No Holds Barred: Bernard Hopkins on Black Fighters, and Why It's Good to Duck

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman previews the October 26 fight between the IBF light heavyweight champion and boxing legend, Bernard Hopkins, and challenger Karo Murat.

The 48-year-old Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KOs), from Philadelphia, will be facing the 30-year-old Murat (25-1-1, 15 KOs), born in Iraq and fighting out of Germany, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This fight will headline a card which will be shown live in the U.S. on Showtime.

Both Hopkins and Murat were on a media conference call Thursday, and we have excerpts from that.

Despite his age advantage, Murat is a huge underdog. He has never fought for a major world title or in the U.S., and has never faced any opponent on the level of Hopkins. Still, he said on this conference call that Hopkins has been reduced to throwing one punch at a time and then clinching, and that he is confident he can win.

Hopkins - who has shed his long-standing nickname of "The Executioner" and is now calling himself "The Alien" because he is doing things a human of his age should not be able to do - not only dismissed such claims, but emphasized how he combines offense and defense. Such boxing skills, he said, are no longer seen as important or even marketable, especially by many TV executives. Boxing has changed today to where it "has sort of gotten to a barbaric" place. All-time greats like Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard, and in particular many Black fighters, he said, "would be boring today" and accused of not being able to sell tickets and pay-per-view buys. The TV executives believe, "if they duck, don't buy it." He attributed his longevity in boxing to his combination of offense and defense, proving "why it's good to duck."

He added, "I got two rules: I hit you, and I got to make you not hit me. What's wrong with that?"

But, he said, "The customers will drink anything you give them, if it's promoted right."

We play from this conference call our questions for Karo Murat, and the commentary by Bernard Hopkins on "why it's good to duck."

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Hopkins vs. Murat is a 12-round bout for Hopkins' IBF Light Heavyweight + PETER "KID CHOCOLATE" QUILLIN MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

World Championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin puts his title on the line against Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round bout. Plus, opening the tripleheader, WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder will face Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

 

WBO Middleweight World Champion Prepares for Title Defense Against "King" Gabriel Rosado on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^®

WBO Middleweight World Champion Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillinput on a clinic today for media members at his gym in Santa Monica, Calif. as he prepares for his title bout against top contender "King" Gabriel Rosado taking place Saturday, Oct. 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Quillin vs. Rosado will precede the title fight between future IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins and top-rated contender Karo Murat.

 The undefeated rising star worked out for well over an hour on the speed bag and heavy bag as well as several 12-minute rounds hitting the mitts with trainer Eric Brown.

Peter Quillin, WBO Middleweight World Champion

"[Gabriel] Rosado presents his own challenges. He's coming to win my world title. I have something that he wants, so I have to respect him for that. We have to put our friendship aside.

"Going into the fight, I have to take myself to a whole another level as far as my work ethic.   I'm doing a lot more than I ever have. I've had tremendous training [camp]. Now I have to prove what my hard work does, like I always have, by just going in there and trying my best.

"I don't feel that I'm underrated. I know I have my share of supporters. But I also know that I'm still looking for that clear, career-defining performance against the kinds of guys I can get the credit for fighting.

"So, until then, until I'm in with those kinds of guys, I can't really say I've accomplished anything that would make me feel like I'm the guy that gets all the credit.

"Yeah, I beat Winky Wright, and, yeah, I beat some guys with good records, but beating another world champion is something I really want to do. I feel that once that superstar fight comes along and is on the line, then that's when the credit will come my way.

"I would love to fight any of the top guys.

"I didn't come in here picking and choosing who I want to fight.   I have a good team behind me. They make sure when it comes to me proving myself with, that I do my part and they do their part by making the best fights out there for me.

"When there is something unexplainable, like what I am doing, people are going to talk about it.

"I have had 11 knockdowns in my last three fights. I only had 15 amateur fights. People see or hear about those knockdowns and they have a lot to say about it.   'If you hit so hard and have so much power, why don't they just stay down?'   But that is not up to them to tell us why they got back up from a punch and fought on. It is up to the guy that I am fighting. The more times you get up, the more times I am going to try to knock you down.

"This will be my fourth fight on SHOWTIME. I really appreciate having them behind me. Exposure-wise, it has obviously been a big boost for me. When I walk the streets in New York City I get recognized.

"SHOWTIME is the network where all of the great fights are being made. The biggest fighter in the world, Floyd Mayweather fights on SHOWTIME. To be connected to someone that is from my hometown of Grand Rapids just like me, is fantastic.

