1990 | Eddie Tyler | Win | TKO | 1 (6) | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 5 | May 31, 1990 | Jouvin Mercado | Win | TKO | 2 (4), 0:43 | War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| 6 | Jun 30, 1990 | Khalif Shabazz | Win | KO | 1 (6), 0:36 | Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 7 | Aug 5, 1990 | Percy Harris | Win | UD | 6 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 8 | Oct 20, 1990 | Darren Oliver | Win | TKO | 1 (?) | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 9 | Nov 17, 1990 | Mike Sapp | Win | TKO | 1 (8), 0:35 | Lee County Civic Center, Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
| 10 | Feb 26, 1991 | Richard Quiles | Win | KO | 1 (6) | National Guard Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 11 | Mar 18, 1991 | Steve Langley | Win | TKO | 3 (6), 1:10 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 12 | Jun 20, 1991 | Pedro Márquez | Win | TKO | 1 0:56 | Aspen Hotel, Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 13 | Jul 9, 1991 | Danny Mitchell | Win | TKO | 1 (8), 3:00 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 14 | Sep 23, 1991 | Ralph Moncrief | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 1:28 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 15 | Nov 26, 1991 | David McCluskey | Win | TKO | 7 (10) | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 16 | Dec 13, 1991 | Willie Kemp | Win | UD | 10 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 17 | Jan 31, 1992 | Dennis Milton | Win | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 18 | Apr 3, 1992 | Randy Smith | Win | UD | 10 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 19 | May 21, 1992 | Aníbal Miranda | Win | PTS | 10 | Cirque d'hiver, Paris, France |
| 20 | Aug 28, 1992 | James Stokes | Win | KO | 1 (10), 1:44 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 21 | Sep 14, 1992 | Eric Rhinehart | Win | KO | 1 (10), 1:47 | Eli's Pier 34, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 22 | Dec 4, 1992 | Wayne Powell | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 0:21 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant USBA middleweight title |
| 23 | Feb 16, 1993 | Gilbert Baptist | Win | UD | 12 | McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained USBA middleweight title |
| 24 | May 22, 1993 | Roy Jones Jr. | Loss | UD | 12 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S. — ★ Title fight — For vacant IBF middleweight title |
| 25 | Aug 3, 1993 | Roy Ritchie | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 1:47 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained USBA middleweight title |
| 26 | Nov 23, 1993 | Wendall Hall | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 0:28 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained USBA middleweight title |
| 27 | Feb 26, 1994 | Melvin Wynn | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 0:48 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 28 | May 17, 1994 | Lupe Aquino | Win | UD | 12 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained USBA middleweight title |
| 29 | Dec 17, 1994 | Segundo Mercado | Draw | SD | 12 | Coliseo General Rumiñahui, Quito, Ecuador — ★ Title fight — For vacant IBF middleweight title |
| 30 | Apr 29, 1995 | Segundo Mercado | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 1:10 | USAir Arena, Landover, Maryland, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBF middleweight title |
| 31 | Jan 27, 1996 | Steve Frank | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 0:24 | Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 32 | Mar 16, 1996 | Joe Lipsey | Win | KO | 4 (12), 2:50 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 33 | Jul 16, 1996 | William Bo James | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 2:02 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 34 | Apr 19, 1997 | John David Jackson | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 2:22 | Municipal Memorial Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 35 | Jul 20, 1997 | Glen Johnson | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 1:23 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 36 | Nov 18, 1997 | Andrew Council | Win | UD | 12 | The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 37 | Jan 31, 1998 | Simon Brown | Win | TKO | 6 (12), 1:00 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 38 | Aug 28, 1998 | Robert Allen | NC | NC | 4 (12), 2:57 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — IBF middleweight title at stake; Hopkins unable to continue after the referee accidentally pushed him out of the ring |
