Bernard Hopkins vs William Bo James

On July 16, 1996, Bernard Hopkins defended his IBF Middleweight Title for the third time against William "Bo" James at the Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fight, promoted by Butch Lewis and televised on Fox Sports, showcased Hopkins' growing dominance in the middleweight division.

Both fighters weighed close to the division limit, with Hopkins at 158¼ lbs and James at 158 lbs. Despite James' pre-fight acknowledgement of his underdog status, the 35-year-old challenger entered the bout with a reputation for durability, having never been knocked down in his 28 professional fights.

Hopkins, however, quickly shattered this record. In the second round, a hard right from the champion sent James to the canvas for the first time in his career. Although James managed to weather this early storm and continue fighting, it set the tone for the rest of the bout.

The fight became increasingly one-sided as it progressed. The judges' scorecards reflected Hopkins' dominance, with Eugenia Williams scoring it 99-90, Al DeVito 100-88, and Henry Eugene Grant 100-89 favouring the champion by the end of the tenth round.

The end came at 2:02 of the eleventh round. Hopkins trapped James against the ropes, unleashing a combination of headshots and a decisive left to the body. This final assault prompted referee Rudy Battle to stop the fight, awarding Hopkins a TKO victory.