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.

The show will go in-depth, providing a never before seen insight into one of British boxing’s most memorable nights, as Calzaghe gives a unique round-by-round breakdown of how he systematically beat the self-styled ‘Executioner’.

Heading into the fight in April 2008 many believed Hopkins’ experience and overall ring craft would finally crack the Calzaghe puzzle and add the first loss to his illustrious record.

However, despite this, it was the Welshman whose hand was raised at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, winning a closely contested matchup via a split decision.

It is only now, after seeing the phenomenal achievements by Hopkins, who bounced back by winning three separate versions of the light-heavyweight world title, that this remarkable performance can truly be put into context.

Hopkins will once again look to defy mother time as he takes on the sturdy Murat, live and exclusive on BoxNation this weekend, with his IBF light-heavyweight title up for grabs.

‘Fighting Back – Calzaghe v Hopkins’ debuts on BoxNation (Sky Ch.437/Virgin Ch.546) at 7pm this Friday followed by ‘Uncut: Hopkins v Cloud’ at 8pm.

Watch Hopkins v Murat live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch.437/Virgin Ch.546) this Sunday at 2am. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
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BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Diaz and Mayweather vs Alvarez.

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ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (Oct. 21) – Before the legendary Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins defends his IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship against top contender Karo Murat on Saturday, Oct. 26, top talent from the East Coast and Puerto Rico will open the event on SHOWTIME EXTREME® and put their stellar records on the line against hungry opponents looking to make a name for themselves at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Taking to the ring in undercard action will be unbeatens Zachary Ochoa, Robert Easter, Dominic Wade and Bryan Cruz, as well as Puerto Rican prospect Braulio Santos.

With a perfect 4-0 (3 KO’s) record thus far as a pro, Brooklyn’s Zachary Ochoa is making plenty of noise in the area. Returning to the site of his first-round knockout of Michael Salcido last November, Ochoa recently scored a shutout four-round decision over Calvin Smith in April. He will face York, Alabama’s Michael J. Doyle (2-5, 1 KO) in a four-round junior welterweight bout.

In a six-round contest, it’s a clash of featherweight prospects when Carolina, Puerto Rico’s Braulio Santos (10-1, 9 KO’s) faces San Diego’s David “Thunder” Clark (6-2, 4 KO’s). The 23-year-old Santos is looking to rebound from the first loss of his career against Derrick Wilson in June, while two-time U.S. Olympic team alternate Clark has won four straight dating back to 2011.

One of the most highly anticipated bouts on the undercard will pit Toledo, Ohio’s Robert Easter (7-0, 7 KO’s) against 22-year-old Noel Echevarria (11-1, 6 KO’s), who hails from Winston-Salem, North Carolina by way of Guayama, Puerto Rico, in an eight-round lightweight bout. The 22-year-old Easter has made short work of his professional opposition, only entering the third round once. The southpaw Echevarria gave unbeaten Emanuel Gonzalez a tough go in his last bout on September 30, earning him another big fight against Easter.

The only thing that kept Largo, MD’s Dominic Wade (12-0, 9 KO’s) from participating in the 2008 Olympics was his age. The four-time Golden Gloves champion was undeterred and turned pro in 2009. Now the 23-year-old is one of the top super middleweight prospects in the game. On Oct. 26, he will face Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico’s Roberto Ventura (13-7, 12 KO’s) in an eight-round bout.

Opening the event, will be two up and comers, as Port Chester, NY junior lightweight Bryant Cruz (7-0, 5 KO’s) and Newburgh, New York’s junior welterweight Wellington Romero, who will make his professional debut, will face opponents to be named in six and four round contests, respectively.

Hopkins vs. Murat is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin puts his title on the line against Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round bout. Plus, opening the tripleheader, WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder will face Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow on Twitter at @goldenboyboxing, @THEREALBHOP, @MURATKARO, @TeamSauerland, @KidChocolate, @KingGabRosado, @BronzeBomber and #HopkinsMurat; or become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Boxing Facebook Page or Bernard Hopkins Facebook Page. Follow SHOWTIME Sports at www.sports.sho.com,Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOboxingand on Twitter @shosports. Follow Caesars Atlantic City on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaesarsAtlanticCity and on Twitter @CaesarsAC.

Bruce Binkow
Good morning, everybody. I wanted to welcome you all to this call. We are obviously very excited and enthusiastic for what promises to be a fantastic card next weekend in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Obviously we’re here to talk to the participants in the main event, Bernard Hopkins and Karo Murat, but just for the record, the rest of the card for the evening will feature Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin fighting Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round WBO middleweight championship bout, and also heavyweights Deontay Wilder and Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round WBC Continental Americas championship bought.

It’s Saturday, October 26 at Boardwalk Hall brought to you by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Caesars Atlantic City. The sponsors, as usual for Golden Boy events, are Corona and AT&T. The fight will be seen on Showtime Championship Boxing at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. We’ll also have a secondary audio program in Spanish for those that want to watch in Spanish.

There are still some tickets available. The prices are $300, $150, $75, $50 and starting at $25. They’re available at Boardwalk Hall Box Office and all Ticket Master locations as well.

I think that anytime Bernard fights is an event, I think we’ve collectively maybe taken for granted that Bernard’s been around for a long time and possibly will be around forever, but I can assure you, I’m almost 100% sure that won’t be true. So we’re really excited to see Bernard defend his light heavyweight belt, his IBF light heavyweight belt.

So I wanted to start off this call by introducing the promoter for Karo Murat, who’s going to be the man that’s going to attempt to derail Bernard’s plans of defending his title. That would be Kalle Sauerland. Kalle will introduce you to Murat and take questions after that. Kalle?

Kalle Sauerland
Good afternoon or good evening as it would be for me, but wherever you are, good morning or good afternoon. Karo Murat is, to a lot of you guys, probably not so well known yet, but he has been with us since 2006. He comes from a very tough background. He’s a fighter who’s earned his chance back two years ago and has long waited for this moment.

It’s a fight for him where there’s not much to lose but of course the world to gain. We know we go in as the underdogs. We have a lot of respect for Bernard Hopkins and of course his achievements, but the respect of the court will go out the window as soon as the first bell goes. That’s something that Karo has promised me.

To coin an English phrase, he’s the underdog, but every dog has its day, and that’s something that we, of course, hope that will happen on October 26. We believe in our man Karo Murat and would like to pass the microphone over to Mr. Murat.

K. Murat
Hi, this is Karo Murat. As my promoter says, I want to derail Hopkins’ attempt of defending the world title belt. I’m really enthusiastic to finally get a crack at a world title after such a long time. It’s going to be a good, intense fight in the U.S. This is my first time fighting in the U.S., and I like my chances against Hopkins.

Q
I’m wondering when you’ve watched any of Bernard’s recent fights does he look like a 48-year-old fighter to you and what do you think of the amazing legacy that Bernard has carved out by still being at or near the top of his game at age 48 years old?

K. Murat
I’ve always followed his career up to when I was like 12 or 13 years old. I appreciate his accomplishments. He was the undisputed world champion at middleweight. He’s now the world champion at light heavyweight. I have all the respect in the world for him. And I have to say that he has sometimes-tremendous fights. Sometimes when given the chance that he will go as the winner but still winning his fights. I respect him for winning the world title at age 48.
But I have to say one thing; you see the mileage on him. So to me he looks like a 48 year old. He doesn’t have the speed anymore he may have had at 30 years old. He tries to clinch a lot and to win the fight through his experience and that’s it. I respect him, but I will try to beat him.

Q
Hey, Karo. Thanks for taking our call. I wanted to ask you, you talk about the mileage that you see on Hopkins but no one ever-there have been few fights where we’ve seen it. My question to you is this is your first time, as I understand it, in the U.S. You’re fighting a legend and it’s close to his hometown where you’re fighting. What do you tell your detractors about your chances? How do you convince them that you really have a shot?

K. Murat
I’m in real good shape. I’m happy to get this chance. I’m 30 years old now, and I’m physically and mentally on top of my game. You know, the time is now to beat Hopkins. When Hopkins fought Cloud, a lot of people already said that the time had come, that he’s going to lose and going to retire, but he schooled him and showed the world that he’s still ready and a good 48-year-old boxer.

But I’m going to surprise a lot of people, and as I see it, he had his first pro fight in 1998 in Atlantic City. And so he has to see that the time has come. We are fighting again in Atlantic City. So it will be a good closing out for him to finally retire by the hands of mine.

Q
Okay, and then one specifically, you said what pretty much what every opponent has said about him. Tavoris Cloud was undefeated. He thought he was going to beat Hopkins. What specifically, when you say you see mileage, what specifically are you talking about, in terms of the evidence of mileage in Bernard Hopkins, because he didn’t look like he was old when he fought Tavoris Cloud?

K. Murat
I saw a down fighter when I saw Cloud boxing Hopkins. That’s why he allowed Hopkins to beat a 48-year-old man. As a person, you see that he’s growing old because of his gray hair and his gray beard.

I saw in the fight versus Cloud that Bernard has pretty much the experience that none other boxer has, but you see that he’s just trying to get one punch or a one-two combination of it and then clinch. Clinching is the state of his game.

In the years before when he was a middleweight, when he was the middleweight champion he didn’t show all that much clinching. You saw him beating people with ease, but nowadays you see, with the clinching and just the one-two punch, you see that he’s growing old. He may say that it’s just conditioning, but I don’t think so. I think it will go over it.

L. Satterfield
Yes, he clinches and yes, he’s done all of those things, but how do you stop him from doing those things, because that’s how he wins?

K. Murat
I cant say how I will do it, but I guarantee you that I will do it.

L. Satterfield Thank you very much.

Q
Just two questions for Karo, one, I know this fight has been scheduled several times, and you also had only had one fight in the past two years. I just want to know what you’ve done to prevent from over training, and also what you’ve done to prevent from just going crazy these past two years?

K. Murat
No problem at all, I just prepared for the first meeting with Bernard. When the problem with the visa came up I just took a break. After we got the confirmation, I think it was two or three days later, I just started training again. So I have that mental edge at the moment that nothing can break me out of my groove, I would say.

So when I took the break I just relaxed and saw it as if I already had a fight, just getting down to it, and afterwards, when I started training, it was like as if I got up to a new fight, starting all over again. I wouldn’t say that it made me crazy to wait that long to get my change for a world title. But it was a little bit disappointing to not have a fight in such a long time.

K. Sauerland
One thing, that you should also take into account is that he’s part of Team Sauerland, and our guys train pretty much all under the same center. So whether it’s Arthur Abraham, Jürgen Brähmer, Mikkel Kessler, Robert Woge, Eddie Gutknect, all these guys, in Germany we don’t have many of the smaller classes at all. There they’re about around that weight and he’s, of course, been kept very active.

Q
Okay, I appreciate that clarification. And then I just have one more question; one of the fights that were on the table during these two years was a title shot against Cloud. Was it frustrating for you to watch someone else beat Tavoris Cloud knowing that you can do it yourself, or do you see more satisfaction in beating a legend, or having the chance to beat a legend like Bernard Hopkins?

K. Murat
To be honest, I would say that looking back I’m really happy that Hopkins beat Cloud and fought Cloud, because now I get the chance to fight the legend in Bernard Hopkins. It’s much more than if I would have gotten in the fight versus Cloud, if he had beaten Hopkins. I see myself as a boxer, as well as a fighter, to go up when it gets tough. I would say that’s my chances, as well as my ring intelligence, better off ring intelligence. Hopkins is one of the best light heavyweights. I want to box the best, and that’s why I’m enjoying this fight. That’s a statement.

Q
Hi, Karo. The question I have for you is the last time a German boxer came over to the United States to fight an aging legend that was a champion was your country mate, Axel Schulz, in 1995. I’m curious, for you, he came up very short, this close in that fight. I’m curious for you, what would it mean for you to beat a legend like Bernard Hopkins and bring that championship over, not just becoming a champion but also bringing that back over to Germany?

K. Murat
I know I always wanted to fight in the U.S., and it’s not about Hopkins being an advantage because the fight is in the U.S. When I watched George fight and I see that outsider won, it’s not about the decision but you see the real decision when the crowd stands behind the real winner. It’s not always the guy that the judges see winning. I’m just hoping for an impartial referee, good judges and the rest is up to me.

Q
Karo, since this is your first fight in the U.S., and I think it’s your first fight for a major world title, could you talk a little bit about, for those that aren’t familiar with your background, how you ended up in Germany and how you got into boxing?

