Bernard Hopkins vs. Segundo Mercado II

The fight between Bernard Hopkins and Segundo Mercado on April 29, 1995, was a rematch of their December 1994 bout in Quito, Ecuador, which ended in a controversial split draw. In their first meeting, Mercado knocked Hopkins down twice, but Hopkins rallied late, though the high altitude and hometown scoring may have influenced the result The IBF ordered an immediate rematch, this time in Landover, Maryland, for the still-vacant middleweight title. Hopkins, determined to correct his mistakes, studied tapes of aggressive fighters like Mike Tyson to refine his approach. Mercado, confident after nearly dethroning Hopkins, sought to capitalize on his previous success. The stage was set for a decisive showdown.