On July 21, 2007, Bernard Hopkins faced Ronald "Winky" Wright at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This bout, billed as "Coming to Fight," was Hopkins' first defence of The Ring light heavyweight title he had won from Antonio Tarver the previous year.
The fight was significant for several reasons. Hopkins, at 42, had briefly retired after the Tarver fight, creating a wave of anticipation and excitement among fans. His return to face Wright, who had never fought above 160 pounds, was a momentous event. They agreed to a catchweight of 170 pounds, allowing Wright to move up gradually while Hopkins came down from the light heavyweight limit.
Pre-fight tensions escalated at the weigh-in when Hopkins shoved Wright, resulting in a melee between their entourages. This incident led to the Nevada State Athletic Commission fining Hopkins $200,000, reduced from an initial 10% of his $3 million purse.
In the ring, Hopkins showcased his tactical brilliance. He neutralized Wright's renowned jab, limiting him to 87 connections out of 290 attempts. Hopkins' constant movement and superior defence frustrated Wright, while his own body shots gradually sapped Wright's strength.
A pivotal moment occurred in the second round when an accidental headbutt from Hopkins opened a significant cut near Wright's left eye. While not penalized, Hopkins was warned for rubbing his head against Wright's in clinches.
As the fight progressed, Hopkins' strategy proved increasingly effective. Wright, known for his stamina, appeared uncharacteristically tired in the later rounds, his mouth open and breathing laboured.
The judges' scorecards unequivocally reflected Hopkins' dominance: 117-111, 117-111, and 116-112, all in his favour. This unanimous decision decisively ended Wright's 7½-year, 13-bout unbeaten streak. Interestingly, HBO's Harold Lederman scored the bout a draw at 114-114, while the Associated Press had it closer at 115-113 for Hopkins, but the majority decision was clear.
From a commercial perspective, the fight was a resounding success, drawing between 300,000 and 330,000 pay-per-view buys at $49.95 each. This not only underlines the popularity of the bout but also the financial success it brought to the stakeholders.
This victory further cemented Hopkins' status as one of boxing's all-time greats. At 42, he had outmanoeuvred a younger, highly skilled opponent, demonstrating that his tactical acumen and physical conditioning were still at their peak. The fight also highlighted Hopkins' ability to adapt his style and nullify his opponent's strengths, a hallmark of his long and successful career.