K. Murat
I started boxing at the age of 13, and to be honest I just went to school but didn’t know what I had to do with myself in the spare time. I have brothers, and then one day they took me with them to the boxing gym. Those two brothers, they were also boxers, and they were more talented than me, but they stopped. I won and won and won so I got in touch with Sauerland Events and started my professional boxing career. I never thought that I would one day meet such as legend like Bernard Hopkins inside the ring. Its the hard work pays off. It’s not always the talent.

Q
Where exactly was that when you started? Was that in Germany or was that in Iraq?

K. Murat
I came over to Germany at the age of 12 and one year later I started boxing.

Q
Thank you to Germany. We appreciate you guys being accessible and look forward to seeing you next week. A couple of housekeeping notes while we’re waiting for Bernard, I wanted to once again thank our partners at Showtime, Stephen Espinoza, our partners at Caesars who are always such great hosts for us and for the media when we go to Atlantic City, and Corona and AT&T as well.

A couple of things to put on your calendar for next week, keep in mind that Wednesday at 12:30 will be the final press conference at BB Kings in New York, in Manhattan. So if you’re in and around the area, that’s the time. Thursday we’ll have media roundtables in Atlantic City at Caesar’s. Friday, of course is the weigh in, which will be in the lobby at Caesar’s starting at 3:30 p.m.

And then on Saturday for the media that’s down there we’re going to have a somewhat special event starting at 4:00 p.m. We’re going to have a press conference featuring Adrien Broner and Marcos Maidana, and that will also be at Caesars. And from there, you can make your way over to Boardwalk Hall where the doors open at 5:00. So the timing should work for everybody.

You know, every time I’m asked to introduce Bernard in a formal or an informal setting, it’s always so tough because there are so many great things about him professionally, and I believe so many great things about him personally. He’s just such a terrific guy.

But the one thing that I wanted to say today, and I mentioned it at the beginning of the call as well, is that it occurred to me that I think we take Bernard for granted. He’s been a part of our lives as fans for so long that we continue to think, “Wow, Bernard’s fighting good. I can’t wait,” But as I mentioned, I’m pretty sure that he won’t be doing this forever.

So I just wanted to, once again, point out what an amazing man he is and what an amazing career he’s had, and how absolutely astonishing in relation to professional sports of any type, his accomplishments inside the ring have been. This is not the senior tour. This is not the bush league.

This is a guy defending his light heavyweight world championship belt. A guy who’s, and I don’t have to receipt all of his bests, but who has defended his middleweight title 20 times and had some of the most classic fights in the history of the sport. I, for one, an excited to see him, and I know I speak for everyone at Golden Boy when I tell you all that we’re very proud to be in business with him, and we look forward to seeing him next week. Bernard Hopkins.

B. Hopkins
I’m here, and I’m ready to go, Bruce and everybody that’s listening. It’s good to be back home in Atlantic City where my first fight was at in 1988. I’ve been there a few times, but to come there again at this stage is pretty exciting. It’s pretty exciting in a lot of ways. This never gets old for me. That’s been a love that’s still there and the energy is still there because this never gets old for me. You can’t do it all your life, but it never gets old. And when it gets old it gets kind of through the motions. When that happens there can’t be nothing positive come out of that. But I’m looking forward to next Saturday to, again, continue to add another page to this long book.

Q
My question for you, Bernard, we’ve been on a lot of these calls, but usually on these calls you’re either challenging for a world title or you’re fighting a big name. You, yourself, have said leading up to this fight; admittedly it’s a mandatory. You need to get it done in order to get a bigger fight. I wonder from you Bernard, because this is probably your least recognizable opponent in I couldn’t even tell you how long, how do you still get up for this kind of fight knowing all the huge fights that you’ve had in your career?

B. Hopkins
Because I know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. In this case, there’s what I consider a super fight at the end of this title, whether it’s my division or some other division. But I know one thing, before you get to the Tootsie Roll you’ve got to do a lot of licking. That’s not in a disrespectful way, but it’s in a way of knowing that you got to get through the prize before you get down into that box of the Cracker Jacks and you get the prize.

You’ve got to get through these things. These things are just part of business, whether you like it or not. I’m going to Atlantic City like it’s a super fight and knowing that I have to be on my A game no matter who I’m fighting at this stage of my career, especially when the opponent is not really known in the states, like myself.

Q
So is that then, I was going to ask if that’s what motivates you to do the running in the morning and do all the things you need to do to prepare for the fight, even though it’s not a Trinidad, a Pavlik, a Tarver, whoever is across the ring from you?

B. Hopkins
Yeah, because those guys are long gone. I’m in the second era of somebody else’s era. I’m in the Broner and the Danny Garcia’s and the other fighters; I could mention era. I extended the era of my era to this era, and I just have to just go ahead and just go in there with that youthful thinking, with the body that you and a lot of other reports reporting of my lifestyle.

I mean I don’t think nobody really, really, if they look at, are surprised that I’m really here. I guess they’d be surprised why I’m still doing it because I shouldn’t mentally and physically be motivated to do it anymore, but that’s not necessarily true when it comes to me because I’m ready. I’m ready and I’ll always be ready, and I’ll never go in a ring without being prepared physically and mentally.

So I look at myself ending my career with a super fight, and peoples is going to remember that. But this here, to me personally, is not a super fight in boxing but is a super fight to me because there’s no other, no other fight if this fight is not completed the way it should be with Bernard Hopkins, with myself. So I know how important it is for me to get to that, again, that Tootsie Roll at the end of the tunnel, that prize that says you got to work through.

This is just an obstacle. My obstacles can be kind of nagging sometimes, and I got to get through the obstacles and the obstacle is what it is. It’s there. I had 20 of them, and I won a lot of fights, but the mandatory came up and I want a breaking records and setting records and didn’t even know I was doing it until I got close to it and somebody reminded me from the boxing historic world.

I just want to keep-it isn’t going to be too long, but just get past this one and then I have the freedom by the rules to be able to at least have multiple months to be able to make some big fights in between, not waste time looking for one, but at least knowing that there’ll be one on the horizon.

Q
I’ll just end with this thing. You mentioned you’re still around and this week the Boxing Writer Association made their hall of fame votes and two guys much younger than you … and Oscar De La Hoya were on the ballot and you’re still here a champion. Congratulations.

Q
Listen, I wanted-if you’re not motivated now, you might be motivated by some of the things that Karo said. First of all, he was five years old when you began your professional career. He said more or less, “Your loss to Clinton Mitchell is what’s going to happen now. You began with a loss in Atlantic City and you’re going to end with a loss in Atlantic City.”

And he also said, and this I don’t know where he got this from, but he said, “Your gray beard and your gray hair are evidence of your age, in addition to the clinching you did in your last fight with Tavoris Cloud and others, and that Cloud fought a dumb fight.”

Your reaction-

B. Hopkins
I mean that’s his information. His information is what he’s registering and what he’s responding on, and when you have information and it’s not correct totally then you have the wrong information. Everybody know the history and even like, when you get information you’ve got to look at the information and take the information what it is.

And so far as I’m concerned, he has the wrong information, whether he came up with that information by, I guess, looking at the fights or being told by his handlers or whatever. When you have the wrong information, based on his statement, I’m already up four rounds on him.

So when you been in the game so long, and you hear guys say the things that they say, I’m not surprised at this stage of my career, but he’s 29 or 30 years old and he’s talking like a 30 year old. He’s talking like a young fighter.

There’s two things that he said that stands out. So when he said gray, he’s talking old. Well you all heard that before, and obviously he’s not paying attention to the guys that I’ve fought that are ten years younger than him, or at least eight or nine years younger than him. So you got to erase that. Then he’s looking at, “Okay, he clinches and he holds.” To me, that was an offensive/defensive fight to the T, a masterpiece. But he sees something different that others didn’t see or even think there was something I was doing in appropriate.

So when you’re young, you try to find excuses why a 48-year-old guy shouldn’t beat you, and when you get in the ring, and you realize you in the ring with me, and you see that it isn’t as easy as you might see, that’s the ultimate shock and surprise. Always, always catch a person that’s not prepared off guard.

The unknown, the unknown is not actually knowing or not knowing what you see. He’s seeing what he thinks he’s seeing, but it’s a whole new different story, and this is an experienced guy talking to you. When you get in that ring, you realize that you’re not faster than me. You realize that you’re not an all-around fighter better than me. You realize that there are stages in life like there are stages in boxing.

When you get in that ring and you come with a checkerboard, and you’re trying to beat me, and I got a chess board, playing chess, then you in a situation where you’re like, “Oh my God, he really is an alien.” He’ll start admiring my work. He’s going to start admiring and being happy that he’s there, and he’ll be able to tell those stories like he said to you and others.

Listen, listen to me right now, he was five years old. He was XYZ years old. He was here when I done this. So he watched my accomplishments. He’s already in awe about Bernard Hopkins. He’s already lost four rounds.

Q
One other thing, I guess one thing I did ask is, you talked about wrong information. I scratch my head and said, “When was the last time I saw you with gray hair or a gray beard? I mean, when was the last time I saw you with hair?” Then it did occur to me what fight he might be watching, because for most accounts the Tavoris Cloud fight was a masterpiece. Your thoughts on that?

B. Hopkins
Well, one is he might’ve quoted me I didn’t have a shave, but most of the time, like now, I’m skin from the top of my head to the chin of my chinny-chin-chin. So I don’t know what photo he might’ve seen. But no question, I have gray. No question, when my hair grows I’m a gray beard and gray everything, but the gray is wisdom.

He’s looking at the outside of it, but he’s not looking at the man and the body itself, and that’s what a lot of these young guys get fooled at. Cloud was one of them. Pavlik was definitely one of them. He hasn’t been right since. And a lot of other young ones was fooled based on age, because the lot of them, parents are my age or a year or two younger or a year or two older and they aren’t in good shape.

So they’re home or they see them every day, wherever they at, whether they live home still with them or not, they see them as they see their condition, and they say, “Well can’t nobody beat me that’s 40 years old,” and they get illusion. They get the illusion that I’m like them.

And so when they get in that ring, they get the first peak at the press conference, then they get their second peek at the weight in, and then they get their third peek when they’re actually in the ring and they be like, “Man, I can’t hit this guy. Man, every time I hit him I get hit four times.”

Those subtle little things that only a few fighters in the world have them, and I can count them on one hand, and that’s Bernard Hopkins and one of them is Floyd Mayweather. When you in there with that type of pedigree and that IQ and you come in with a checkerboard to a game that from A to Z and some, the plus sign, unless, unless, unless I completely discontinue, just black out of knowledge the night of the fight, he has a chance.

That’s something that nobody would bet against. Bernard Hopkins comes one way or the other, love him or hate him, he comes right and he comes ready, whatever happens, and then Murat will understand that he’s in there with totally different than the European fighters that he fought.

So welcome to the United States, it’s a whole different ballgame. It’s a whole different style. He hasn’t been in the ring with anybody, anybody with the attributes and the skill level and the knowledge of a Bernard Hopkins, unless you talk about Cleverly.

Q
Hello, Bernard, thanks for taking the time. What would you say, what is the most important lesson that you learned in boxing or in life that has made you the person that you are today, a boxer than can still at this age beat guys up?

B. Hopkins
Never take anyone for granted or lightly. Always look at your opponent as the enemy who’s trying to take your spot, who’s trying to take everything you work for or try to enhance his career off of your legacy, at that time, early in my career, off my career. So that’s one.

I gave you a couple of answers, but never under estimate your opponent, the art of war, the art of war, which is a fine, fine, fine roadmap for me for over 15 years, even before I came out of prison. The art of war, never under estimate your opponent. Never under estimate your enemy. Never under estimate the next general. You always have to take everybody from what their word, and that is they believe they going to beat you. They’re going to try to beat you. You have to change their mind.

Q
Bernard, recently I had a chance to speak with Brother Naazim Richardson, and he said this type of fight are the kind of fights he hates, because the guy that you see in the ring isn’t going to be the guy that you see on video. I’m curious for you, how are you preparing to fight someone like Karo Murat? And I know most of the cases it’s how is he going to prepare to fight you, but how are you preparing to fight him?

B. Hopkins
I mean I take every fight seriously, and Naazim Richardson thinks like I think because everybody know the big names in the light heavyweight division, and everybody knew the big names that I fought in the middleweight division. You can prepare for them easier than you can prepare for a guy that, you know, nobody actually knows and never fought anybody in the states or anybody that’s on my level. It’s the fighter. It’s the person itself. It’s me. It’s how I approach it mentally, physically and prepare for.

