1. William Joppy: Undisputed Middleweight Champion
2. Rivalry with Julio Cesar Green
3. Notable Victories and Legacy
4. Challenging Felix Trinidad
5. WBC Championship and Hopkins Fight
6. Continued Success

William Joppy: Undisputed Middleweight Champion

Early Career and Title Wins

William Joppy, an American professional boxer, made his boxing debut in February 1993. In June 1996, he achieved a significant victory by knocking out then-WBA middleweight champion Shinji Takehara in the ninth round. Following this triumph, Joppy continued his winning streak, defeating Ray McElroy in October 1996 and Peter Venancio in May 1997.

Rivalry with Julio Cesar Green

In August 1997, Joppy suffered a setback when he lost to Julio Cesar Green via points. However, he exacted revenge in a rematch in January 1998, defeating Green by points. The two boxers faced each other for a third time in September 1999, with Joppy emerging victorious via technical knockout in the seventh round due to a cut above Green's left eye.

Notable Victories and Legacy

In August 1998, Joppy faced off against boxing legend Roberto Duran. Despite Duran's reputation, Joppy demonstrated his skill by knocking him out in the third round. He continued his winning ways in the following years, defeating Rito Ruvalcaba, Hassan Sherifi, and Jonathan Reid.

Challenging Felix Trinidad

In May 2001, Joppy stepped into the ring with Puerto Rican boxing sensation Felix Trinidad. After weathering a flurry of punches in the first round, Joppy was unable to recover in the fourth round and was forced to surrender the fight. Despite this loss, Joppy's legacy as a skilled and determined boxer remained intact.

WBC Championship and Hopkins Fight

In November 2001, Joppy won the vacant WBA "regular" middleweight title by defeating Howard Eastman. He successfully defended his title against Naohtaki Hosumi in October 2002. However, his reign as champion came to an end in December 2003 when he lost to Bernard Hopkins in an undisputed title fight.

Continued Success

Despite the loss to Hopkins, Joppy continued to compete at a high level. He maintained a strong record, retiring in 2009 with 40 wins, 9 losses, and 2 draws. His impressive boxing career earned him a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020.

Boxer