NEW YORK ? When covering Bernard Hopkins, you don?t just find yourself wondering how long the age-defying fighter can continue thriving at boxing?s elite level. More often, you find yourself wondering when the incomparably verbose boxer will stop speaking. The loquacious light heavyweight champion was particularly talkative Wednesday during a news conference at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill to promote his fight Saturday night against Germany?s Karo Murat in Atlantic City. Hopkins? stupefying soliloquy full of unusual analogies, mispronounced names and ill-conceived conspiracy theories seemingly made Murat more appreciative than ever that he doesn?t understand English. Unfortunately for Murat, they also speak different figurative languages inside the ring. The rugged Hopkins is 48, yet heavily favored to defeat the mandatory challenger for his IBF 175-pound crown in the main event of a Showtime tripleheader from Boardwalk Hall. Murat (25-1-1, 15 KOs) is 18 years younger than the first-ballot Hall of Fame fighter from Philadelphia, but the most noteworthy win on the unknown contender?s record is a majority decision over Spanish southpaw Gabriel Campillo (22-6-1, nine KOs, one NC) five years ago. Campillo and Murat fought to a draw in their rematch three years later, a year after Murat was stopped in the 10th round by former WBO light heavyweight title-holder Nathan Cleverly (26-1, 12 KOs). Conversely, Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KOs, two NC) defeated numerous former champions and future Hall of Fame fighters during his historic reigns as a world champion at middleweight and light heavyweight. Though 14 1/2 months from turning 50, the oldest boxer to win a recognized world title remarkably continues to beat championship-caliber opponents. “Murat will understand that he?s in there with [someone] totally different than the European fighters that he fought,” said Hopkins, who would?ve been stripped of his title if he didn?t fight Murat. “So welcome to the United States. It?s a whole different ballgame. It?s a whole different style. He hasn?t been in the ring with anybody with the attributes and the skill level and the knowledge of a Bernard Hopkins.” The Hopkins-Murat match was first scheduled for July 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Murat?s visa issues forced a three-month postponement, which further delayed Hopkins? pursuit of more meaningful, lucrative light heavyweight fights. Waiting hasn?t hindered Hopkins? preparation, because the extremely disciplined champion long ago mastered taking the most professional approach toward even the most unimposing opponents. “[I] never take anyone for granted or lightly,” Hopkins said. “Always look at your opponent as the enemy who?s trying to take your spot, who?s trying to take everything you work for, or trying to enhance his career off of your legacy. ? I take every fight seriously.” – See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/229208641_Idec_on_boxing__Bernard_Hopkins_still_likes_to_hear_himself_talk.html#sthash.qfF7B5Y7.dpuf
