Boxing News Boxing News
Bernard Hopkins had to wait 17 years for a return bout with Roy Jones Jr but it finally took place last night at The Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas and “The Executioner” walked away with a unanimous points decision after 12 rounds.
Both men fought conservatively in the early going, slinging jabs and single shots until Hopkins was canvassed by a punch to the back of the head in the sixth.
Jones lost a point for the infraction and an enraged Hopkins went after his long-time rival with everything he had once the bout resumed, an assault that didn’t stop when the bell sounded to end the sixth as cornermen from both sides ended up in the ring.
Hopkins was down again from another punch to the back of the head in the eighth and a beltline shot in the tenth but aside from those occurrences, the later rounds saw Jones try to potshot Hopkins with big right hands as the Philadelphian looked to counter.
In the end, Hopkins was awarded the verdict on all three cards, 118-109 and 117-110 twice but Jones, who falls to 54-7 (40), proved that the clash wasn’t as one-sided for Hopkins as many had predicted.
After the bout, Hopkins, who moves to 51-5-1 (32), unexpectedly called out WBA heavyweight champion David Haye.
On the undercard, Jason Litzau, 27-2 (22), won the NABF super feather belt when a cut suffered by opponent Rocky Juarez, 28-6-1 (20), stopped the bout in the seventh.
Lightweight slugger Ray Narh, 24-1 (21), stopped outgunned Angel Hernandez, 14-5 (11), in the second to annex the vacant USNBC crown while big-hitting light heavy Ismayl Sillakh, 12-0 (11), performed the same feat against the more experienced Daniel Judah, 23-5-3 (10), to win the vacant NABF strap.
Ex-WBC light middle Sergio Mora, 22-1-1 (6), stopped former light welter journeyman Calvin Green, 21-5-1 (13), in the seventh at middleweight.
