Hopkins wants Mayweather next’; No Stevenson or Kovalev for him

10/27/2013 Jeff Sorby

hopkins804 While boxing fans would like to see IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins to step it up from the likes of Karo Murat and Tavoris Cloud to fight the best in the division in Adonis Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev, Hopkins said that he’s interested in moving down in weight to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. next.

Hopkins feels he can get down to 160 by next May to fight Mayweather in Cinco de Mayo if they can negotiate the fight. As for fighting Kovalev or Stevenson, Hopkins feels that the fights can’t get made due to him fighting on Showtime and Kovalev and Stevenson fighting on HBO.

Hopkins said “You give me until May of next year to make 160, that fight is on. I don’t think too many reporters would count me out.”

continue

Bernard Hopkins defeats Karo Murat

10/28/201310/27/2013 Showtime Boxing

hopkins200 IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins (54-6-2, 32 KO’s) became the oldest fighter in history to defend a world title, breaking his own record by defeating European challenger Karo Murat (25-2-1, 15 KO’s). The 48-year-old “Executioner” turned “Alien” out-worked and out-brawled his 30-year-old challenger and won via clear unanimous decision in front of his hometown crowd at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The fight, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Caesars Atlantic City, headlined an entertaining three-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event.

Hopkins appeared to start the night slow, but Hopkins’ combinations, speed and power grew each round. By the seventh, Hopkins and Murat exchanged wild power shots in spurts for the rest of the bout. Amidst these exchanges, Hopkins used his signature defense, angles and gamesmanship to mentally and physically deflate Murat. The judges scored the fight 117-110 and 119-108, twice for the champion.

continue

Alien B-Hop displays familiar weapons to conquer Karo Murat

10/28/201310/27/2013 Paul Strauss

hopkins-murat-results Showtime’s festivities at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ started with Deontay Wilder’s ugly destruction of Nicolai “Stone Man” Firtha. Neither man deserves much attention. How Deontay can be viewed as a legitimate heavyweight contender is a mystery to me. Showtime’s Al Bernstein tried hard to describe Firtha as a real threat to Deontay. Al struggled to try and make viewers believe because he fought pretty well against Tyson Fury and that he could do the same against Wilder. It’s doubtful viewers bought Al’s efforts. His announcing partners, Mauro Ranallo and Paulie Malignaggi were probably holding their hands over their mouths to suppress laughter.

continue

Hopkins beats Murat; Deontay stops Firtha; Quillin stops Rosado

10/27/201310/26/2013 Rob Smith

hopkins78 Making his first defense of his IBF light heavyweight title champion Bernard Hopkins (54-6-2, 32 KO’s) defeated Karo Murat (25-2-1m 15 KO’s) by a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. The final judges scores were 117-110, 119-108, 119-108. Hopkins took a lot of shots in the fight and it was a lot of back and forth action between them. This was easily the most exciting Hopkins fight in quite some time.

Speaking of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Hopkins said “I can make 160. If the negotiations are serious, I can make 160.”

continue

Hopkins must look good in beating Murat tonight to keep Super Fight hopes alive

10/26/201310/26/2013 Rob Smith

003 Hopkins IMG_2030 It’s not really question of whether IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KO’s) will beat his little known German based opponent Karo Murat (25-1-1, 15 KO’s) tonight in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The only question is whether the 48-year-old Hopkins will look sensational in stopping him or as boring as he’s looked in many of his fights over the years.

Either way, Hopkins will win this fight with ease. Murat has one defeat on his record, but he should arguably have three defeats because he draw and victory over Gabriel Campillo in their two fights were fights that Murat appeared to lose. Murat was also stopped by Nathan Cleverly several years ago in one-sided match.

continue

Murat: I’m going to end Bernard’s career; he’s old

10/26/201310/25/2013 Rob Smith

001 Hopkins vs Murat Face off IMG_2038 #2 IBF contender Karo Murat (25-1-1, 15 KO’s) isn’t beating around the bushes for what he plans on doing against the soon to be 49-year-old Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KO’s) in their fight this Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.

Hopkins will be making the first defense of his IBF light heavyweight title.

Murat wants to send Hopkins into a retirement that he won’t come back from. Murat feels that Hopkins time has passed and he’s going to be the one that puts him out of his misery.

continue

Hopkins eyes Mayweather superfight should he get past Murat

10/24/201310/24/2013 BoxNation

001 Wide podiun shot IMG_1379 (Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime) LONDON (24 Oct) – Boxing’s oldest ever world champion Bernard Hopkins has his eyes on a superfight with pound-for-pound ace Floyd Mayweather should he get past Karo Murat this Saturday night live on BoxNation.

The 48-year-old displayed his usual calm demeanour during the pre-fight press conference ahead of his IBF light-heavyweight world title clash at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City this weekend.

Over the past few weeks there has been speculation linking the Philadelphia legend with a potential matchup against the mercurial Mayweather, pitting two boxing greats against one another in a fight that would certainly generate global interest.

continue

Bernard Hopkins vs. Karo Murat New York City press conference quotes

10/24/201310/23/2013 Showtime Boxing

004 Hopkins and Murat faceoff IMG_0156 Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins, IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“I’m coming to show you all that not only am I different and I don’t get tired of doing what I do. I love winning opportunities and situations to win.

“Saying ‘I’m getting old,’ is getting old.

“[Gabriel] Rosado and “Kid Chocolate” [Quillin] have the opportunity to steal the show. The undercard is so great. The co-main event is the middleweight belt and it is in good hands.

“I’m only doing what some of the greats have done before me in any sport. Hit and not get hit. Doesn’t mean to run.

continue

Bernard Hopkins aims to prove he’s not old at 48

09/15/201610/23/2013 Rob Smith

IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KO’s) will be turning 49-years-old on January 15th, and he’s a proven that he’s a unique fighter with his incredible longevity in the sport. Hopkins is still fighting at a high level at 48 in a sport where most fighters are pretty much over-the-hill by the time they’re 35.

Hopkins will be defending his IBF title for the first time this Saturday night against the much younger 30-year-old Karo Murat (25-1-1, 15 KO’s) at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. This is Hopkins’ mandatory challenger and there wasn’t any way for him to get around not taking the fight, so you can’t blame Hop for facing a less than spectacular opponent.

Blame it on the International Boxing Federation for ranking Murat at #2 off a wins against opposition like this: Sandro Siproshvili, Otis Griffin and Christian Cruz. Beating those fighters got Murat installed as Hopkins’ mandatory.

continue

Joe Calzaghe debuts BoxNation’s hit new ‘Fighting Back’ series ahead of Hopkins-Murat clash

10/23/201310/22/2013 BoxNation

LONDON (22 Oct) – Undefeated boxing great Joe Calzaghe will kick off ‘Fighting Back’, a hit new series debuting on BoxNation this Friday, ahead of Bernard Hopkins’ world title showdown with German contender Karo Murat. The first instalment of the series features the Welsh pugilist as he looks back over his historical victory over the eternal Hopkins, who became the oldest world champion ever at 48 when he beat Tavoris Cloud for the IBF title last March.

continue