Bernard Hopkins W12 Kelly Pavlik... In Atlantic City, New Jersey, Bernard Hopkins moved up the list of all-time greats by whipping world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Hopkins received winning scores of 119-106, 117-109 and 118-108. Hopkins is 43 years old but that didn't hinder him a bit against the 26-year old Pavlik, who had never lost before. Because the fight was contested at 170 pounds, Pavlik retains his world championship status at middleweight. Afterwards, Hopkins had this to say: "I think this was the best performance of my career. Better than Tarver, better than Trinidad, better than Oscar, better than my 21 defenses. I am extremely happy tonight.  He was very heavy handed and I could feel his power, but he never hurt me because I made sure he never hit me flush. I didn't want to get hit flush."  Hopkins told Pavlik in the ring immediately after the fight: "I was a fan of yours before and I'm a fan now. You need to get a little more slickness, listen to your coach and bend your knees more. Don't let this get you down. You're a middleweight champion and middleweight is your destiny. Pavlik's thoughts: "I just couldn't get off, I don't know why. It wasn't because of Bernard's slickness. There was just something wrong with me tonight. I couldn't throw double jabs and I couldn't do things that I normally can do in the ring. I'm going to go back to the drawing board. It just wasn't mine tonight. I'm going back to 160 where I'm more comfortable." source: usa today / golden boy press release