Keeping Things Hoppin'

Last Saturday night in Brooklyn, 48-year-old Bernard Hopkins won one for the ages—and for the aged—beating 31-year-old Tavoris Cloud by unanimous decision to take the IBF light heavyweight championship and become the oldest fighter in history to win a major title. Here's a look at some key stops along B-Hop's career highway:

1988

Oct. 11: Fresh out of Graterford (Pa.) State Prison, loses pro debut to Clinton Mitchell

1993

May 22: In first bid for a title, is outpointed by middleweight king Roy Jones Jr. (above)

1995

April 29: In dominant showing, TKOs Segundo Mercado in rematch (after settling for draw four months before) to take IBF 160-pound belt

2001

Sept. 29: In biggest win, beats Felix Trinidad to become undisputed middleweight champ

2004

Sept. 18: KOs Oscar De La Hoya with single body shot, ending Golden Boy's middleweight campaign

2005

Feb. 19: Makes division-record 20th successful title defense with unanimous decision over Howard Eastman

2011

May 21: At 46, outpoints hometown hero Jean Pascal in Montreal to become oldest man to win a major title

2013

March 9: Raises the age ante with win over Tavoris Cloud; proclaims, "I'm fighting old school in a new world"

PHOTO

ED MULHOLLAND/USA TODAY SPORTS (HOPKINS WITH BELT; ACTION VS. CLOUD)

PHOTO

FOTOLIA.COM

PHOTO

JOHN IACONO (JONES JR.)

PHOTO

JOHN IACONO (DE LA HOYA)

PHOTO

THE RING MAGAZINE/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO

NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO

ROGERIO BARBOSA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO