• Light-heavyweight

Hopkins v Murat bout confirmed for July 13

ESPN staff
May 20, 2013
Bernard Hopkins wants to fight Carl Froch © AP
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Golden Boy Promotions have confirmed Bernard Hopkins will honour the mandatory challenge of Karo Murat for his IBF light-heavyweight title, with the bout set for July 13.

Hopkins broke his own record by beating Tavoris Cloud at the age of 48 to set a new standard as the sport's oldest world champion. Off the back of that win, both Nathan Cleverly and Carl Froch have been linked to the American.

The fight with Cloud was sanctioned through exception, as Hopkins was due to fight mandatory challenger Murat. The exception was granted by the IBF with the stipulation that the winner of Cloud and Hopkins agree to face Murat or relinquish the belt.

So late in his career, it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that Hopkins would sidestep the German in favour of fighting bigger names, particularly after he recently spoke of his desire to meet Froch if the Brit beats Mikkel Kessler this weekend.

However, it has now been confirmed that Hopkins will face Murat in Brooklyn on July 13, after which the American will be free to pursue a box-office encounter.

"Murat has nothing to lose and everything to gain by fighting me," Hopkins said. "He knows he is fighting a 48-year-old, but he has to understand that there aren't any other 48-year-olds like me."

Murat has only been beaten once, losing to Cleverly via stoppage. He will enter as a long underdog later this year.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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