ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Bernard Hopkins will turn the big 5-0 without a championship belt around his waist.
Sergey Kovalev roughed up Hopkins from the opening bell, sending the aging fighter to the canvas — and possibly into retirement — with the fight he needed to serve as validation that he’s the class of the 175-pound division.
Kovalev used his punishing knockout power to abuse Hopkins for 12 rounds, winning a unanimous decision early Sunday to stake his claim as the best light heavyweight.
Kovalev, who missed the birth of his son because he was training for the fight, has three versions of the 175-pound belt after taking two from the 49-year-old Hopkins in the decisive victory. Kovalev is 26-0-1 with 23 knockouts.
Bernard Hopkins cerca de cumplir 50 años no pudo con el Ruso Sergey Kovalev quien lo domino a lo largo de los 12 asaltos que duro el combate unificatorio de los semipesados en Atlantic City…y perdio por decision unanime de los jueces…
Kovalev se queda con las tres versiones del titulo de las 175 libras y quedo con marca de 26 victorias, 23 por la via rapida y una derrota con solo 33 años de edad, mientras que Hopkins quedo mas cerca del retiro definitivo.