Hopkins defeats Murat to keep light-heavy title

ATLANTIC CITY - The sweat flew into the air after Bernard Hopkins' overhand right socked the left side of Karo Murat's face in the 11th round on Saturday night.

Murat, already cut near his left eye, could only bend forward as the blood poured and he sought a respite from the vicious blows of boxing's oldest-ever champion. The 48-year-old Hopkins relied on his right hand to control most of the 12 rounds and retain his International Boxing Federation light-heavyweight title by unanimous decision, becoming the oldest champion to successfully defend his crown.

Before the fight, Hopkins changed his nickname from "Executioner" to "Alien," as he felt it was the only way to describe how he competes at a world-class level. He wore his nickname on the back of his black trunks and wore a green alien mask into the ring.

Hopkins weighed in on Friday at 1721/2 pounds, saying it was a statement that he can cut weight. Likely, it was also a statement that Hopkins can get down to 160 pounds, where he hopes to meet Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May. Saturday's win was not only dominant but active and exciting, which is important for Hopkins' chances to land a fight with the pound-for-pound champ.

"I am a freak, I am an alien," Hopkins said after the win. "I will see the doctor about it on Monday."

In the eighth round, Hopkins sized up Murat and cracked him with a right that opened a cut above Murat's left eye. He then chased Murat into a corner and almost sent him through the lower ropes with another right hand.

As the referee separated the fighters, Hopkins ran to Murat's corner to tease the challenger to come forward. During the German's attack, Hopkins turned to Murat's corner and began yelling at his opponent's trainers. He then escaped with ease.

"The plan was to let the dog follow the bone into the dark alley," Hopkins said after the fight. "You get him in a corner, you stalk him and he doesn't know what he got into."

A round later, Hopkins backed himself again into Murat's corner, but the German did not let him get away. He hurt Hopkins with a series of combinations as the ninth round closed. Hopkins appeared spent from his eighth-round flurry.

"I wanted to be a crowd-pleaser, and when you go for a knockout you have to take some punches," Hopkins said. "I have a little bit of blood on me, but this is what they wanted to see."

Hopkins connected with a left flush to Murat's face, but the challenger turned away and grabbed his head. He sold the hit as a head butt since the fighters were in close quarters. Hopkins grabbed his opponent's back and kissed his head.

Murat threw Hopkins to the ground in the sixth round before hitting Hopkins twice while he was on the ground. Referee Steve Smoger did not score it a knockdown and did not penalize Murat. Hopkins rallied a round later with a series of right hands before Murat was penalized for hitting Hopkins while Smoger broke the pair apart.

Hopkins worked Murat with his right hand in the fourth, thumping him in the lower stomach from close range. He dipped his way out of trouble against the ropes and opened Murat for a combination. He brought Murat to the other corner, backed himself in, and escaped with a crushing left hook.

In the third round, Hopkins absorbed Murat's hook and stepped back. The crafty veteran stuck out his tongue and shook his head as he flashed his mouthpiece.

Hopkins began to reach with his left jab midway through the second round, but Murat backpedaled away. He then threw a straight right hand into Murat's kidney. The German turned his back and grabbed his side as he told the referee it was from an elbow. Smoger let Murat walk it off as the round closed.