he MGM Grand Las Vegas was the scenario of the historical fight between two great fighters, the multi-world champion Oscar de la Hoya and the “Executioner” Bernard Hopkins. The fight was the unification of the four title fights.

Hopkins was owner of the WBA, WBC and IBF belts while De la Hoya has the WBO’s.

It was a very exciting fight from the very beginning when De la Hoya controlled the actions however in the second half of the bout; Hopkins began to weaken De la Hoya.

The punishment of the mid zone of De la Hoya put him in trouble, and in the ninth round he went to the canvas after a hook of Hopkins, who celebrated the end of the fight sentenced seconds later by the referee Kenny Bayless.

This was the first loss of De la Hoya by KO, and Hopkins became the first boxer in history to unify the four middleweight 160 lbs world titles.

Hopkins successfully defended his title until July 16, 2005 when he fought Jermain Taylor, who defeated him by split decision at the MGM to become the second man to unifiy the four titles.