| 39 | Feb 6, 1999 | Robert Allen | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 1:18 | Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 40 | Dec 12, 1999 | Antwun Echols | Win | UD | 12 | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 41 | May 13, 2000 | Syd Vanderpool | Win | UD | 12 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 42 | Dec 1, 2000 | Antwun Echols | Win | TKO | 10 (12), 1:42 | The Venetian Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title |
| 43 | Apr 14, 2001 | Keith Holmes | Win | UD | 12 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF middleweight title; Won WBC middleweight title |
| 44 | Sep 29, 2001 | Félix Trinidad | Win | TKO | 12 (12), 1:18 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and IBF middleweight titles; Won WBA (Super) middleweight title |
| 45 | Feb 2, 2002 | Carl Daniels | Win | RTD | 10 (12), 3:00 | Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 46 | Mar 29, 2003 | Morrade Hakkar | Win | RTD | 8 (12), 3:00 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Unified), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 47 | Dec 13, 2003 | William Joppy | Win | UD | 12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 48 | Jun 5, 2004 | Robert Allen | Win | UD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 49 | Sep 18, 2004 | Oscar De La Hoya | Win | KO | 9 (12), 1:38 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles; Won WBO middleweight title |
| 50 | Feb 19, 2005 | Howard Eastman | Win | UD | 12 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 51 | Jul 16, 2005 | Jermain Taylor | Loss | SD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 52 | Dec 3, 2005 | Jermain Taylor | Loss | UD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA (Undisputed), WBC, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 53 | Jun 10, 2006 | Antonio Tarver | Win | UD | 12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 54 | Jul 21, 2007 | Winky Wright | Win | UD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained The Ring light heavyweight title |
| 55 | Apr 19, 2008 | Joe Calzaghe | Loss | SD | 12 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost The Ring light heavyweight title |
| 56 | Oct 18, 2008 | Kelly Pavlik | Win | UD | 12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 57 | Dec 2, 2009 | Enrique Ornelas | Win | UD | 12 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 58 | Apr 3, 2010 | Roy Jones Jr. | Win | UD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 59 | Dec 18, 2010 | Jean Pascal | Draw | MD | 12 | Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada — ★ Title fight — For WBC, IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 60 | May 21, 2011 | Jean Pascal | Win | UD | 12 | Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada — ★ Title fight — Won WBC, IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 61 | Oct 15, 2011 | Chad Dawson | NC | NC | 2 (12), 2:48 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles at stake; Originally TKO win for Dawson, later ruled NC after an incorrect referee call |
| 62 | Apr 28, 2012 | Chad Dawson | Loss | MD | 12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 63 | Mar 9, 2013 | Tavoris Cloud | Win | UD | 12 | Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won IBF light heavyweight title |
| 64 | Oct 26, 2013 | Karo Murat | Win | UD | 12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light heavyweight title |
| 65 | Apr 19, 2014 | Beibut Shumenov | Win | SD | 12 | D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light heavyweight title; Won WBA (Super), and IBA light heavyweight titles |
| 66 | Nov 8, 2014 | Sergey Kovalev | Loss | UD | 12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Super) and IBF light heavyweight titles; For WBO light heavyweight title |
| 67 | Dec 17, 2016 | Joe Smith Jr. | Loss | TKO | 8 (12), 0:53 | The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBC International light heavyweight title |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): IBF middleweight title April 29, 1995 – July 16, 2005 (won the vacant title from Segundo Mercado; a long run of defenses per the bout table; added the WBC title on April 14, 2001 against Keith Holmes and the WBA (Super) title on September 29, 2001 against Félix Trinidad, and the WBO title on September 18, 2004 against Oscar De La Hoya, becoming undisputed; lost the WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring titles to Jermain Taylor); The Ring light heavyweight title June 10, 2006 – April 19, 2008 (won from Antonio Tarver, with the IBO title; defended against Winky Wright; lost to Joe Calzaghe); WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles May 21, 2011 – April 28, 2012 (won from Jean Pascal, with the IBO title; lost to Chad Dawson); IBF light heavyweight title March 9, 2013 – November 8, 2014 (won from Tavoris Cloud; defended against Karo Murat; added the WBA (Super) title on April 19, 2014 against Beibut Shumenov; lost both to Sergey Kovalev) — all dates per the bout table
