If you want to ask, on this planet, who is the one that can transform from a robber to a worldwide revered figure; who is the one that can dominate the middleweight boxing division making a division-record 20 middleweight title defenses; who is the one that as a middleweight moved up two weight classes to challenge the light heavyweight king. One man that made the difference, Bernard Hopkins.

He demonstrates, through his own experience, that through hard work and pure discipline we can achieve anything. After reading this story, you will know how Bernard Hopkins began his career, what made the man, the fighter and the role model.

Hopkins grew up in a rough area in Philadelphia, USA and involved in gangs and drugs at an early age. He said he has a fighting record of around 50-0 on the streets of Philadelphia and learnt how to survive with his two hands.

Hopkins then won many amateur titles all over the place, Golden Gloves Titles, Local Titles etc.

In 1982, still at a relatively young age, Hopkins committed a robbery which cost him 56 months in jail, from 1984 to 1989. This is where the transformation began to happen.

During the time in jail, Hopkins thrived with a new purpose in life. He joined the boxing gym in jail and began to train and fight, he even won the national penitentiary middleweight championship three times.

When he was released from jail in 1988 and began his professional boxing career, he had one purpose in life, champion of the world. He achieved an impressive 22 wins in a row to give him the chance for the vacant IBF world champion against a prime Olympic gold medalist and unbeaten boxing genius Roy Jones.

These two are among the best ever to step into the ring. It was a brutal duel, both fighters tried their level best. But as everyone knew, the victory was not on Hopkins side. I believe that this Roy Jones fight came too soon for Hopkins. I don't think at that time Hopkins had developed the technical prowess that he was renowned for later in his career. If this fight had come a little later in his career then the outcome would probably have been different.

After that defeat, he trained even harder and quickly walked out of the shadow. He then notched up another 26 unbeaten streak fight making a record breaking 20 title defenses of his middleweight crown, unifying every major middleweight title. He was undeniably the best pound for pound king in the world with wins over great fighters like Oscar Dela Hoya, Glen Johnson, William Joppy, Howard Eastman, not to mention the absolute execution of Felix Trinidad.

But after the win over "Golden Boy" Oscar Dela Hoya, the 40 year-old Hopkins suffered back-to-back losses to Jermain Taylor, a rising star, and lost all his middleweight title. By the time, almost any fighter would think of retirement, but it's not finished yet for Hopkins.

Today the "Executioner"Hopkins, 41 years old, put the perfect finishing touch to his outstanding career executing the reigning light heavyweight king Antonio Tarver over twelve one sided fight. Now, everyone in this world should be silent for a minute for the great impossible accomplishment the mighty Hopkins has just achieved. He is undoubtably the greatest middleweight ever to grace the ring.

Note: This story is dedicated to all the Hopkins fans celebrating the great win over heavyweight king Antonio Tarver.