Bernard Hopkins vs Robert Allen III

On June 5, 2004, Bernard Hopkins and Robert Allen met for the third time in their careers at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This bout, promoted by Top Rank and aired on HBO Pay-Per-View, saw Hopkins defending his WBC, WBA, and IBF middleweight titles and The Ring Magazine middleweight world title.

Hopkins, weighing 159 pounds, faced the 160-pound Allen, who entered the fight as the IBF's top-ranked contender. This matchup continued their rivalry, with their previous encounters resulting in a no-contest (1998) and a Hopkins victory (1999).

Hopkins largely controlled the fight, as reflected in the judges' scorecards. Carol Castellano and Jerry Roth scored the bout 119-107, while Patricia Morse Jarman had it slightly closer at 117-109, all in favour of Hopkins.

The action was not without incident. In the fifth round, referee Joe Cortez penalized Allen one point for low blows, further widening the scorecard gap. Hopkins' dominance was emphasized in the seventh round when he scored a knockdown against Allen.

This victory marked Hopkins' 18th defence of his IBF title, 5th of his WBC belt, and 4th of his WBA championship. The win further solidified Hopkins' status as the premier middleweight of his era, showcasing his ability to consistently perform at the highest level against top contenders.

Although Allen was unable to upset the champion, his third appearance at this level demonstrated his unwavering persistence and significant standing within the division. The wide scorecards and in-ring incidents only served to highlight the gap in class between the two fighters on this particular night.

This bout was yet another chapter in Hopkins' awe-inspiring reign as the middleweight champion. It only served to reinforce his reputation for technical skill, durability, and ring generalship against a familiar foe, leaving the audience in awe of his achievements.