Bernard Hopkins outclassed Kelly Pavlik with a virtuoso performance to win their big clash in Atlantic City on Saturday night.

The 43-year-old 'Executioner' rolled back the years to score a convincing unanimous points victory in the catchweight match at 170lbs.

He made light of a 17-year age gap to hand middleweight king Pavlik the first defeat of his professional career, pitching a virtual shutout to win by scores of 119-106, 118-108 and 117-109.

Pavlik was a hot favourite coming in after taking control of the middleweight division in building a 34-0 record.

But the stiff jab and sledgehammer right hand that terrified opponents at 160lbs were never seen here as Hopkins left him totally befuddled.

Hopkins had controlled the early rounds of his last outing against Joe Calzaghe back in April before fading down the stretch to lose a split decision.

But Pavlik is clearly no Calzaghe and just didn't have the skills or the speed to turn the fight round. He was made to look slow and ponderous by the brilliant ringcraft of the veteran Philadelphian.

Many experts expected Hopkins - beaten in three of his last five fights - to try and spoil and slow the fight down, but he did just the opposite.

Bernard came out firing and took control early with quick jabs, powerful hooks and classy combinations.

He stiffened Pavlik's legs with a cracking left in round two, and by the end of that session the alarm bells were already ringing in 'The Ghost's' corner with trainer Jack Loew imploring his man to double jab and start working Hopkins.

But Kelly appeared powerless to do anything as Hopkins continued to dominate. He threw all the meaningful punches and his handspeed and movement built a big lead by halfway.

A short right towards the end of the sixth brought blood from the nose of Pavlik and by now Loew in the corner was becoming increasingly desperate.

Hopkins launched a furious assault in the seventh to take it, and to add to his woes Pavlik was docked a point for hitting behind the head in the eighth.

Bernard himself had a point taken off for holding in the ninth, but more than made up for it by opening up a cut over Pavlik's left eye.

The 'Executioner' knew he was in total control and coasted through 10 and 11 before hurting Pavlik again with a superb combination in the final stanza.

The verdict from the judges was a mere formality, as Pavlik was left stunned and deflated while Hopkins had once again proved the critics wrong.

He told Setanta: "Kelly Pavlik is a stronger puncher than me, about 10 years younger and has a long reach. But I got speed man. I'm not saying I'm Sugar Ray Leonard or Roy Jones, but I think I'm really under-rated across the board. A lot of that has to do with people's feelings about me personally.

"I still think someone will say things to downplay this but I'm at peace with God. I'm a freak of nature. I could box for another two or three years if I wanted to. I live clean, I don't have a mark on my face, I don't have a scratch.

"I've been through 24 rounds in my last two fights without a busted lip, against good fighters. These fighters are undefeated. Joe Calzaghe, controversial decision, and Kelly Pavlik. You put all those wins together, 70 or 80 fights.

"What can I do? I'm just trying to prove to you over and over again, don't underestimate Bernard Hopkins. If I got things against me, my life coming up was against me. I worked off nine years of parole. They doubted that I could do that. I have a strong will and I showed it today.

"This is one of the best performances out of any of my fights. This was better than Tarver, better than Trinidad, better than Oscar, better than 21 defences.

"I want knockouts now, I want to prove to people that I do have power, that I don't have to fight safe. I was locked into that mental state at one time. I want to show I can fight like a Philadelphian fighter. I do have balls. I hope that I displayed that tonight."

Hopkins hinted that this won't be his final fight, and that we will see him in the ring again.

"I have to speak to Oscar (De La Hoya) and Richard Schaefer but gardening is boring. Turning dirt at home is boring."

Final statistics had Hopkins landing 32% of his punches (172 of 530), to Pavlik's 23% (108 of 463).

Hopkins was even more dominant in the power punch category, connecting on 49% (148 of 304), compared to 26% to Pavlik (55 of 211).

Pavlik was taken to a local hospital following the bout for stitches.