Bernard “the Executioner” Hopkins proved to the boxing establishment what he has been claiming for years — that he is the best middleweight fighter in the world. Hopkins became the first undisputed world middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler ruled the division from 1980 to 1987 when he stopped previously unbeaten Felix Trinidad of Puerto Rico in the 12th round at Madison Square Garden, New York. Hopkins, who was well ahead on points by the final round, took the decision out of the hands of the judges as referee Steve Smoger was forced to stop the fight with 1:42 left. After dominating the previous several rounds, the American landed a crushing right cross to Trinidad’s jaw and a little shove put him down.
Other important events:
1829 - London’s reorganised police force, which becomes known as Scotland Yard, goes on duty.
1885 - The first practical public electric tramway in the world is opened in Blackpool, England.
1911 - Italy declares war on Turkey, eventually conquering Libya.
1915 - New Orleans hurricane hits Louisiana, at least 275 people are killed.
1923 - Britain begins ruling Palestine under a League of Nations mandate.
1944 - Soviet troops invade Yugoslavia.
1962 - Alouette 1, the first Canadian satellite, is launched.
1965 - The Soviet Union admits it is supplying arms to North Vietnam.
1972 - China and Japan normalise relations.
1976 - Syrian troops in Lebanon drive out Palestinian militants from most of their key mountain positions east of Beirut.
1978 - Pope John Paul I is found dead just over a month after becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church.
1982 - Seven people in the Chicago area die after unwittingly taking Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide.
1988 - United Nations peacekeeping forces win the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize.
1990 - The US and Vietnam hold a meeting, the first ever between the two nations since the Vietnam War.
1992 - Brazilian lawmakers impeach President Fernando Collor de Mello.
1996 - Bosnia’s first post-war elections are watched by international groups.
1998 - Pandeli Majko is appointed Albanian Prime Minister.
2000 - The Maze high-security prison in Northern Ireland is closed.
2003 - Adventurer David Hempleman-Adams succeeds in his third attempt to cross the Atlantic in a balloon.
2006 - A Brazilian jetliner clips a smaller jet midair and crashes into the Amazon jungle, killing all 155 on board.
2008 - Astronaut Zhai Zhigang, the first Chinese man to walk in space, is hailed as a national hero in Beijing.
2013 - Kenyan Wilson Kispang breaks marathon world record in Berlin with the time of 2:03:23.