WASHINGTON — Bernard Hopkins thumbed his nose at Father Time one more time Saturday night, using his vast experience and guile, and yes, his ageless quickness to defeat Beibut Shumenov at the DC Armory.
With a surprising split decision victory in a brilliant performance, Hopkins, 49, became the oldest boxer to unify major titles. He retained his IBF light-heavyweight title and added Shumenov’s IBA and WBA titles. Shumenov is 19 years younger than Hopkins.
“Boxing is a science,” Hopkins said. “If you don’t have to get hit, don’t. You don’t want someone else counting your money.”
Judge Gustavo Padilla scored it 114-113 for Shumenov, while the other judges scored it 116-111 for Hopkins.
“That is (B.S.),” Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who promoted the card, said after the fight. “That’s another judge that should be retired.”
Hopkins wasn’t too upset about the split decision, but the partisan crowd booed loudly.
“When you get into all of that with judges, it’s the commission’s job to deal with that stuff,” he said. “I deal with what’s in the ring.”
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