Hopkins crowned as oldest IBF champion

Bernard Hopkins (R) speaks with Tavoris Cloud after winning their fight by a unanimous decision during their IBF light heavyweight title in New York March 9, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - At the age of 48, Bernard Hopkins became the oldest boxer to win a major world championship here Saturday, beating Tavoris Cloud.

Hopkins won the 12-round International Boxing Federation's light heavyweight title, overturning Cloud, who is 17 years his junior.

"The 40 and up club still rules," Hopkins said. "I got a history. I got a history of destroying young champions and you never seen them again."

Twenty five years after his first professional fight, Hopkins made history again in his 31st championship bout.

Hopkins was 46 in 2011 when he beat Canada's Jean Pascal to win the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight crown to mark the previous oldest, beating legendary heavyweight George Foreman's mark of 45.

Hopkins won on all three judges scorecards, 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112 against the previously unbeaten Cloud.

He connected on 41 percent of his overall punches and landed 110 out of 227 power punches.

Hopkins landed one of his best punches in the sixth round which opened a cut over the left eye of Cloud, who was making his fifth title defense.

His trainers worked to close the cut between rounds but each time they did it would start bleeding again in the middle of the later rounds.

Hopkins now improves to 53-6 with two drawn and 32 knockouts.

Bernard Hopkins (L) connects with a punch on Tavoris Cloud during their IBF light heavyweight title in New York March 9, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]