Bernard Hopkins' toughest opponent Saturday night was a judge who actually thought Hopkins had lost a light heavyweight title unification fight.
According to CBSSports.com, the 49-year-old Hopkins defied his age once again, scoring a split-decision victory over Beibut Shumenov at the DC Armory. Hopkins claimed Shumenov's WBA light heavyweight belt, adding it to his IFB light heavyweight title.
"I'm special. In a way that you believe is good," CBSSports.com reported Hopkins as saying. "There's no definition of special. Special speaks for itself."
Two of the judges' scorecards gave Hopkins a 116-111 decision, but a third judge, whom USA TODAY Sports reported as Gustavo Padilla, scored the bout 114-113 in favor or Shumenov - even after Hopkins knocked him down in the 11th round for the only knockdown in the fight.
CBSSports.com scored the bout 117-110 in favor of Hopkins.
"It's not my job to deal with (split-decision scoring). It's my job to get ready to unify this title before 50," Hopkins said, according to CBSSports.com. "Shumenov is a gallant warrior and he'll be a champion again when I leave, I'm pretty sure."
But Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, the card's promoter Saturday night, was livid over the split decision.
"That is (B.S.)," he said, according to USA TODAY Sports. "That's another judge that should be retired."
Hopkins, nine months away from his 50th birthday and well past the retirement age of most boxers, was the more accurate puncher on Saturday night. He threw 383 punches, landing 186, CBSSports.com reported. Shumenov, a native of Kazakhstan, threw 608 punches but connected on only 124.
Hopkins credited himself for Shumenov's ineffectiveness.
"Boxing is a science," Hopkins said, according to USA TODAY Sports. "If you don't have to get hit, don't. You don't want someone else counting your money."
"I'm special. In a way that you believe is good," Hopkins said. "There's no definition of special. Special speaks for itself."
CBSSports.com reported that Hopkins next will face WBC champion Adonis Stevenson, but a site has yet to be determined.
Do you think Bernard Hopkins can unify the light heavyweight division titles? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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