When it comes to unlikely sporting success stories, the career of Bernard Hopkins has to be somewhere near the top. After spending five years in prison as a teenager, Hopkins developed a passion for boxing only to lose his very first bout.

Undeterred, he returned to the ring 18 months later and won 22 fights straight until he ran into a peak Roy Jones Jr. Through all of his 28 years as a professional fighter Hopkins has been written off more times than Dirty Den, but has continually defied the critics.

They said he couldn’t beat Kelly Pavlik and he did. They said he’d struggle against Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad but he stopped them both. After a brace of defeats to Jermain Taylor in 2004 they said he’d never box at the top level again, but he did, winning multiple world titles at light heavyweight including one at 49-years-old against Beibut Shumenov.

Even the ageless get old though, and Hopkins has not fought for two years since a one-sided points loss to Sergey Kovalev. Now approaching his 52nd birthday, the Executioner makes one final stand in the squared circle tonight on BoxNation, and in classic style he has not chosen an easy ride.

On the opposite of the ring will be hard-hitting 27-year-old Joe Smith Jr who has lost just one of his 23 professional fights. The Long Island native boast 18 stoppages on his record, including a stunning first round finish of the highly rated Andrzej Fonfara in his last bout.

Smith’s level of opponents had been unmemorable prior to the Fonfara victory, but that win over a bonafide top five light heavyweight introduced him to the world. He will attempt to continue his ascent tonight against Hopkins, and will be hoping that time has finally caught up with his veteran foe.

Hopkins’ level of success and notoriety is surprising considering his boxing style. While it would be cruel to describe it as boring, a peculiar mix of spoiling tactics and dirty boxing mixed with surprising speed and adept counters has often failed to entertain. What he does have is exceptional timing and ring-craft, and he will be looking to take Smith into rough territory.

Hopkins' opponent, Joe Smith Jr, has lost just one in 23 fights (Getty)

While Hopkins has completed the 12 round distance 25 times in his career, Smith has only gone past round six twice. The experience factor is clearly with Hopkins, but Smith’s power is legitimate especially when faced against a man in his fifties.

Whatever the outcome this fight has captivated boxing fans before a punch has even been thrown. Hopkins has been a quintessential love him or hate him boxer, but his retirement is giving boxing fans sharp pangs of nostalgia.

The bookmakers have Hopkins a slight favourite at 8/15, with Smith available at 6/4. If you’re feeling particularly romantic, perhaps take a look at the 5/1 odds for Hopkins to win via KO or TKO, which would be his first stoppage win since 2004.

An exceptional cruiserweight bout headlines the undercard in California as WBO world champion Oleksandr Usyk defends his title against Thabiso Mchunu.



Usyk won gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games and claimed his first professional world title in just his ninth fight, while the exciting Mchunu boasts a win over Eddie Chambers on his record.