That’s what makes Naazim feel, on that part, a lot better because he knows he’s dealing with a guy that don’t look at anybody as, “He’s not this guy so I’m going to be light in training or I’m going to be light in my thinking or I’m just going to over look this guy.”

That’s the tricky part of a veteran compared to a younger guy. A younger guy will probably blow it off, “Well he’s no big name, just a mandatory. Let me go in and do and what I got to do and get out.”

No, I don’t look like that, because A.) I’m at the age where I can’t have a mental block, and B.) If this big fight is what I want to do before I leave, I must get past the roadblock. I must get passed the mandatory obligation.

So these fights can be nagging. It’s been a pain, really, in a way ever since it’s been postponed. So it’s been more than just what Naazim was saying, which is true, but it’s even further that it should’ve been over with July 13.

But nevertheless, he has more time. He got more time. He needed more time, and he got it. Fine. I enjoyed my summer with my family. I had a chance to get to the business part of the promotion with Golden Boy, and now we here. So pick back up the pieces. Start back up. Go do it again, and now we here.

So I’m prepared to do what I have to do, but this is the unique-Bruce said it earlier. Somehow, sometime, people, not all of us, take certain things for granted, and I’m going to make sure I do all I can so no one takes me for granted before I leave the game.

Because there’s going to be more eye-opener stuff and mouth-dropping stuff that peoples going to say, “This is amazing. Where do we put this guy? Where do we put this legend? Where do we put this icon?” Whatever name you want to give me, “Where do put him at before he leaves?” And that starts, to me, 20 something years ago, but it also starts right now.

Q
You said that you see the light at the end of the tunnel with this particular fight and at your particular age. Do you think a stumble against Karo Murat could mean the end for you, because he’s not the type of level fighter that you’re usually used to fighting? If you have a stumble here, do you think that could be the end?

B. Hopkins
The thing is, I mean, it would definitely be good for me. It definitely won’t be good for what I have in my plan. I’m not preparing to come to another guy’s level. I learned no matter what I have to make this guy bigger than what he is. I make this guy as threatening as he is.

My sparring partners was really, really vicious dudes, and they was coming, and one of them was a cruiserweight, and I had to use my legs to get away, not try to use strength for strength. Why do that? Use my brains. Use my intelligence.

Today, in the world of boxing, man, in the world we live in now, boxing is sort of a curse to be a slick boxer right now. You know what I mean? So I mean it’s a curse. I don’t if the MMA the UFC had anything to do with that, to influence that. But, you know, I’m from the sweet science, as you mentions all the time when I read articles, and the sweet science, you have to know what that means if you understand boxing. So I prepare to fight anyone.

I mean I had 20 mandatories in the middleweight division, and I’m not going to sit here on the phone to anybody who’s listening and say all of them were the hall of fame fighters. They shoved it on the table. I’m not going to say down my throat, but I had a choice, fight them or move on or get a title fight.

So this is another situation, deja vu all over again, but I will not go in there knowing that this is the carrot that’s hanging out there for anybody that likes titles, these young guys like titles, anybody that wants a unification, anybody that wants to do it. Now, you can have a title.

So it’s back to déjà vu. Here’s a title. Come get it. Here’s the caviar. Here’s the bait for the fish. So trust me, Karo Murat is not a guy I’m sleeping on and under estimating, and he’s going to see that early. Can’t nobody fight for me. Can’t nobody fight for him.

They’re going to call me, probably, which is not a popular name right now, they’re going to call me a bully. After next Saturday they’re going to say, “Oh, Bernard is-“So it’s really not a win-win for me. It’s really like, okay, it’s a throwaway fight, but I’m not treating it like that, but I know others are. So I’m not going to gain more superstardom because of Karo Murat.

I mean, I’m no fool, but I might be called a bully. Okay, I’ve been called that in high school, elementary school, in the streets, in boxing when I was a middleweight. Hey, so it’s cool. I mean I’m not saying that I accept it, but it’s cool. You can do what you want to do, but at the end of the day the story becomes, “He beats Bernard Hopkins.” That’s the story. I beat him; what else is new? So I understand that.

So it’s more than just Karo Murat. It’s a lot of intangibles that surround this name and this fight, and I have the ability and the mindset to handle all that because that’s what I do. And that’s what I’ve been doing basically the majority of my career, handling difficult situations that will break the average man.

Q
Hi, Bernard. My question is this, no disrespect to Karo Murat, but frankly his resume doesn’t suggest he’s near your caliber. So I wanted to actually pivot to something you referenced yourself, a super fight in the near future. A Bernard Hopkins fight against Floyd Mayweather would be a lot of fun in the promotion and an intriguing fight. So I’m wondering, have you had even a preliminary discussion with Team Mayweather and Golden Boy about that fight? If it took place, what weight would it take place at?

B. Hopkins
Well, first of all I had no conversations, but it was a conversation said to me, and that’s why I responded. And when I realized that there is a fight that they owe him in March of next year, I believe May, excuse me, of next year, and whether I’m willing or can I make 160, and I said, well, if I have that much time, a guy like me, the way I live and the way I keep my body right, even six pounds from fight night next week, sure.

They didn’t act like they were joking, and we’re talking powerful people. So I’m sitting back saying, “Okay, hey, you know,” because no one else is going to beat Floyd Mayweather in their 20s and even in their early 30s. Not this checkerboard man colony, young fighters who can be great later, but right now they just don’t have the degrees to do it. So that’s the only reason I threw my hat in there.

After the sixth or seventh round, when you’ve got two people looking across each other saying, “It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen tonight,” and I say, “You got that right.”

So my thing is it will be at 160 pounds, it will be at a weight division-that’s what I’m saying. It will be at a weight division that the history-and can you imagine the promotion of the ten plus years that I held down that middleweight division and made those defenses.

So like I look at Henry Armstrong and look at all them other guys, even De La Hoya, who’s not a big middleweight, who came up to challenge Bernard Hopkins at 160 because I cleaned everybody out for the only belt that I didn’t have, which was a WBO belt.

So this happened in history before. You hear people say, “The guy’s too big. The guy’s too small.” In weight division, “This guy is this. This guy is that.” Okay, but it’s been done by historic great fighters before so that’s what I’m saying.

But right now, Saturday becomes a thing-I can let everybody off the hook if I just get brain dead Saturday night and they be saying, “Okay, got him out of the way.” So I got to make sure that mentally and physically, because I get that question all the time in the … I should have.

But I keep reminding people, okay yes, there’s a possibility of anything. I’m not chasing anybody. I’m not standing in line for anybody. I’m not trying to pick on the little guy. But if you can find somebody that people want to see fight after that performance, masterful performance of a king chess player that we witnessed than less than two months ago, good luck. Good luck.

Q
Last time you made 160 was 2005, sir. Wow, the time has flown but do you believe you can do it and no problem really?

B. Hopkins
Hey, listen. How many times I been right when I said I can do something or wrong in my career, as long as you’ve been following me?

Q
Yeah, I never doubt. I never bet against you.

B. Hopkins
Listen, I know it won’t be easy. That’s what I’m saying. That’s the fun part. I mean this is what people do, like yourself and others listening, this is the fun part.

Can you imagine the fun part by like, “We want to put a camera on Bernard, all access, and we’re going to watch who helped Bernard leave from 160 to jump two weight classes to go to 175,” which no fighter, well only one fighter attempted to do that, and that was the great, late Sugar Ray Robinson, the fight in New York City at Yankee Stadium when he couldn’t come out to the 15th round because it was a hundred something degrees, and they changed one referee and gave him another referee because the referee fell out of heat in that fight.

To do that, to do that and to make history, I would love to put a feather in my cap to go down two weight classes after coming up two weight classes to make history with Tarver, almost seven, six years ago. I mean can you imagine the all access? Can you imagine the promotion for that fight because I’m not a shy guy and I don’t have a shy camp?

So you don’t have to pinch me or stick a needle and get me to do something out of my character to get hyped, no, because you have two chess players in there. And some would say, “Well two chess players be a born fight.” No, because somebody’s going to have to go ahead and be able to be out of character.

And the bottom line is after Saturday it’s a whole options out there for me. I got the whole light heavyweight division. The light heavyweight division has more than a heartbeat right now with some dangerous punches in the boxing game right now, which has got a lot of people excited, got a lot of people saying this guy and this guy, which is definitely the truth, is blasting everybody out of there.

I’m in a society right now where they like knockouts not skills. Okay, great, great, fine, I’m the last of the Mohicans. I’m going to see if my skills can survive with the punches, with the bang ’em out, sock ’em, rock ’em robots. So let’s see what happens, but definitely this Saturday in Atlantic City at Caesar’s in the Boardwalk Hall, I have to make sure that I get passed this obligation.

And then, you know, they might be calling me a bully because I’m going to pick on everybody. And they going to wonder, boxing people’s going to wonder why is the people letting the guy who everybody should be knocking on the door saying, “Let me go ahead and get this old man out of the way,” but instead they running with fear.

I live in a different era than my era. I’m in a whole new different two era, man. It’s kind of a little strange to me, but I understand. But it’s still strange, but I understand. I don’t accept, but I understand.

Q
I’d like to go back to Karo Murat. What do you know about him? What do you know about his special skills? Do you have a special eye on it maybe?

B. Hopkins
Do you have any special skills? I have never heard of anybody having special skills. I know just as much as you know, I mean, even though you have a different accent than myself. You might know more than be, but I know what I see. I see that a guy is coming for an opportunity to become a world champion, and I was at that place at one time. I respect that, that a man done something to get where he at.

You can’t-I’m no fool. I’m an old fox, f-o-x, and I understand when you work your way up to get to a position like I did to fight Segundo Mercado in ’94 and ’95, I understand that wherever I see and whatever I think he’s going to be ten times more than that because he’s fighting for a world title, and he’s fighting someone that can make him a superstar over night. You can’t over look those things if you got any sanity of reality.

That’s going to be a problem that I think that way for my opponent. That’s not good if you’re fighting Bernard Hopkins, and he understands how significant I think, which is the number one contender. I know how he thinks. Why? Because he was five years old when I won my title or when I had my first fight.

So I know what he’s thinking. I know how he’s feeling. I know how he’s motivated and energized. So you can’t look at anything that he did last week, last year, two years ago, three years ago, and say to yourself, “Oh man, this is going to be easy.” No way. I let the reporters, I let everybody else opinion, great, fine.

But I know anybody that fights Bernard Hopkins, that has fought Bernard Hopkins, except for one or two guys in my career, and that was early in the 90s. They come to fight me because my record and my history and the way I work and the way I come in shape, they come to get beat up in shape or they come ready, and if I have a mental lock or a mental block rather, it’d be a problem.

He would look a lot better, in spite of what’s going to happen to him, he’s going to look a lot better, and he’s going to be game, because that’s his style. He’s a game guy. He isn’t going to be running. He’s not going to be trying to out box me. That’s not his thing. That’s not his thing. And if he do that, I’ll definitely will be even easier.

But I’m telling you right now that he’s coming with his A game, and he’s coming because he got an opportunity to fight for a world championship. And the last time he fight for a world championship, to my knowledge, was Cleverly, and he didn’t pass the test. So he’s been there before. He’s been there before and he felled. This his second maybe only chance.

I understand that. I’ve been there too. I had a shot, I got a draw and I had to fight six months later to get a title. I understand his mentality. He haven’t been through it yet. Only the first task and that’s now. And that’s fighting for a world title for the second time. That’s the only task that he can say and I can say that he has a little experience with.

Q
Okay, great, thank you. Another question, I saw you with the alien mask. Can you explain for me, again, the story behind this mask?

B. Hopkins
No story. You understand the story. You know the story. You read the story. You want me to repeat the story? So I have to repeat the story again, because you already know.

I’m a smart fighter, and when you ask that question I realize you already know what I said. You already read it. You want me to repeat it because you want to hear me say it again, and it’s just really a waste of everybody’s time to be honest with you.

Q
The last question just wanted to ask you real quick, what keeps you motivated at this point? I know history, but what drives you, what keeps you going to keep going at your age of 48 and still putting on boxing masterpieces?

B. Hopkins
One is because I’m not really paying attention that I’m doing it, and I’m in awe of myself, saying I’m not in awe of myself, saying I’m doing it because I’m 48. I just feel like now that I get a chance, right now, as a late bloomer, and really peaked ten years ago and really had a late career turning pro at 25 years old, because I’m fighting late in my career.

