Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Check the list after the jump…

Bernard Hopkins, who turns 46 on Jan. 15, can become the oldest boxer in history to win a major world title Saturday when he faces WBC and Ring magazine light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal at Quebec City’s Pepsi Coliseum (10 p.m. ET/PT, Showtime). Currently the No. 7-ranked boxer in SI.com’s pound-for-pound ratings, Hopkins will be 38 days older than George Foreman, who was 45 years and 10 months when he knocked out Michael Moorer for the heavyweight title in 1994. Here’s a look at 40 athletes who excelled past their 40th birthdays.

Brett Favre.  The NFL’s only grandfather hit 40 midway through the 2009 season, just days after beating the Packers on Monday Night Football to become the first quarterback to beat each of the league’s 32 franchises. He led the Vikings to the NFC title game, where they lost in overtime to the Saints, and finished third overall in Pro Bowl voting behind Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.

At 40, Randy Couture outpointed Tito Ortiz for the UFC’s undisputed light heavyweight championship, becoming the promotion’s first and only two-division titleholder. Now 47, the Everett, Wash., native continues to campaign in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

Mariano Rivera turned 40 shortly after leading the Yankees to the 2009 World Series title. He retired a career-high 24 consecutive batters in June 2010 and made an 11th All-Star appearance with a 1.05 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 20 saves in 22 opportunities during the first half. The future Hall of Famer agreed to a two-year, $30 million contract to remain with the Yankees on Dec. 14.

Doug Harvey. Considered by some the greatest defenseman of all-time — his seven Norris Trophy wins rank behind only Bobby Orr — Harvey skated in 70 games for the 1968-69 Blues at 44. He concluded his 19-year NHL career with two goals, 20 assists and a plus-11 rating for an expansion team that reached, but lost, the Stanley Cup Final for the second of three straight years.

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