1 Beat up hoodlums

One of eight children born to Bernard Hopkins Sr and his wife, Shirley, in 1965. His father drank himself to death and, by the age of 13, he was beating up older hoodlums and robbing in the streets of Philadelphia. “I beat guys and took their money, big, tough guys. I never hustled but I’d get the guys who did it because I knew they couldn’t tell the police. The first question the police would ask them was, ‘Where did you get $5,000 from?’ So I figured all I had to do was watch my back.”

2 Stabbed three times

Stabbed in the back twice and once near his heart, almost bleeding to death. Spent 30 days in hospital. “My mom told me, ‘You know, some day you’re going to jail’, and she was right.”

3 Sent to prison

One of his victims called the police and he was arrested and sentenced to 18 years for nine felonies. Served five years at Graterford State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania and his prison number, Y4145, remains etched in his memory. Witnessed rapes and the murder of a fellow inmate in an argument over a packet of cigarettes, but also discovered discipline through boxing.

4 Learning the hard way

Turned pro in 1988 and lost first bout at light-heavyweight against New Yorker Clinton Mitchell. Remained out of the ring for more than a year before won points decision against Greg Paige.

“I just asked myself, ‘What have I got to lose? I’m in a win-win situation as long as I stay out of the penitentiary’. My whole objective was to stay out of jail.”

5 Painful defeat

Won 22 consecutive bouts and faced Roy Jones Jr for IBF middleweight title in May 1993. “I didn’t like the taste of that [defeat] but I learnt from it, I didn’t become discouraged. Why? Because I had been educated before that fight and I looked at it as another test.”

6 World title

Knocked down twice and held to draw by Segundo Mercado in second challenge for vacant IBF middleweight title in December 1994 before claimed title in rematch by seventh- round stoppage. Took to wearing red executioner’s mask, below, to signify he would take no prisoners in title reign.

7 Undisputed champion

Made 12 defences of IBF title before winning WBC belt in unification bout against Keith Holmes in April 2001. Faced Puerto Rico’s Felix Trinidad in climax of Don King’s middleweight unification tournament. Leading up to fight in New York, Hopkins grabbed Puerto Rican flag out of Trinidad’s hand and tossed it to the ground, repeating the gesture in front of 10,000 Trinidad fans in Puerto Rico and almost causing a riot.

Bout postponed owing to September 11 terrorist attack on World Trade Center but later in September 2001 Hopkins dominated Trinidad and stopped him in 12th round to become undisputed middleweight champion. Altogether, made 20 title defences before Jermain Taylor defeated him twice on points in 2005.

8 Going up in weight

Moved up to light-heavyweight to challenge Antonio Tarver for The Ring title in June 2006, winning on points, aged 41. “I told people they would be surprised that it would be an easy fight. I could have fought in this weight class a long time ago. I do great with southpaws [such as Tarver]. I knew all I had to do was neutralise his jab and work with everything else. Tarver has a good punch but people underestimate that I can take a punch. I got a strong chin. Tarver is a good puncher. I can see why he knocked out Roy [Jones], but I never gave him a target.”

9 Upsets

Confronted Joe Calzaghe at MGM Grand last December and told him: “I would never let a white boy beat me.” Later tried to justify remark by suggesting it is how black people talk in the neighbourhood where he grew up.

10 Fears for Obama

Suggested on a press tour stop in London that Barack Obama risks assassination, if he beats Hillary Clinton to become Democratic Party candidate for the White House. “America is not ready for an African-American in the White House,” he said.

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