Hopkins keeps title with UD over Murat
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Atlantic City, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Bernard Hopkins just keeps on winning, even at the age of 48.
Hopkins kept his IBF light heavyweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Karo Murat Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall. Two judges scored the bout 119-108 and another had it 117-110.
Hopkins (54-6-2) became the oldest fighter in history to make his initial title defense. He defeated Tavoris Cloud at Barclays Center in March to win the belt.
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The longest reigning middleweight champion in boxing history, Hopkins has been reinventing himself as a light heavyweight following his 40th birthday, and has since captured three world titles.
The 30-year-old Murat (25-2-1), fighting for the first time in the United States, was left with a bloody cut over his left eye.
Before that, in round three, a confident Hopkins stuck his tongue out at his opponent after a left hook landed from Murat. In round five, Hopkins kissed Murat twice during a clinch -- on the back of the neck and on the head.
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Referee Steve Smoger deducted a point from Murat for hitting on the break in round seven.
In the end, Murat was no match for a boxer who won his 23rd world title fight, which is fifth-most all-time.
On the undercard, "Kid Chocolate" Peter Quillin kept his WBO middleweight title with a 10th-round TKO of Gabriel Rosado. Quillin (30-0) opened a cut over Rosado's (21-7) left eye and the bout was stopped 40 seconds into the round.
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Rosado was also floored in the second round by a left hook.