And I see that a lot of people kind of saying, “Hey, man, you shouldn’t be doing,” or, “You could do it,” or, “I don’t think he’s going to do it. He should stop. He should do this.” I think that’s encouraging me a little bit more, to be honest with you.

That’s really one of the real significant reasons that I continue to want to prove people wrong and not look at the age, and let them focus on that and just continue to open their eyes and shock them and then they become fans. You really can do something for a long time no matter what the purpose is if you still have the love and the respect for the sport and respect for yourself.

I’m a proud person of my legacy. I’m a proud person of my last name. I would never pimp. I would never exploit. I would never use in a way of cheap my legacy and my name just because, just because is something I’m not operating on.

I’m going to do it until I realize that I don’t have to do it anymore and that isn’t two years, three years, four years. That’s only a fight or two. To be able to do what I do and make sure that when I leave that there’s no regrets, that I should’ve did one more thing and that’s the only thing.

I don’t want to be the Marvin Haler who’s still talking about the Ray Leonard fight. I don’t want to be one of those guys that when I promise my mother, to make her feel good, to make her feel great, and I really felt that way, and I got to that stage where it was time to do that and never come back, well just imagine what I would’ve left out there and never on a table. Forget the finances. What I left on the table are historic reasons why.

Look at the Tarver fight. After that fight and the fights accomplished then to now, that would’ve never happened if I’d have kept the promise, if I’d have kept what I said to that statement to everybody that it was said. There’s so many great things that I accomplished right after the fight when I won the light heavyweight championship. That was a perfect way to go out, and then you look at another career I started.

I mean this is something that people might take me for granted, but when they look back, and they start analyzing Bernard Hopkins, they going to believe. “How did this get past me?” It didn’t get passed. You just didn’t pay attention. You were so caught up in the other stuff that promotes today’s fighters. That’s good. That’s fine.

I don’t walk around with $2 million in a suitcase. I’m not about that. I’m not going to show this. You don’t got to know where my house at. I don’t care how many cars you know I got or how many cars I don’t have. That’s this world. You all can have that. I don’t want that. But when you sit back ten years from now or fifteen years from now, and you start going through my history and my legacy, there going to be some out there that say, “Man, I didn’t know.” Like you was living under a rock, you missed it.

I’m just trying to tell people or warn people, don’t miss it. Enjoy it while we’re here. Enjoy the things that you see that you can tell your son or you can tell your daughter or you can tell anyone I was there when this man became this or became that and when he did that. I mean that is something you can live with, whether its baseball, footfall, boxing or whatever.

I can tell my son about Michael Jordan. I can tell about Julius Irving in Philadelphia. Those are legacies, if you’re a sports person that you would like to pass on to the next generation and even the generation that’s not here yet, that’s how I feel, man. That’s the love that keeps the burning in my body to be able to do what I do and look like a chiseled rock, as I talk to you right now on this couch before I go to the gym in another hour and a half.

Q
Bernard, I just had one question. You mentioned something I thought was interesting. You said, “It’s a curse to be a slick boxer today.” Can you please define what you mean? I think I know what you mean, but if you could put it-

B. Hopkins
Well, I’ve just been hearing and seeing things for the last couple of years. I just been kind of like, sort of like disappointed that in this day of time the change with the boxing and sweet science its about has sort of gotten to a barbaric-it’s already that in a way of what we go through, but when you take away the skill, and you take away the slick, and you take away the boxing ability, and say that’s not entertainment, then to me it’s like trying to erase our culture that dominated this sport way back then where you were slick.

I’m talking about black fighters. Yes, I said it. I’m talking about black, inner-city, African American fighters. I’m not talking about a Mexican fighter. I’m not talking about a Polish fighter, Irish fighter or any other fighter. I’m talking about a black fighter that’s slick, that can throw punches, the Ray Robinson’s, the Ray Leonard’s, the Roy Jones Junior’s, the Bernard Hopkins’, when I want to do that style I can do that style, and many, many, many others.

So when you wipe out the concept and put that out there and feed that to the public and to the world that want to pay for fights and watch fights, they look at the fight and be turned off not looking at the skill to hit and not get hit, to take a guys weapon and use it against them. They started saying, “Well, I like Arturo Gatti in the Micky Ward fight.”

Great guys, they need to be in the hall of fame it they’re not in there. They fought bloodbaths, but I didn’t see skill. I didn’t see skill. I’ve seen heart. I’ve seen, “Don’t duck,” and I seen the will to win any means necessary in a way of even if its stupid to you or to your health.

What happened in the world of boxing? We became so violent in this country where skills is not even looked at as a thing where it’s an honor to get your degree and say, “I got a degree. I got my bachelors. I got my masters.” I got all these things and it becomes, “So what?” And so that’s what I meant, and that’s what I’m saying when they see me Saturday.

They’re going to see all of above. They’re going to see the inside, the outside. They’re going to see multiple styles that’s going to be all the things that I have done. Man, I’m from Philadelphia. They invented that.

So that’s what I said, not only to you, but I said it to Bernard Fernandez. I said it to a few other people, and they said, “You know, that’s kind of interesting.” It is interesting, because I see the world that’s trying to change the concept of boxing and the amateur kids are believing. From the Joe Hand Gym that I train at I’m around amateur guys all the time and their kids. They’re 13, they eight, they nine.

And they ask me. I said, “Look, you want to count your own money, and the way you count your own money is you duck many punches as you can.” The people that sitting outside eating popcorn, they want their entertainment money’s worth, be entertaining but understand that there’s life after boxing. It’s a conversation hopefully after boxing.

So the moral of the story is when you target that it should be a rock’em, sock’em robot and boxing skills and being the way you are in a way of hit and not get hit and be slick and be these things that we all admired at one time. I mean, Ray Leonard-I’ll leave with this one.

Ray Leonard, right now, the great Sugar Ray Leonard, who I was watching all this morning YouTube, getting information. Yes, at this stage of my career I still get information that would make me different. The great Sugar Ray Leonard, right now and if he was boxing, the way they want you to fight, the people that pull at the strings of the puppet, he will be boring today. Ray Robinson, the great Robinson will be boring today, because the feeders of the people that buy entertainment are being fed that if they duck, don’t buy it.

If they slick and they beat nine out of twelve rounds and the guy just can’t hit them because they were slick and smart enough to hit and not get hit, he’s not crowd-pleasing. He don’t sell tickets, because they didn’t fed the followers and they didn’t fed the customers. The customers will drink anything you give them, if it’s promoted right. So that’s my long answer to your short question.

Thanks for being on. Thanks for giving me the time. Of course next week, another chapter. I hope everybody come out to see it. If you can’t, it’ll be on Showtime Championship Boxing. I believe I get on at 10:00, 10:45 or 10:30. The undercard is great with Gabriel Rosario and also Quillin, the middleweight champion, “Kid Chocolate.” So let’s come out, support it.

B. Binkow
Thank you, Bernard. Thank you, everybody, we look forward to see you in Atlantic City and New York.

END OF CALL

Hopkins vs. Murat is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin puts his title on the line against Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round bout. Plus, opening the tripleheader, WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder will face Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com.

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 17) – IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins debuted his newfound ring persona known as “The Alien” at a media workout yesterday at Joe Hand’s Boxing Gym in Philadelphia as he prepares for his Oct. 26 title defense against top rated contender Karo Murat. In true Hopkins fashion, the oldest fighter to win a world title in boxing history showcased his “out of this world” athletic abilities in front of a large amount of media eager to hear what he had to say. The fight will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Below please find quotes from Hopkins, who is also known for his “gift of gab” as well as his in ring talents.

BERNARD HOPKINS, IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“Everyone the age of 40 and over had better be on my side on October 26, or I’ll kick their ass.

“I’m happy to be here, but that’s where the alien comes in. You won’t hear the Executioner. You won’t see me with my hands crossed. The Executioner is retired. I’m an alien because I am of this world, but I’m not from this world.

“I’m now in another era because I’ve outlasted so many others. I outlasted the James Toney era, the Kelly Pavlik era and now I’m in the Adrien Broner and Danny Garcia era.

“There is a negative attributed to being different than everyone else, a negative attributed with being blessed and being able to do what I’m doing. You have to be able to walk the walk and talk the talk or you have haters.

“I am of a new era with an old soul…I represent the old soul of doing things the right way. Living the right way. Thinking the right way. Treating my mind, body and soul the right way.

“I know you all have questions to ask me, but there isn’t really that much you can ask me. Let me do the talking. What can you ask me that you haven’t heard for the last three decades? What are you going to ask me? Are you going to win? Are you ready? If I’m not, I’m going to show up anyway.

“I have been doing this for this long and going through the motions. After a while going through the motions becomes an instinct.

“Yes I’m ready. Yes I’m hyped, but I’m in control.

“I get to show in action how special I am. How many people get a chance to prove how special they are over and over and over again? As far as I’m concerned, it’s not about how much money you make when you’re fighting that makes you special.

“I believe that 10 years from now I am still going to be respected. I don’t like to think about this guy being a star or that guy a star. Look back 15 years from now and we will see then.

“I never put all of my eggs in one basket. I never come into the ring with one style. How do you train to beat Bernard Hopkins?

“Karo Murat says he is coming in with youth.

“Karo Murat is smart enough, but dumb enough to say that he has half of my experience. We’ve heard that before. He has half of the experience. He’s coming with two theories.

“He is coming to fight the guy that is 48. Just because the car is a 1965, doesn’t mean it’s old. Check the mileage, check the engine and then check the wear and tear. The year is old, but if you check the engine is like new.

“I call what I do in the gym, is ‘the car wash.’ I go all over this gym to keep my mind fresh. Some guys do that with women, I don’t. At this age, you want to keep your mind stimulated and not get bored with one thing.

“My weight is good. I’m fine. I have to eat to stay on weight.

“Philly has an old history that isn’t coming alive, but is alive. Danny Garcia, Gabriel Rosado, etc. But Philadelphia right now is in a good position regarding boxing. Better than the last three or four years when you have a city that had the riches of some of the greats. The load on my back that I carried for many years is being lifted with guys like Danny Garcia.

“Boxing in this city has a few people they can root for. One of them is Gabe [Rosado] who is fighting ‘Kid Chocolate’ [on October 26].

If you can’t make it and you have a TV and you pay your cable bill, you can watch it on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.”

# # #

Hopkins vs. Murat is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin puts his title on the line against Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round bout. Plus, opening the tripleheader, WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder will face Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable
service charges, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or atwww.ticketmaster.com.

Los Angeles (Oct. 10) – WBO Middleweight World Champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin put on a clinic today for media members at his gym in Santa Monica, Calif. as he prepares for his title bout against top contender “King” Gabriel Rosado taking place Saturday, Oct. 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Quillin vs. Rosado will precede the title fight between future IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins and top-rated contender Karo Murat.

The undefeated rising star worked out for well over an hour on the speed bag and heavy bag as well as several 12-minute rounds hitting the mitts with trainer Eric Brown.

Below please find quotes from today’s workout.

Peter Quillin, WBO Middleweight World Champion

“[Gabriel] Rosado presents his own challenges. He’s coming to win my world title. I have something that he wants, so I have to respect him for that. We have to put our friendship aside.

“Going into the fight, I have to take myself to a whole another level as far as my work ethic. I’m doing a lot more than I ever have. I’ve had tremendous training [camp]. Now I have to prove what my hard work does, like I always have, by just going in there and trying my best.

“I don’t feel that I’m underrated. I know I have my share of supporters. But I also know that I’m still looking for that clear, career-defining performance against the kinds of guys I can get the credit for fighting.

“So, until then, until I’m in with those kinds of guys, I can’t really say I’ve accomplished anything that would make me feel like I’m the guy that gets all the credit.

“Yeah, I beat Winky Wright, and, yeah, I beat some guys with good records, but beating another world champion is something I really want to do. I feel that once that superstar fight comes along and is on the line, then that’s when the credit will come my way.

“I would love to fight any of the top guys.

“I didn’t come in here picking and choosing who I want to fight. I have a good team behind me. They make sure when it comes to me proving myself with, that I do my part and they do their part by making the best fights out there for me.

“When there is something unexplainable, like what I am doing, people are going to talk about it.

“I have had 11 knockdowns in my last three fights. I only had 15 amateur fights. People see or hear about those knockdowns and they have a lot to say about it. ‘If you hit so hard and have so much power, why don’t they just stay down?’ But that is not up to them to tell us why they got back up from a punch and fought on. It is up to the guy that I am fighting. The more times you get up, the more times I am going to try to knock you down.

“This will be my fourth fight on SHOWTIME. I really appreciate having them behind me. Exposure-wise, it has obviously been a big boost for me. When I walk the streets in New York City I get recognized.

“SHOWTIME is the network where all of the great fights are being made. The biggest fighter in the world, Floyd Mayweather fights on SHOWTIME. To be connected to someone that is from my hometown of Grand Rapids just like me, is fantastic.

“The most important thing for me is to go out there and inspire people to do things that they never imagined. Whether it is a boxer, a writer or an architect. I didn’t have a lot of role models growing up, but it’s what’s in yourself that counts. And that is what I am trying to get across.”

Eric Brown, Quillin’s Trainer

“Peter has really grown up a lot since winning the title, having the title and defending it successfully. It has really boosted his confidence. He’s a much more composed fighter. He’s true to himself.

“Since becoming champion he’s really begun to believe in himself more than ever.

“He’s always had the confidence that he could win, but winning the title has confirmed it. It has made the job harder for him but it has also made him work harder.

“He’s matured into a real professional. I have had him for about three years and he has always been a great young man to work with. He pretty much does everything I ask. The more I ask the more he gives. There is no limit to how far he can go. It’s all on him. I would love to see him get the opportunity to unify the division and then up to 168 pounds and unify the division there too.”

# # #

Hopkins vs. Murat is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light
Heavyweight World Championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions
and sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin will put his title on the line against Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round bout. Plus, opening the tripleheader, WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder will face Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable
service charges, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow on Twitter at @goldenboyboxing, @THEREALBHOP, @MURATKARO, @TeamSauerland, @KidChocolate @KingGabRosado, @BronzeBomber and #HopkinsMurat; or become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Boxing Facebook Page
or Bernard Hopkins Facebook Page. Follow SHOWTIME Sports at www.sports.sho.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing and on Twitter @shosports. Follow Caesars Atlantic City on Facebook a www.facebook.com/CaesarsAtlanticCity and on Twitter @CaesarsAC.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (October 1, 2013) – After scoring 10 knockdowns in his last two fights and soaring to the top of the 160-pound weight class, WBO Middleweight Champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will make his second title defense on Saturday, Oct. 26 when he meets Philadelphia contender “King” Gabriel Rosado in the Bernard Hopkins vs. Karo Murat co-main event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT).

Additionally, knockout artist WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, will open the telecast when he takes on Nicolai “Stone Man” Firtha in a 10-round showdown. In the main event, IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will become the oldest fighter in history to make his initial title defense when he faces highest-rated light heavyweight challenger Karo Murat in a 12-round matchup.

“It’s great to be on the East Coast and back on SHOWTIME for my second world title defense,” said Quillin. “Rosado is a quality challenger who always comes to fight, and because of our competitive styles, the fans are going to get a great show on October 26.”

“I’ve never lost in New Jersey and I don’t plan on starting now,” said Rosado. “I’ve chased a world title for a long time and while I respect Quillin for giving me this new opportunity, but I’m going to have to take that belt and bring it back home to Philly.”

“Nicolai Firtha is a veteran who has gone the distance with a lot of tough fighters,” said Wilder. “But I’m more confidant and more ready than ever, so I’m expecting another knockout win, I want to make a statement with this fight.”

“Wilder hits hard, there’s no question about that, but we’ve never see what happens when he gets hit back,” said Firtha. “I’m going to hit him on Oct. 26 and I plan on taking his ‘0’ away.”

“We’ve returned to the East Coast with not just another history-making title defense by Bernard Hopkins against a hungry challenger in Karo Murat, but we have a guaranteed action with the undercard,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. The co-main event between the top American middleweight in the world, Peter Quillin and the always tough Gabriel Rosado as well as one of the most exciting young heavyweights out there, Deontay Wilder, against someone coming to score the upset in Nicolai Firtha. It’s going to be a great night for boxing once again.”

New York City’s Peter Quillin (29-0, 21 KO’s) was considered by many as one of the top rising stars in the sport, but when he beat Winky Wright in 2012, the stakes got higher for “Kid Chocolate,” who fulfilled his potential in October of last year with a six-knockdown win over Hassan N’Dam that earned him the WBO Middleweight Championship. In April of 2013, Quillin successfully defended his title for the first time, dropping Fernando Guerrero four times en route to a seventh-round technical knockout victory. On Oct. 26, the 30-year-old will look to showcase his championship skills against “King” Rosado.

A Philadelphia fighter through and through, 27-year-old Gabriel Rosado (21-6, 13 KO’s) is a fearless warrior willing to do whatever it takes in search of victory. Holder of wins over Jesus Soto Karass, Sechew Powell, Kassim Ouma and Charles Whittaker, Rosado has also been in the ring with Gennady Golovkin, Alfredo Angulo, and J’Leon Love and when the bell rings on Oct. 26, this “King” will do whatever it takes to win the middleweight crown.

With 29 wins, 29 knockouts and no defeats, 2008 U.S. Olympic Bronze medalist and WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder has the boxing world abuzz with his devastating power and championship potential. Hailing from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the 27-year-old is coming off of first round knockouts of former gold medalist Audley Harrison and former heavyweight champion Siarhei Liakhovich, making it clear that no one is safe from the wrath of the “Bronze Bomber.”

Akron, Ohio’s Nicolai “Stone Man” Firtha (21-10-1, 8 KO’s) was a decorated amateur who fought his way to the 2004 Olympic trials, but his true home was in the professional game, where he has won the USA Ohio State and NABA USA titles. He has also faced quality opposition like Alexander Povetkin, Tony Grano, Tyson Fury and Johnathan Banks, knocking out Grano and going the distance with Povetkin and Banks. Coming off a win over Robert Hawkins in July, the 34-year-old will leave it all in the ring in search of victory on Oct. 26.

Hopkins vs. Murat is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin put his title on the line against Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round bout. Plus, opening the tripleheader, WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder will face Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow on Twitter at @goldenboyboxing, @THEREALBHOP, @MURATKARO, @TeamSauerland, @KingGabRosado, @KidChocolate @BronzeBomber and #HopkinsMurat; or become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Boxing Facebook Page
or Bernard Hopkins Facebook Page. Follow SHOWTIME Sports at www.sports.sho.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing and on Twitter @shosports. Follow Caesars Atlantic City on Facebook a www.facebook.com/CaesarsAtlanticCity and on Twitter @CaesarsAC.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, undefeated WBO M iddleweight champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will defend his title against Gabriel Rosado on October 26th as part of the Bernard Hopkins – Karo Murat card in Atlantic City.

“We got it done,” said Quillin’s promoter Richard Schaefer. “I think the fight is in the perfect spot. Peter is from New York, Rosado is from Philadelphia. I try to put fights where they belong and this fight belongs in that location. I’m very happy for the fans from the East Coast that they can see another world title fight on this card.

“Rosado always comes to fight and he’s getting another world title opportunity. For Quillin, it’s another opportunity to showcase his talents against a good opponent.”

“I’m glad the fight is made, two Americans fighting each other on a channel where all the fights are being made, explosive fights, good fights,” Quillin said. “There’s so much activity on Showtime and I’m just glad to have my place. I wanted to get in three fights this year, but I’ll get in two and I feel good about setting up my 2014. As for Gabe, I got nothing bad to say about him. I got respect for all fighters, but my numbers speak for themself – 29-0 with 21 knockouts in nine years pro. Gabe and I are both fighters and we both have the will, but I’ll go in there and win every round.”

Rosado returned in May to face unbeaten prospect J’Leon Love on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Robert Guerrero undercard. Love, who got knocked down, was awarded a split decision win in a fight many thought Rosado won. However, after the fight the result was changed to a no contest because Love tested positive for a banned diuretic he used to help him make 160 pounds.

“I thought he won that fight,” Quillin said.

“I know people will view it as a measuring stick, but I’m not going to try to match (Golovkin) or outdo him,” Quillin said. “I’m gonna do me. I will stay true to myself. I will work hard to win, that’s my main focus. I’m glad to be in there with a guy with a good name.

“I’m gonna go in with the mentality to try to get him out of there. I’m not playing. I signed the contract, we agreed to fight. He will try to beat me, try to knock me out, so I don’t have any more respect. My job is to treat him as a stranger or like he stole something from me or he’s a little brother and I’m trying to teach him something.”

ATLANTIC CITY (August 16, 2013) – IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will become the oldest fighter in history to make his initial title defense when he faces highest rated light heavyweight challenger Karo Murat in a rescheduled championship event taking place Saturday, October 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The 12-round title fight, which was postponed from July 13 due to visa issues experienced by Murat, will air live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT). With those issues cleared up, Murat has his sights set on ending the reign of the 48-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Hopkins vs. Murat, a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Caesars Atlantic City and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona and AT&T. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, go on sale on Monday, August 19 at noon ET, with a special ticket presale on sale now and lasting through Sunday, August 18 at 11:59pm ET. To order tickets during this presale, enter the code: KNOCKOUT. Tickets can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com.

“I’m happy this fight is back on,” said Hopkins. “Karo Murat is my mandatory and he is coming here to take down this 48-year-old champion, except he’s coming three months late. He gave me extra time to spend time with my family, stay in the gym longer to get ready for this fight. I’m going to be so physically and mentally prepared come October 26, Murat will know he is facing a great champion regardless of my age. I feel like a fighter in my 20s not my 40s.”

“This fight has been a long time coming,” said Murat. “I had some issues with my visa but those are finally solved. I felt ready in July and in October, I will feel even more ready. I’ve been awaiting the chance to fight for the IBF title since late 2011 so three months extra is nothing to me. Bernard Hopkins is 48 years of age – I guess he has enjoyed the summer. Will he be ready for me? I do not know. What I can say is that I will be at my best on October 26. When I am messing up his old bones it will make me a star in an instant.”

“One of the most charismatic and accomplished fighters in recent generations, Bernard Hopkins continues to defy the odds with each record-setting performance,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Not only does he keep winning, but he is doing so in impressive, often dazzling fashion. But make no mistake, this is no showcase fight. Karo Murat is a dangerous opponent. His only loss is to a current world champion in Nathan Cleverly and he holds a win over former World Champion Gabriel Campillo. You can’t underestimate an experienced and hungry fighter like Murat.”

“Like any Bernard Hopkins bout, this October 26 Boardwalk Hall match has drawn considerable buzz throughout the entire region,” said Kevin Ortzman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Caesars, Bally’s, and Showboat Atlantic City. “The public and the boxing community have waited in anticipation and now they will finally get their wish as the stage is set for Hopkins vs. Murat.”

Nothing can be said about the life and career of Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KO’s) that hasn’t already been written or aired on television, radio, or the internet, but suffice to say that the 48-year-old from Philadelphia has earned the title “legend” for his storied nearly 15-year stay in the fight game. The longest reigning middleweight champion in boxing history, Hopkins went on to reinvent himself as a light heavyweight after turning 40, winning the world title twice. Each time, he set a new record as the oldest fighter to win a major world championship, but as his dominant 12 round win over previously unbeaten Tavoris Cloud in March showed, he’s far from finished, a fact he plans on letting Murat know on October 26.

The number one contender for the IBF light heavyweight title, 29-year-old Karo Murat (25-1-1, 15 KO’s) is on the verge of making history should he defeat Hopkins for his title. A pro since 2006 who has come up the hard way in the fight game, the resident of Kitzingen, Bavaria, Germany has won several regional titles en route to his place among the top 175-pounders in the world. Unbeaten for nearly three years since the lone loss of his career to WBO champion Nathan Cleverly in 2010, Murat’s last two wins have been knockouts of Otis Griffin and Sandro Siproshvili, putting him at the front of the line for his dream fight against a future Hall of Famer.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow on Twitter at @goldenboyboxing, @THEREALBHOP, @MURATKARO, @TeamSauerland
and #HopkinsMurat; or become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Boxing Facebook Page
or Bernard Hopkins Facebook Page. Follow SHOWTIME Sports at www.sports.sho.com,Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOsportsand on Twitter @shosports. Follow Caesars Atlantic City on Facebook a www.facebook.com/CaesarsAtlanticCity and on Twitter @CaesarsAC.

NEW YORK CITY, August 9 – The star-studded August 19 premiere of the Golden Boy Live! Series on FOX Sports 1, America’s new sports network, which includes an action-packed card headlined by the middleweight showdown between Brooklyn’s Danny Jacobs and New York’s Giovanni Lorenzo, just got a little more star power, as the broadcast team for the event has been announced.

Handling blow-by-blow duties is veteran, award-winning commentator Dave Bontempo. He is joined on the coverage from Best Buy Theater in New York City by color commentators Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi. The trio calls the action live from ringside for FOX Sports 1, which airs Jacobs vs. Lorenzo, in addition to a welterweight bout featuring the Bronx’s Eddie Gomez against Philadelphia’s Steve Upsher Chambers and the return of Staten Island’s 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne against an opponent to be determined.

The celebratory inaugural night of the new Monday night boxing series Golden Boy Live! will have boxing stars out in force including Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia, former World Champion Luis Collazo and Newark’s star Michael “The Artist” Perez.

Jacobs vs. Lorenzo is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. ET with the first bell sounding at 7:45 p.m. ET. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast will air live at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at $125, $60 and $35, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, are on sale now and available for purchase online at www.axs.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at the Best Buy Theater Box Office between 12:00 p.m. ET and 6:00 p.m. ET.

A winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s coveted Sam Taub Award, Dave Bontempo has called numerous pay-per-view, international broadcasts and domestic events for HBO, SHOWTIME, ESPN and Madison Square Garden.

A future Hall of Famer whose stellar ring reputation needs no introduction, former Undisputed Middleweight and current IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins is also one of the most astute observers in boxing today. His knowledge and no nonsense delivery will keep fight fans compelled from start to finish on August 19.

Currently a member of the SHOWTIME boxing commentating team, former Two-Division World Champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi has drawn raves from fans and critics for his work behind the microphone. Having watched the rise of Jacobs, Gomez and Browne on the New York fight scene, Malignaggi brings particularly interesting insight into the Golden Boy Live! broadcast team.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,www.twitter.com/DanielJacobsTKO, www.twitter.com/eddiegomez718 and www.twitter.com/bestbuy_theater, follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing. For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1 and become a follower on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@FOXSports @FOXSports1 and @FOXSportsPR.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Bernard Hopkins October 19th mandatory defense with Karo Murat has been pushed back a week to October 26th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City to avoid conflict with the Mike Alvarado – Ruslan Provodnikov fight on HBO.

Schaefer also said he has made a deal with Showtime to televise the card, which he said could be a tripleheader. The other bouts Schaefer said he is working on for the card are super middleweight titlist Sakio Bika (32-5-2, 21 KOs) taking on mandatory challenger Anthony Dirrell (26-0, 22 KOs) — although Bika could have taken an optional defense because the mandatory is not due yet – and “Kid Chocolate” Peter Quillin (29-0, 21 KOs) making the second defense of his middleweight belt against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

“We’re trying to get the Bika-Dirrell fight done and we’re also looking at having Quillin on the card as well,” Schaefer said.

BROOKLYN (July 24, 2013) – Future Hall of Famer and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins has aligned with Barclays Center to be a ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ for the venue’s thriving Brooklyn Boxing™ platform powered by Golden Boy Promotions.

At 48 years old, Hopkins broke his own record by becoming the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title when he earned the IBF Light Heavyweight World Title in a decision against Tavoris Cloud at Barclays Center on March 9, 2013.

One of the most compelling figures in boxing history, Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KO’s) will be visible and serve as a spokesperson for Brooklyn Boxing™ at select Barclays Center fights, whether on nights he is boxing or otherwise. He will also appear at various Barclays Center boxing press conferences and community boxing clinics in Brooklyn, and he may participate in several meet-and-greets with Barclays Center customers and at select Barclays Center business development meetings with potential partners.

Hopkins’ role with Barclays Center could extend to Nassau Coliseum on Long Island if the Barclays Center-led bid to renovate and operate the venue is chosen by Nassau County.

“Brooklyn is fast becoming the place for major boxing on the East Coast,” said Hopkins. “The events at Barclays Center have been outstanding and I’m excited to be part of its flourishing boxing program. I’m also thrilled that Barclays Center is planning to bring regular boxing events to Nassau Coliseum, which would be terrific for the fans of Long Island and great for boxing.”

“Bernard is a beloved legendary boxer and we are proud to have him represent our Brooklyn Boxing platform throughout the borough and the world of boxing,” said Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “Everyone who was at Barclays Center on March 9 will always remember the night Bernard made history and became one of Brooklyn’s own. We are looking forward to working with Golden Boy in having Bernard defend his title soon at Barclays Center. After four championship events, Barclays Center has become the heart of boxing on the East Coast and we are excited to join with Bernard to expand our fan base even further.”

Hopkins is the longest reigning middleweight champion ever with 20 successful title defenses over the course of his 10-year reign, including his historic victory against Felix “Tito” Trinidad to win the Middleweight World Championship Series on September 29, 2001.

About Barclays Center
Barclays Center opened on September 28, 2012, and is a major sports and entertainment venue in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Developed by Brooklyn-based real estate developer Forest City Ratner Companies, and designed by the award-winning architectural firms AECOM (www.aecom.com/architecture) and SHoP Architects (www.shoparc.com), Barclays Center has one of the most intimate seating configurations ever designed into a modern multi-purpose arena, with unparalleled sightlines and first-class amenities. Barclays Center offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 14,500 seats for hockey and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and 40/40 CLUB & Restaurant by American Express.

Barclays Center is hosting an extensive variety of events, including premier concerts, monthly major professional boxing cards, top college basketball, family shows, the Brooklyn Nets, and soon the New York Islanders.

In addition to Barclays, the naming rights partner, Founding Partners for Barclays Center include American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; American Express; Calvin Klein; Cushman & Wakefield; EmblemHealth; Foxwoods Resort Casino; GEICO; MetroPCS; Stolichnaya; and Ticketmaster. Other sponsors include: adidas, Anheuser-Busch, BlackBerry, The Coca-Cola Company, Haier America, High Point Solutions, JetBlue, LIU Brooklyn, New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, SONY, and Willis.

Located atop one of the largest transportation hubs in New York City, Barclays Center is accessible by 11 subway lines, the Long Island Rail Road, and 11 bus lines.

LOS ANGELES, June 22 – It’s a night of legends on the Sunday, June 23 edition of Golden Boy Classics on FOX Deportes headlined by the ageless wonder of the fight game, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins. Golden Boy Classics will preview the match-up on June 23 which will air on FOX Deportes at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT.

In the Classics main event, it’s a look back as Hopkins takes on then-undefeated Kelly Pavlik in a 2008 fight that shocked the boxing world. Plus, Manny Pacquiao meets Marco Antonio Barrera in their 2007 rematch in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Written off by many after his controversial loss to Joe Calzaghe, then 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins entered the ring at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on October 18, 2008 determined to shock then (34-0) Kelly Pavlik and he did just that. Hopkins put on a boxing clinic en route to a clear cut 12-round decision victory. “The Executioner” wouldn’t be underestimated again.

In November of 2003, an unknown Manny Pacquiao upset Mexican superstar Marco Antonio Barrera, but four years later, on October 6, 2007, Barrera got his shot at redemption and despite a spirited effort, it was Pacquiao who emerged victorious again, this time via 12-round decision.

For more information visit: www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.FOXDeportes.com
and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.twitter.com/FOXDeportes and visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, and www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes.

NEW YORK (June 18, 2013) – Future Hall of Famer and current IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins will be a guest commentator on this Saturday’s live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Boxing’s ageless wonder, Hopkins will serve as an expert analyst joining host Brian Kenny, announcers Mauro Ranallo (blow-by-blow) and Al Bernstein (expert analyst) and ringside reporter Jim Gray.

The legendary, 48-year-old Hopkins will add his insight from the SHOWTIME seat usually occupied by Paulie Malignaggi, who will relocate from the ring apron to the inside of the ring on Saturday evening as he defends his WBA Welterweight World Championship against undefeated current WBC Lightweight and Two-Division World Champion Adrien Broner in what will be a heated, highly-charged 12-round main event.

ABOUT “MALIGNAGGI VS BRONER”:
Malignaggi vs. Broner, a 12-round fight for Malignaggi’s WBA Welterweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and R & R Promotions, supported by Golden Boy Promotions’ sponsors Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. In the co-featured bouts, Johnathon Banks will look to repeat his 2012 upset win over Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell as he defends his NABO and WBC International Heavyweight titles in a 12-round fight presented in association with K2 Promotions and number one rated WBC super middleweight contender Sakio Bika faces number four rated WBC super middleweight contender Marco Antonio Periban in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Super Middle weight World Championship. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are on sale now at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000 and at the American Express Box Office. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

TOTOWA, NJ – June 17, 2013 – Earlier today, the IBF ordered Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard Hopkins to make his next title defense against newly-crowned #1 contender Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev of Russia.

On Friday, Kovalev scored his 9th impressive knockout in a row with a third round demolition of Houston’s Cornelius White on the NBC Sports Network’s critically acclaimed Fight Night series.

Krusher KO’s White
Photo Credits to Larry Levanti/Main Events

“When the IBF issued today’s letter, ordering Hopkins to fight Kovalev next, without granting any exceptions to Hopkins in the interim, everything changed,” promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events, said. “Kovalev has many opportunities, now. We are going to take a few days to evaluate and then decide upon the next move. Of course, Sergey would be thrilled to face Hopkins if Bernard wants the fight.”

Kovalev is surely ready, willing and able to fight Hopkins. “I want to fight Bernard Hopkins because he is a legend of boxing,” Kovalev said after knocking out White. “It was good news that Hopkins and Karo Murat fell out. C’mon and fight. I’m ready. Are you ready?”

LINK TO IBF HOPKINS – KOVALEV LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT MANDATORY LETTER

Due to last night’s surprise announcement that leading IBF light heavyweight contender Karo Murat was forced to pull out of his mandatory July bout with IBF Champion Bernard Hopkins due to visa problems, the winner of tonight’s clash between Sergey Kovalev and Cornelius White on NBC Sports Network Fight Night (8 p.m. Eastern) will immediately become the mandatory challenger for Hopkins’ title.

Sergey Kovalev at 6/14 Weigh In
Photo credits to Rich Graessle/Main Events
“This pushes up the timetable considerably,” said promoter Kathy Duva. “Both Kovalev and White accepted this fight knowing that a win would ensure them a title shot. Now, it appears, the winner will likely fight for the title in his next bout. What was already a compelling match just got a lot more interesting and significant.”

Cornelius White at 6/14 Weigh In
Photo credits to Rich Graessle/Main Events
These are exciting times in the light heavyweight division. Following Adonis Stevenson’s spectacular one-punch knockout of longtime champion Chad Dawson there is much speculation about what is to come. One of the deepest divisions in boxing, light heavyweight should provide plenty of action in the coming months.

In addition to the explosive Stevenson, the cream of the light heavyweight crop includes the ageless Hopkins, Nathan Cleverly, Beibut Shumenov, Karo Murat, Tony Bellew, Jean Pascal, Lucien Bute, Tavoris Cloud and newcomer Andrej Fonfara. In addition, there is speculation that Super Middleweight kingpin Andre Ward may eventually move up to 175, as might the UK’s crowd pleasing Carl Froch.

The winner of tonight’s bout on the NBC Sports Network Fight Night will now be assured a world title fight in the not too distant future and instantly become a member of this elite group of light heavies.

“I remember when light heavyweight was considered one of boxing’s glamour divisions,” promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events said. “During the 70’s and early 80’s the division featured a virtual “hall of fame,” beginning with Bob Foster and moving on through John Conteh, Marvin Johnson, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Michael Spinks. Personally, I will never forget witnessing 1980’s ‘fight of the year’ between Saad Muhammad and Yaqui Lopez from ringside.”

Duva stated, “There is so much talent concentrated in this division right now. I believe this is the most exciting group to emerge on the light heavyweight scene since the 70’s.” She added, “Tonight’s NBC Sports Network fight will only add to the buzz!”

ABOUT FRIDAY, JUNE 14

The Jennnings-Fedosov, Kovalev-White and Cruz-Narh fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. Doors open at 6:15pm ET. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 and $130 (luxury suites) can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4th Street (610-865-2739) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790). NBC Sports Network will televise the Jennings-Fedosov, Kovalev-White and Cruz-Narh fights, beginning at 8 pm ET, Friday, June 14th. The card is promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions, Hitz Entertainment and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

BROOKLYN, (June 14, 2013) – Due to number two rated IBF Light Heavyweight Contender Karo Murat being declared ineligible to receive a visa by the United States Department of State, and his subsequent inability to enter the United States, his scheduled July 13 fight against IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York slated to air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING has been cancelled along with the entire event

“This is an extremely disappointing development as we were anticipating Bernard making history once again on July 13 at Barclays Center,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. “Since the administrative process that would have to be undertaken in order for Murat’s visa petition to be reconsidered takes longer than six months, we’re exploring several options with respect to Bernard’s next fight.”

