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In a few days, former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins goes down memory lane. The final bout of Hopkins' half of fame career is nostalgic for many reasons. The career of Bernard Hopkins began on October 11, 1988, in Atlantic City, at the light heavyweight limit. Bernard would go on to lose that bout by way of 4-round majority decision. After his losing his first pro fight, Bernard did not return to the ring for over 14 months. When he did return, he was slimmed down and fighting as a middleweight, a weight class he occupied for the next 15 years.
The nostalgia surrounding Hopkins' last bout is the fact that the bout is scheduled in Atlantic City, the place of his pro debut, and he returns to the light heavyweight limit, the weight class where it all began. Very few fighters who moved up or down in weight, end their careers in their original weight class.
Some have called Hopkins a freak of nature because even at age 40, he was easily making weight for his middleweight title defenses and kept his body in top physical condition. There was not an ounce of fat to be found. There were even several times when he weighed in a few pounds below the middleweight limit. He did things that were unheard of this era of boxing. Historical accomplishments include 20 successful title defenses of the middleweight crown, being undefeated for over twelve years and being the first fighter in history to hold the all four major world titles (WBA/WBO/IBF/WBC) at the same time. [details]
The nostalgia surrounding Hopkins' last bout is the fact that the bout is scheduled in Atlantic City, the place of his pro debut, and he returns to the light heavyweight limit, the weight class where it all began. Very few fighters who moved up or down in weight, end their careers in their original weight class.
Some have called Hopkins a freak of nature because even at age 40, he was easily making weight for his middleweight title defenses and kept his body in top physical condition. There was not an ounce of fat to be found. There were even several times when he weighed in a few pounds below the middleweight limit. He did things that were unheard of this era of boxing. Historical accomplishments include 20 successful title defenses of the middleweight crown, being undefeated for over twelve years and being the first fighter in history to hold the all four major world titles (WBA/WBO/IBF/WBC) at the same time. [details]
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