A year after their first thrilling battle, Bernard Hopkins again defends the IBF Middleweight Championship against Antwun Echols in a foul-filled fight. In the opening round, Echols complains to Referee Tony Weeks about Hopkins holding and hitting, then clocks Hopkins as the referee is breaking them. Hopkins responds with a shot of his own, and they even brawl after the bell. In the second round, Hopkins wallops Echols on the back of the head, collapsing the challenger on his back. Tired of being held and hit, Echols picks Hopkins up and dumps him on his shoulder early in the sixth round. Rather than settle for a disqualification win, an enraged Hopkins chooses to fight on and lands a left hook in the seventh round that staggers Echols across the ring and knocks him through the ropes to the apron. Hopkins finally loses a point for holding and hitting in the eighth round but finishes Echols and the rivalry in the tenth by battering the challenger around the ring until Weeks ends it.

Battle For The Belts: Bernard Hopkins vs. Antwun Echols II

Bernard Hopkins defends his IBF Middleweight Championship for the tenth time when he takes on knockout artist Antwun Echols. The hard-hitting Echols floors Hopkins as Referee Frank Santore Jr. is breaking the fighters in the opening round. From there, Echols momentarily has him in trouble, but Hopkins gets through the round and trades bombs with the challenger for the next several, finally stunning Echols in the fifth. After wobbling Echols in the ninth, Hopkins takes over the fight, imposing his will over the final three rounds, including nearly stopping Echols in the twelfth. Echols survives but loses a lopsided decision.

Battle For The Belts: Bernard Hopkins vs. Antwun Echols II

Bernard Hopkins vs. Antwun Echols I

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