“I’m extremely disappointed about the fight being cancelled,” said Hopkins. “I was already in the gym, sparring and preparing for the fight, but things happen. I know Richard Schaefer and the staff at Golden Boy Promotions are already working on something bigger and better. I stay in shape so being ready is never a problem and I look forward to whatever fight is made for me in the near future.”

Karo Murat, speaking from his training camp in Mallorca, Spain stated, “Obviously I’m very disappointed as I have been in training for almost three months now, but I understand that my promoter’s representative, Chris Meyer, is in talks with Richard Schaefer to discuss possible alternatives.”

“We are obviously disappointed, as we expected an exciting fight and a big crowd,” said CEO of Barclays Center Brett Yormark. “However, we look forward to working with Golden Boy Promotions to bring future championship bouts to Barclays Center as we continue to become the center of boxing on the East Coast.”

Tickets refunds will be available at the original point of purchase.

New York City (June 6) – IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins held an intimate media roundtable in Midtown Manhattan today to discuss his July 13 title defense against number one rated IBF Light Heavyweight contender Karo Murat, who joined the roundtable via Skype from his training camp in Germany. Below please find quotes from Hopkins, Murat, COO of Golden Boy Promotions David Itskowitch, CEO of Barclays Center Brett Yormark and Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports Stephen Espinoza who were also on hand to discuss the highly anticipated fight taking place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. and which will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.

Click HERE to download photos from the event

Photo Credit: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME®

BERNARD HOPKINS, IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“I just found out a month ago, the doctor will be here before the [fight week] press conference hopefully to explain this, but I must confess that I am not human. I am an alien. No, seriously. I realize that Pluto is no longer a planet now, so I’m from Mars. I’ve definitely retired the ‘Executioner.’ You will not hear me mention the Executioner.

“Now, I’m in this world but I’m not of this world. There is no aging process for me.

“The breaking news is that I am an alien.

“I reflect a little bit in my mind about not only defending my title, but also defending my historic career.

“I’m a Philly guy. I get a lot of love in Philly, but, to be able to be a part of Brooklyn and to be fighting in a new facility that in 15 or 20 years from now, people will be talking about the great events that happened there and I will be mentioned for what I did on March 9.

“When Murat’s name came up and it was agreed upon, I was like ‘let’s do this.’ I see bigger things in my future believe it or not and he’s in the way of that.

“I feel like I’m in my mid to early 30’s instead of my 40’s.

“If you don’t know Karo Murat, then you’ll know him after July 13.

“I think you should pay attention, because I know when I was a number one contender, I was hungry for a title.

“There’s a reason why a fight between Cloud and Murat didn’t happen. I got the opportunity to fight with Cloud, and here we are.

“I look at it as ‘look what’s on my plate.’ The burden is on me, not Karo Murat. The burden is on me to be who I am and to show the world that when it comes to age, you know don’t count Bernard Hopkins out.

“This guy [Murat] and anybody I fight is a danger at this stage of my career.

“I have to look past him to the future. That means I’m motivated to make a profound statement and outdo the last fight. That’s one of my whole objectives is to outdo what people thought was a historic moment March 9. To me, other than the push-ups, I outdid myself in both Jean Pascal fights. This is my motivation. I want a super fight before I retire. If I want that super fight, I have to get past this. This is more of a political, do or die fight for me. I’m good under pressure.

“Karo Murat, to me, is that super fight for now as far as on paper, because there’s no reason to talk about anything else if July 13 becomes a disaster for my plans. It’s counterproductive to talk about anyone else past July 13.

“Karo Murat has been thirsty, he’s been waiting and he has a mentality of, ‘I’m in a win win situation because there are a lot of other people who have lost to me. So that’s not an embarrassment to him. It’s almost like a badge of honor. Can you imagine getting a black eye from someone you loved and watched growing up? This guy was 10 years old when I had a title. That’s a shiner that you don’t want to heal.

“I’m in a unique situation being 48 and being a guy that you don’t want to take a risk with your fighters because I have a history of ruining a lot of young fighters’ careers.
“This isn’t an off day for me. I’m not taking him lightly because I know what’s on the table for my future. This year there is a possible chance that you will see a 48-year-old athlete fighting at a top level three times. Who does that?”

KARO MURAT, Number One Rated IBF Light Heavyweight Contender

“I respect what Bernard’s achieved so far in his career, but at the end of the day, I’m traveling to America for the fight of my life. I’m prepared for a battle and I’m going to show you a real battle once we get into the ring.

“Of course I’m taking Bernard seriously. Who wouldn’t? Like I said, I’ve been following his career since I was 10, so I pretty much know all of his moves; everything he does, I know already.

“The deciding factor will be who is mentally stronger and I believe that’s me because I don’t have the same pressure that Bernard does, so that gives me an advantage.

“I believe there’s a big Armenian community in New York, so ever since I found out that I was coming to New York, I’ve been hoping all of the Armenians will come out and support me.

“I’m happy that he accepted the fight. It’s by far the biggest fight of my career.

“It’s a joy listening to Bernard. He’s a smart guy and it’s been quite fun listening to him. In my opinion, the roles have reversed from his fight against Cloud. A lot of people were writing him off because he’s old. He was the dark horse in that fight, and I think the roles are switched now. I think right now I’m the underdog. I’m the dark horse. I’m caught in the crosshairs and I’ll turn up in the best shape possible. I’ll turn up with the right mind set and Bernard Hopkins is going to feel that on July 13.”

DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO of Golden Boy Promotions

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Karo Murat. It’s his first time fighting in the United States. He’s fighting a living legend and a win over Bernard certainly puts him on the boxing map.

“Bernard is a guy that doesn’t need much of an introduction, but I feel his accolades are worth mentioning.

“He’s the oldest fighter ever to win a world title and one of the greatest moments in sports history was when Jean Pascal was slow getting off of his stool between rounds, Bernard decided to do pushups in the middle of the ring.

“He continued to make history with his record-setting unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Tavoris Cloud in March at Barclays Center and that showed he’s far from finished. I think we’re going to be doing these press conferences for a few years to come.”

BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Barclays Center

“We’re thrilled to be hosting Bernard Hopkins and Karo Murat on July 13. On March 9, it was so dramatic at Barclays Center when we witnessed an incredible moment when Bernard won the title.

“He said to me after the fight that he wanted to make Barclays Center his home away from home, and here we go…he returns in July.

“We had a vision three years ago. Our goal was to bring dramatic moments to Barclays Center. To have a big time return of boxing back to a borough like Brooklyn where there is so much history and I think it’s unfolded just the way we’ve wanted it to.

“We’re building a brand and a business in Brooklyn. We’re very excited about it.

“We’re thrilled that Showtime continues to deliver us to a national audience.

“Thank you Bernard for defending your title at Barclays Center.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports

“We’re very happy to be working with Barclays Center again. Brett and his team have been extremely creative in marketing and producing these events. Each event has had a larger crowd than the one prior, and that’s a sign of building a very solid business and building a solid venue in Brooklyn.

“We’re also very proud to be back in business again with Bernard Hopkins. The words ‘living legend’ get thrown around quite a bit but he literally is a living legend, a medical marvel and every time he fights it is truly an event.

“That’s not to ignore Karo Murat by any means. He’s, for those in the U.S. that might not know him as well, a fighter that has been highly avoided by many, many different fighters at different skill levels. I’m not surprised Bernard would take the challenge. It’s going to be a very competitive fight.”

# # #

Hopkins vs. Murat, a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship taking place Saturday, July 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The event can also be heard in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale now and may be purchased at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

IBF Light Heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins will make his mandatory defense against Karo Murat on July 13 in Brooklyn at The Barclays Center on Showtime according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“The fight was made and we were looking for a date and we were holding July 13 at the Barclays Center for quite awhile for a fight,” said Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer. “I talked to Murat’s promoter, Chris Myer from Sauerland Event, and they are OK with the date and I talked to Bernard and he was OK with it also, so since everyone was fine with it why not get it done? So I am finalizing everything for that date in that building.”

“The people at the Barclays Center are excited to have Bernard Hopkins back and Bernard is excited to go back to the Barclays Center,” Schaefer said. “He told me he is already training for the fight.”

Schaefer said that featherweight Gary Russell Jr., the 2011 ESPN.com prospect of the year who has been beset by injuries, will likely be on the televised undercard.

“We feel that Gary Russell is ready to take on anyone,” Schaefer said. “We want to see who is available and who will take the fight. It’s not easy to make a fight for Gary Russell because not too many people want to fight him.”

LOS ANGELES, March 22 – It’s a back-to-back weekend of boxing classics on March 23 and 30 when some of the sport’s greats including Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Abner Mares, Ricky Hatton and Victor Ortiz are featured on FOX Deportes Classics.

On Saturday, March 23, it’s a hard-hitting classic doubleheader, when the battle between Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares and former World Champion Vic Darchinyan from 2010 airs at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, then the memorable 2004 showdown between future Hall of Famers Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins follows at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT.

Then, on Saturday, March 30, two more action-packed fights will be featured starting with former World Champion Victor Ortiz’s 2010 battle against Hector Alatorre at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT followed by the memorable 2007 mega fight between then both undefeated fighters Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT.

2004 Mexican Olympian Abner Mares scored the biggest victory of his career on December 11, 2010 when he rose from the canvas to knock down Vic Darchinyan and go on to win a hard fought split decision victory that kicked off his run to two divisional world championships.

It was one of boxing’s biggest fights in years when Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins met for the Undisputed Middleweight World Championship on September 18, 2004, and after an evenly-matched battle, Hopkins scored a ninth round knockout victory over “The Golden Boy.”

Currently competing on ABC’s hit reality show “Dancing With The Stars,” former World Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz wasn’t dancing against Hector Alatorre in their February 25, 2010 bout at Club Nokia at L.A. LIVE where he dropped and then stopped the rugged veteran in the 10th round, kicking off his run towards a world title.

Following up his mega-fight win over Oscar De La Hoya in May of 2007, current Eight Time and Five-Division World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather finished off that year on December 8 by stopping British superstar Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton in the 10th round to retain his WBC Welterweight World Championship and improve to 38-0 as a pro.

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, visit www.goldenboypromotions.comand www.FOXDeportes.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.twitter.com/FOXDeportes and visit us on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes.