"The most important thing for me is to go out there and inspire people to do things that they never imagined. Whether it is a boxer, a writer or an architect. I didn't have a lot of role models growing up, but it's what's in yourself that counts. And that is what I am trying to get across.''

Eric Brown, Quillin's Trainer

"Peter has really grown up a lot since winning the title, having the title and defending it successfully. It has really boosted his confidence. He's a much more composed fighter. He's true to himself.

 "Since becoming champion he's really begun to believe in himself more than ever.

He's always had the confidence that he could win, but winning the title has confirmed it. It has made the job harder for him but it has also made him work harder.

"He's matured into a real professional. I have had him for about three years and he has always been a great young man to work with. He pretty much does everything I ask. The more I ask the more he gives. There is no limit to how far he can go. It's all on him. I would love to see him get the opportunity to unify the division and then up to 168 pounds and unify the division there too.''

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION BERNARD HOPKINS TO FACE MANDATORY CHALLENGER KARO MURAT IN A BOUT RESCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 26 AT BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY, NJ LIVE ON SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®

IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION BERNARD HOPKINS TO FACE MANDATORY CHALLENGER KARO MURAT IN A BOUT RESCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 26 AT BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY, NJ LIVE ON SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^®

PETER QUILLIN TO FACE GABRIEL ROSADO IN CO-MAIN EVENT OF HOPKINS VS. MURAT TRIPLEHEADER ON OCT. 26 AT

IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins will become the oldest fighter in history to make his initial title defense when he faces highest rated light heavyweight challenger Karo Murat in a rescheduled championship event taking place Saturday, October 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.   The 12-round title fight, which was postponed from July 13 due to visa issues experienced by Murat, will air live on SHOWTIME^® (9 p.m. ET/PT).  With those issues cleared up, Murat has his sights set on ending the reign of the 48-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Hopkins vs. Murat, a 12-round bout for Hopkins' IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Caesars Atlantic City and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona and AT&T.  The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION BERNARD HOPKINS TO FACE MANDATORY CHALLENGER KARO MURAT IN A BOUT RESCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 26 AT BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY, NJ LIVE ON SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®

On October 26, the Hopkins vs. Murat fight will have a highly anticipated co-feature: PETER QUILLIN vs. GABRIEL ROSADO!

IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins will become the oldest fighter in history to make his initial title defense when he faces highest rated light heavyweight challenger Karo Murat in a rescheduled championship event taking place Saturday, October 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.   The 12-round title fight, which was postponed from July 13 due to visa issues experienced by Murat, will air live on SHOWTIME^® (9 p.m. ET/PT).  With those issues cleared up, Murat has his sights set on ending the reign of the 48-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Hopkins vs. Murat, a 12-round bout for Hopkins' IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Caesars Atlantic City and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona and AT&T.  The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

"I'm happy this fight is back on," said Hopkins.  "Karo Murat is my mandatory and he is coming here to take down this 48-year-old champion, except he's coming three months late.  He gave me extra time to spend time with my family, stay in the gym longer to get ready for this fight. I'm going to be so physically and mentally prepared come October 26, Murat will know he is facing a great champion regardless of my age. I feel like a fighter in my 20s not my 40s."

"This fight has been a long time coming," said Murat.  "I had some issues with my visa but those are finally solved.  I felt ready in July and in October, I will feel even more ready.  I've been awaiting the chance to fight for the IBF title since late 2011 so three months extra is nothing tome.  Bernard Hopkins is 48 years of age - I guess he has enjoyed the summer. Will he be ready for me? I do not know. What I can say is that I will be at my best on October 26. When I am messing up his old bones it will make me a star in an instant."

"One of the most charismatic and accomplished fighters in recent generations, Bernard Hopkins continues to defy the odds with each record-setting performance," said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. "Not only does he keep winning, but he is doing so in impressive, often dazzling fashion.  But make no mistake, this is no showcase fight.  Karo Murat is a dangerous opponent. His only loss is to a current world champion in Nathan Cleverly and he holds a win over former World Champion Gabriel Campillo.   You can't underestimate an experienced and hungry fighter like Murat." 

"Like any Bernard Hopkins bout, this October 26 Boardwalk Hall match has drawn considerable buzz throughout the entire region," said Kevin Ortzman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Caesars, Bally's, and Showboat Atlantic City. "The public and the boxing community have waited in anticipation and now they will finally get their wish as the stage is set for Hopkins vs. Murat. 