- Dec 4, 1992 vs Wayne Powell: Won vacant USBA middleweight title
- Feb 16, 1993 vs Gilbert Baptist: Retained USBA middleweight title
- May 22, 1993 vs Roy Jones Jr.: For vacant IBF middleweight title
- Aug 3, 1993 vs Roy Ritchie: Retained USBA middleweight title
- Nov 23, 1993 vs Wendall Hall: Retained USBA middleweight title
- May 17, 1994 vs Lupe Aquino: Retained USBA middleweight title
- Dec 17, 1994 vs Segundo Mercado: For vacant IBF middleweight title
- Apr 29, 1995 vs Segundo Mercado: Won vacant IBF middleweight title
- Jan 27, 1996 vs Steve Frank: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Mar 16, 1996 vs Joe Lipsey: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Jul 16, 1996 vs William Bo James: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Apr 19, 1997 vs John David Jackson: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Jul 20, 1997 vs Glen Johnson: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Nov 18, 1997 vs Andrew Council: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Jan 31, 1998 vs Simon Brown: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Aug 28, 1998 vs Robert Allen: IBF middleweight title at stake; Hopkins unable to continue after the referee accidentally pushed him out of the ring
- Feb 6, 1999 vs Robert Allen: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Dec 12, 1999 vs Antwun Echols: Retained IBF middleweight title
- May 13, 2000 vs Syd Vanderpool: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Dec 1, 2000 vs Antwun Echols: Retained IBF middleweight title
- Apr 14, 2001 vs Keith Holmes: Retained IBF middleweight title; Won WBC middleweight title
- Sep 29, 2001 vs Félix Trinidad: Retained WBC and IBF middleweight titles; Won WBA (Super) middleweight title
- Feb 2, 2002 vs Carl Daniels: Retained WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles
- Mar 29, 2003 vs Morrade Hakkar: Retained WBA (Unified), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles
- Dec 13, 2003 vs William Joppy: Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles
- Jun 5, 2004 vs Robert Allen: Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles
- Sep 18, 2004 vs Oscar De La Hoya: Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles; Won WBO middleweight title
- Feb 19, 2005 vs Howard Eastman: Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles
- Jul 16, 2005 vs Jermain Taylor: Lost WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles
- Dec 3, 2005 vs Jermain Taylor: For WBA (Undisputed), WBC, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles
- Jun 10, 2006 vs Antonio Tarver: Won IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles
- Jul 21, 2007 vs Winky Wright: Retained The Ring light heavyweight title
- Apr 19, 2008 vs Joe Calzaghe: Lost The Ring light heavyweight title
- Dec 18, 2010 vs Jean Pascal: For WBC, IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles
- May 21, 2011 vs Jean Pascal: Won WBC, IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles
- Oct 15, 2011 vs Chad Dawson: WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles at stake; Originally TKO win for Dawson, later ruled NC after an incorrect referee call
- Apr 28, 2012 vs Chad Dawson: Lost WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles
- Mar 9, 2013 vs Tavoris Cloud: Won IBF light heavyweight title
- Oct 26, 2013 vs Karo Murat: Retained IBF light heavyweight title
- Apr 19, 2014 vs Beibut Shumenov: Retained IBF light heavyweight title; Won WBA (Super), and IBA light heavyweight titles
- Nov 8, 2014 vs Sergey Kovalev: Lost WBA (Super) and IBF light heavyweight titles; For WBO light heavyweight title
- Dec 17, 2016 vs Joe Smith Jr.: For WBC International light heavyweight title
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (). Featured image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Bernard_Hopkins_Philly_HOF_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=api&utm_content=original
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-10-31.