Follow all the action LIVE from Ringside at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York as the Legendary Bernard Hopkins tries once again to make history when he takes on Tavoris Cloud for the IBF Light Heavyweight championship. The action begins at 9:30 pm est with a Welterweight bout featuring Keith Thurman and Jan Zaveck

REFRESH BROWSER FOR LATEST RESULTS

12 ROUNDS–IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–TAVORIS CLOUD (24-0, 19 KO’S) VS BERNARD HOPKINS (52-6-2, 32 KO’S)

Round 1 Holding and referee earl Brown talks to both guys…Cloud misses a left hook..10-10

Round 2 Hopkins lands a right..Cloud comes back..Cloud lands a hard left..Hopkins gets in a right..20-19 Hopkins….as a big fight in the crowd

Round 3 Cloud lands a right..Hopkins lands a right to the body..Body shot from Cloud..Right from Hopkins…Body shot from Cloud..29-29

Round 4 Hopkins lands a left to the body..Good counter right..Cloud lands a right…Cloud misses a left and Hopkins sticks his tongue out..Good right from Cloud..Good right from Hopkins..39-38 Hopkins

Round 5 Cloud coming out jabbing…Right to the side of the head…Good jab from Hopkins..Both land good rights..Hopkins lands a counter uppercut..Cloud lands a body shot..48-48

Round 6 Hopkins lands a combo..lead right..Cloud bleeding over the left eye..counter uppercut..The doctor is checking Cloud’s cut..Cut ruled a headbutt…Cloud goes after Hopkins..Hopkins lands a combo..58-57 Hopkins

Round 7 Hopkins gets in a body shot…Hard bdy shot from Cloud..Hopkins landing combos from the Corner..68-66 Hopkins

Round 8 Cloud gets a right..Good left hook..counter uppercut from Hopkins..Hard right from Cloud..77-76 Hopkins

Round 9 Counter right from Hopkins and sneeks away..combo…left hook from Cloud..Counter right from Hopkins..Overhand right..87-85 Hopkins

Round 10 Hopkins lands a jab followed by a right..quick inside right…Hopkins showing good defense..97-94 Hopkins

Round 11vHopkins lands a leaping left…Hard right up the middle..107-103

Round 12 Hopkins lands a right..good trading inside..Cloud bleeding from both eyes…117-112 Hopkins

116-112; 117-111; 116-112 FOR THE NEW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD BERNARD HOPKINS

12 ROUNDS–WELTERWEIGHTS–KEITH THURMAN (19-0, 18 KO’S) VS JAN ZAVECK (32-2, 18 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Thurman jabbing..Thurman lands a counter right..Thurman works the body..Good combination..10-9 Thurman

Round 2 Thurman lands 2 hard shots to start the round…Zaveck’s face starting to be marked up already…Hard body shot ..ripping combo..good body shot..20-18 Thurman

Round 3 Right / left from Thurman…Zaveck gets in a right on the ropes..Good left from Thurman…Zaveck continues to press but keeps getting hit…30-27 Thurman

Round 4 Right drives Zaveck into ropes that sets up 4 punch combo…Hard shot from Thurman…40-36

Round 5 Hard straight right from Thurman..Hard body shot...50-45 Thurman

Round 6 Zaveck gets in a left…overhand right..Right from Thurman…Jab..3 punch combination..60-54 Thurman

Round 7 Hard left from Thurman drives Zaveck back…70-63 Thurman

Round 8 Zaveck trying to press but ineffective…Zaveck gets in a right..79-73 Zaveck

Round 9 Fight getting sloppy with a alot of missed punches…Huge body shot from Thurman..89-82 Thurman

Round 10 Thurman beginning to pour it on,,Hard combinations…solid right...99-91 Thurman

Round 11 Leasping left hook 109-100 Thurman

Round 12 Good action down the stretch…119-110 Thurman

120-108 on all cards for KEITH THURMAN

BROOKLYN, NY–At age 48, Bernard Hopkins won the IBF Light Heavyweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Tavoris Cloud at Barclays Center

After a first round of absolutely nothing, the action picked up in round two started trading good shots with Cloud focusing on the body and Hopkins landing some solid combinations. Cloud focued more on the bidy early because his shots upstairs were wild and Hopkins was able to avoid them with ease. Hopkins started to control the action with his patented combinations and slick defense. In round six, a butt caused a cut over the left eye of Cloud that was later checked out by the ringside doctor.

The fight went on, and the few and far between times that Cloud tried to mount any offense it either wasn’t sustained or extremely ineffective. Hopkins continued to land some terrific combinations that drew ooohs and ahhs from the assembled crowd inside Barclay Center.

Hopkins was never threatened down the stretch and won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112 to raise his 1st ballot Hall of Fame mark to 53-6-2. Cloud is now 24-1.—–More to come

Welterweight prospect Keith Thurman scored a twelve round unanimous decision over former titlist Jan Zaveck.

Thurman came out boxing and landed a nice hook in round one. Thurman continued to land blistering power shots in the second frame. Thurman continue to mix up the power shots on the former champion and was dominant with the exception of a nice overhand right that Zaveck landed in round six.

The second half of the fight started as more of the same with Thurman controlling the rounds. Thurman had a big round ten as he rocked Zaveck several times with hard combinations. The two fought hard down the stretch but Thurman was never in any serious danger.

Thurman, 145 lbs of Clearwater, FL is won by scores of 1201-08 on all cards. Zaveck, 146.6 lbs of Slovenia is now 32-3.

Michael Perez and Lonnie Smith battled to a technical draw after a headbutt opened up a cut over Perez forehead and the bout had to be halted in the seventh round of a ten round Lightweight bout.

Perez dropped Smith with a perfect left uppercut in round two. Smith came back in the round to land solid left uppercut and and left hook. Perez was bleeding from the left eye while Smith was bleeding heavily from the mouth. In round four, Perez started bleeding from his forehead but then rocked Smith with an uppercut on the inside. Late in round six, a nasty cut formed on the right side of Perez’s head. That cut was ruled by a headbutt after originally being ruled by a punch. Scores were 67-65 Perez while two judges ruled 66-66

Perez, 136 lbs of Newark, NJ is 18-1-2. Smith, 135.6 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is now 14-4-3.

Eddie Gomez scored a sensational 1st round stoppage over Javier Gomez in a sheduled six round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Eddie drilled Javier with a nasty left hook that rocked Javier. Eddie finished the fight with another vicious left hook that sent Javier down. When he got to his feet referee Arthur Mercante Jr. stopped the bout at 1:17

Eddie Gomez, 152 lbs of Bronx, NY is now 13-0 with 9 knockouts. Javiier Gomez, 153.4 lbs of Tijuana, MX is now 14-11

2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne made quick work of Josh Thorpe as he scored a first round stoppage in a sxheduled four round Light Heavyweight bout.

Browne battered Thorpe all over the ring for the first round until a huge uppercut sent Thorpe down. Browne then landed eight straight hard blows that forced referee Pete Santiago to stop the bout at 2:42 of round one.

Browne, 175.6 lbs of Staten Island, NY is now 3-0 with all wins coming early. Thorpe, 175.4 lbs of Cincinnati, OH is 1-3.

Exciting Jr, Middleweight prospect Frank Galarza scored an explosive 2nd round stoppage over Guillermo Ibarra in round two of a scheduled six round bout.

Galarza rocked Ibarra with hard shots in round one. He dropped Ibarra in round two from a hard right hand. Galarza sealed the deal with a thunderous combination that was punctuated with a hard left hook and referee Arthur Mercante Jr. stopped the bout at 2:19 of round two.

Galarza, 153.4 lbs of Brooklyn is now 9-0-1 with 5 knockouts. Ibarra, 153 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is now 7-2

Claude Staten Jr. made A successful pro debut with a four round unanimous decision over Mike Hill in a Super Bantamweight bout.

Staten dropped Hill in round one from a right hand and cruised home from there on out.

Staten, 122 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 40-35 on cards. Hill, 121 lbs of New Orleans is 0-2.

Stivens Bujaj hung on to score a four round unanimous decision over Zeferino Albino in a Cruiserweight bout.

Bujaj controlled the bout bu landing the harder blows over the first three-plus rounds until Albino drilled Bujaj with a hard left hook the set off a furious exchange in the corner.

Bujaj, 201 lbs of New York won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 9-0. Albino, 201 lbs of Philadelphia is 4-16-3

BROOKLYN, NY (MARCH 9, 2013)—TONIGHT at the Barclays Center,undefeated Brooklyn native, Jr.Middleweight Frank “Notorious” Galarza will appear on the undercard of the
IBF Light Heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud who will be defending his title against legendary Bernard Hopkins.

Galarza of Brooklyn has a record of 8-0-1 with 4 knockouts and is one of the most popular fighters in the New York area due to his exciting style. In September 2012, Galarza was involved in a Fight of The Year when he and fellow undefeated Alantez Fox waged an eight round war that took place at the Resorts World Casino New York City. In his most recent bout, Galarza scored a six round unanimous decision over Roberto Lopez on December 8th in Queens, New York. Galarza will be facing Guillermo Ibarra 11-2 with 7 knockouts from Sinaloa, Mexico.

If Galarza reigns victorious he will be back in action on May 4th at the Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York. Galarza is promoted by New Legend Boxing Promotions, Old World Boxing Promotions and W.O.N Boxing Promotions.

Undefeated Super Bantamweight, Juan “Baby Tito” Dominguez was also scheduled to appear but his opponent Jonathan Alcantera was overweight at Friday’s weigh in. Dominguez will also appear on May 4th at the Resorts World Casino and like Galarza, he is also promoted by New Legend Boxing, Old World Boxing and W.O.N Promotions

BROOKLYN, March 6 – New York area favorites Michael Perez of Newark, Eddie Gomez of The Bronx and Staten Island’s 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne will step into the ring in exciting preliminary action on Saturday, March 9 when they head up an action-packed undercard leading up to the IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship between Bernard Hopkins and Tavoris Cloud at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York which will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

The co-main event, a clash between undefeated Florida knockout artist Keith “One Time” Thurman and former World Champion Jan “Mr. Sympathicus” Zaveck in a 12-round bout for Zaveck’s WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Championship, will also be telecast on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Newark’s Michael “The Artist” Perez (18-1-1, 10 KO’s) bounced back from the lone loss of his career in January 2012 against top prospect Omar Figueroa by stopping Eric Cruz in two rounds in June and decisioning Fidel Maldonado Jr. in August. He rode that success all the way to Madison Square Garden in December where he defeated Fernando Carcamo via an eight-round unanimous decision. Saturday night, Perez will look to continue his upward momentum when he faces Las Vegas’ Lonnie Smith in a 10-round lightweight showdown.

Las Vegas’Lonnie Smith (14-4-2, 10 KO’s) wants to follow Perez’ road to redemption after tough losses against former world title challenger Vicente Escobedo and tough competitor Mason Menard in 2012. Before those defeats, the 26-year-old Smith had run off nine straight wins, including victories over David Rodela and Eduardo Arcos. On Saturday, he looks to get back in the win column against a hungry Michael Perez.

Twenty-year-old junior middleweight phenom Eddie Gomez (12-0, 8 KO’s) is coming off of a six-round unanimous decision victory over Luis Hernandez in December 2012 and the Bronx product is back in action this weekend, making his second appearance at Barclays Center. In the opposing corner will be Javier Gomez (14-10, 10 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico, who will look to put the first loss on Gomez’s record in a six-round junior middleweight contest.

2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne (2-0, 2 KO’s) will make his New York professional debut this Saturday night and expects his fans to be at Barclays Center in full force. The 22-year-old National Amateur Champion and Three-Time New York Golden Gloves Champion turned professional in November 2012 and has already racked up two wins by knockout. In his November debut, he defeated unbeaten Codale Ford in three rounds and then dispatched the hard-hitting Ritchie Cherry in one round on December 15 in Los Angeles. He will face Mobile, Alabama’s Josh Thorpe (1-2) in a four-round lightweight bout as he looks to add another win to his resume.

Also in action will be Two-Time New York Golden Gloves Champion Steve “Superman” Bujaj (8-0, 6 KO’s) who will engage in a four-round cruiserweight fight with Philadelphia’s Zeferino Albino (4-15-3, 2 KO’s). Brooklyn battlers Juan Dominguez (12-0, 8 KO’s) and Frank Galarza (8-0-1, 4 KO’s) will also answer the bell, with Galarza squaring off against Los Mochis’ Guillermo Ibarra (7-1, 4 KO’s) in a six-round junior middleweight fight and bantamweight Dominguez facing an opponent to be determined in an eight-round bout. Debuting Brooklynite Claude Staten Jr. will get to fight at home in his first pro bout when he faces New Orleans’ Mike Hill (0-1) in a four-round bantamweight tilt.

# # #

Hopkins vs. Cloud, a 12-round fight for Cloud’s IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship will take place Saturday, March 9 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don King Productions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Ford and Rocawear. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. The co-main event will be a 12-round fight between top rated undefeated contender Keith Thurman and former World Champion Jan Zaveck for Zaveck’s WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Championship.

Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $85, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.

Undefeated IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs) took his last run this morning in Big Bear Lake, Calif., prior to departing for Brooklyn, N.Y., to make his fifth title defense on March 9 at Barclays Center against future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KOs). (HBO, 9:30 p.m. ET/PT)

Cloud is shown here in front of the beautiful Bear Mountain Ski Resort.

Cloud, from Tallahassee, Fla., and his new trainer Abel Sanchez faced a number of challenges at their high-altitude training camp perched in the mountains east of Los Angeles. They braved a bitterly cold January followed by heavy snowfall that Cloud noted “was beautiful.”

February brought on what Cloud said “was not a good time to be a black man in Big Bear,” when an intense California-wide manhunt lead police to Cloud’s scenic mountain oasis in search of former Los Angeles Police Department cop Christoper Dorner–a fugitive with a $1 million bounty on his head after being suspected of going on a killing spree–whose truck was found in the snow-covered woods near Big Bear Lake.

Police got into a gunfight with the outlaw on Glass Road in the Big Bear area before subsequently burning a cabin where he had holed up on Feb. 12.