Nothing can be said about the life and career of Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KO's) that hasn't already been written or aired on television, radio, or the internet, but suffice to say that the 48-year-old from Philadelphia has earned the title "legend" for his storied nearly 15-year stay in the fight game. The longest reigning middleweight champion in boxing history, Hopkins went on to reinvent himself as a light heavyweight after turning 40, winning the world title twice. Each time, he set a new record as the oldest fighter to win a major world championship, but as his dominant 12 round win over previously unbeaten Tavoris Cloud in March showed, he's far from finished, a fact he plans on letting Murat know on October 26.

 The number one contender for the IBF light heavyweight title, 29-year-old Karo Murat (25-1-1, 15 KO's) is on the verge of making history should he defeat Hopkins for his title. A pro since 2006 who has come up the hard way in the fight game, the resident of Kitzingen, Bavaria, Germany has won several regional titles en route to his place among the top 175-pounders in the world. Unbeaten for nearly three years since the lone loss of his career to WBO champion Nathan Cleverly in 2010, Murat's last two wins have been knockouts of Otis Griffin and Sandro Siproshvili, putting him at the front of the line for his dream fight against a future Hall of Famer.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Bernard Hopkins To Face Mandatory Challenger Karo Murat On Saturday, July 13 At Barclays Center in Brooklyn

IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION BERNARD HOPKINS TO FACE MANDATORY CHALLENGER KARO MURAT ON SATURDAY, JULY 13

Continuing to break his own records, IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins will become the oldest fighter in history to make his initial title defense when he faces number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender Karo Murat on Saturday, July 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  The bout will mark Hopkins' second time fighting in Brooklyn's new arena following his stellar win over Tavoris Cloud at Barclays Center in March.

Hopkins vs. Murat, a 12-round bout for Hopkins' IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship taking place Saturday, July 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T.

 "Murat has nothing to lose and everything to gain by fighting me," said Hopkins.  "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.  I keep saying 'I'm different' because it is true and I'm going to prove it once again on July 13.  I don't know a lot about Murat, which makes him a dangerous competitor, but after over two decades in this sport, there isn't anything I haven't seen, so I plan on showing the world that I can face anyone at any time and be victorious."

"It's like a dream come true," said Murat.  "I'm so happy to have this opportunity.  Bernard Hopkins has nothing else to prove and this will be the first fight in my career where I have nothing to lose.  I can only win against Hopkins and I plan on retiring him.  His biggest strength is his experience, but I will reveal his weaknesses at Barclays Center in front of his own fans.  I will be in the best shape of my life and will snatch his belt from under his nose."

"Every Bernard Hopkins fight is a historic event and an opportunity for fans to see one of the all-time greats in action," said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions.  "On July 13, he'll look to keep his remarkable streak going, but Karo Murat is a hungry challenger and he's coming to Brooklyn to win, so I expect a great fight."

"We are delighted that at long last Karo Murat is getting the mandatory shot he earned a long time ago," said Kalle Sauerland, Murat's promoter from Sauerland Event.  "The fact that Bernard Hopkins plays by the rules and is giving this young mandatory his opportunity speaks volumes of him.  Of course Murat is the underdog, but as the saying goes every dog has its day."

"Bernard Hopkins made history at Barclays Center in March and created an unforgettable atmosphere," said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center.  "We are honored to host Hopkins' next title fight at Barclays Center where he can potentially break his own record.  Boxing is flourishing in Brooklyn and we are proud to work with Golden Boy Promotions to continue driving the renaissance of the sport in the borough."

Nothing can be said about the life and career of Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KO's) that hasn't already been written or aired on television, radio or the internet already, but suffice to say that the 48-year-old from Philadelphia has rightfully earned the title of "legend" as a result his accomplishments throughout his storied career.  The longest reigning middleweight champion in boxing history, Hopkins went on to reinvent himself as a light heavyweight after turning 40, winning a world title three times.  With his last two title wins, he set a new record as the oldest fighter to win a major world championship in boxing history, and as his dominant 12-round unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Tavoris Cloud in March showed, he's far from finished, a fact he plans on letting Murat know on July 13.

The number one contender for the IBF light heavyweight title, 29-year-old Karo Murat (25-1-1, 15 KO's) is on the verge of making history with the chance of a lifetime.  A pro since 2006, the resident of Kitzingen, Germany has won several regional titles en route to his place among the top 175-pound fighters in the world.  Unbeaten for nearly three years since the lone loss of his career to WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Nathan Cleverly in 2010, Murat's last two wins have been knockouts, putting him at the front of the line for his dream fight against a future Hall of Famer.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.