Bernard Hopkins unified the World Middleweight Title, for the very fist time since April 6,1987, when Sugar Ray Leonard won the WBC version of it by winning a majority decision over Marvelous Marvin Hagler, in what turned out to be Hagler's last fight. Hopkins accomplished this when he stopped previously undefeated WBC Middleweight Champion Felix Tito Trinidad, on Sept 15,2001. The other accomplishment he did was break the great Carlos Monzon's record of 14 successful title defenses set in July 1977.
Without a doubt his ten year reign as middleweight champ is near the top, few if any have accomplished half as much. His on going battle with father time is a very close second, beating Tito and Oscar was in my opinion no big deal, Bernard was the bigger man and he did what a good big man is supposed to do to a good little man. The Dawson and Tarver fights were more impressive.
I too cannot point to a single event that would define Hopkins' greatness. His life is a testament to what people can do when they dedicate themselves to what they do well. He could have been just another statistic of a hard luck story that went wrong and ended up in and out of prison. He dedicated himself to the craft he learned while inside, and pursued it with a devotion that few in the sport have.
The man is not oozing talent like Broner or Mayweather. He wasn't born into the sport with boxing royalty in his bloodline like juniors Chavez, Vasquez, or Camacho. He learned to fight and he learned that he would have to fight inside and outside of the ring to make it. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and doesn't party till all hours of the evening. He has taken care of the tools of his trade, namely his body and his mind. He has made good investments and has his financial security.
His singular achievement is as a model of what you can do if you are willing to put in the work both inside and outside the ring.
If you have to judge his best fights they would be demolishing a prime Tito Trinidad, and taking on and clearly beating the very much avoided, and still at the top of his game Winky Wright.
you cant hold him to just one.....
i would say unifying the middleweight title and defending it for 10 years and 20 defenses is pretty high all time for accomplishments
of course coming back at the age of 40 to win the 175 belt from Antonio Tarver was pretty impressive
same for coming back at 47 to become a 2X lite heavy
but me personally.....i will remember him best for REPRESENTING the United States in the weeks following September 11, 2001......in his dominating performance vs Tito
one of the best quotes EVER..... "once i'm done with Tito, i'm taking out Bin Laden's next !!"
Beating Trinidad and Del Hoya
I would have to say his longevity and his ability to contue performing at such a high level at his age.
If I had to pick a definitive fight, I would say his defeating Antonio Tarver to win the Light Heavy title at 46 years of age. The oldest man to win a major title. .
Unifying the middleweight division titles
Debate...
