TIME WAITS FOR no man except, it seems, 49-year old Bernard Hopkins whose quest to become the oldest undisputed light heavyweight world champion of all time continues at a ferocious pace with the American announcing he will fight unbeaten Russian Sergey Kovalev in November.
No exact site or date for the bout was announced, although promoters said it is likely to be on November 8 in either New York or Atlantic City.
Hopkins, the oldest major world champion in boxing history, is the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association champion.
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He will turn 50 early next year and hopes to add Kovalev’s World Boxing Organization crown to his trophy haul before setting his sights on Adonis Stevenson, the 36-year-old Haitian-born Canadian who is the World Boxing Council champion.
Sergey Kovalev celebrates beating Nathan Cleverly last year. Nick Potts / PA Archive/Press Association Images
Nick Potts / PA Archive/Press Association Images / PA Archive/Press Association Images
“Everything I do at this point in my career affects my legacy,” Hopkins said. “I’ve set and broken many records, but becoming the oldest undisputed light heavyweight world champion is the goal and Kovalev stands in the way of that goal.
“He’s another young, hungry fighter and just like the ones that came before him, he will leave the ring beltless.”
Hopkins, who has 32 knockouts in his 55 wins (along with six defeats and two draws) will attempt to succeed where 25 others have failed and add a loss to Kovalev’s 25-0-1 record. The 31-year-old has won 23 of those bouts by knock out.
“I respect Bernard Hopkins for taking this fight,” Kovalev said. “When I came to America, it was a dream to fight the best and now I am. I have my chance.”
Ageless Hopkins shows no sign of slowing down as title unification bout nears
TIME WAITS FOR no man except, it seems, 49-year old Bernard Hopkins whose quest to become the oldest undisputed light heavyweight world champion of all time continues at a ferocious pace with the American announcing he will fight unbeaten Russian Sergey Kovalev in November.
No exact site or date for the bout was announced, although promoters said it is likely to be on November 8 in either New York or Atlantic City.
Hopkins, the oldest major world champion in boxing history, is the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association champion.
He will turn 50 early next year and hopes to add Kovalev’s World Boxing Organization crown to his trophy haul before setting his sights on Adonis Stevenson, the 36-year-old Haitian-born Canadian who is the World Boxing Council champion.
“Everything I do at this point in my career affects my legacy,” Hopkins said. “I’ve set and broken many records, but becoming the oldest undisputed light heavyweight world champion is the goal and Kovalev stands in the way of that goal.
“He’s another young, hungry fighter and just like the ones that came before him, he will leave the ring beltless.”
Hopkins, who has 32 knockouts in his 55 wins (along with six defeats and two draws) will attempt to succeed where 25 others have failed and add a loss to Kovalev’s 25-0-1 record. The 31-year-old has won 23 of those bouts by knock out.
“I respect Bernard Hopkins for taking this fight,” Kovalev said. “When I came to America, it was a dream to fight the best and now I am. I have my chance.”
Additional reporting from AFP.
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