By Steve Davis: “For the new IBC, WBA super and IBF world light heavyweight champion Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KO’s). That was the call at the armory in Washington DC as Hopkins won a 12 round split decision against WBA light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov (14-2, 9 KO’s), taking the formers IBC, WBA titles. The scores were 116-111 twice for Hopkins and 114-113 Shumenov.
Richard Schaefer, the CEO for Golden Boy Promotions, commented “that another judge who should be retired.” and I have to agree. How could Judge Padilla score the fight for Shumenov? His score of 114-113 was shocking and a disgrace. Shumenov won two rounds at most and that’s being generous. All I can think of, is that he must have fallen asleep after the first two rounds.
Hopkins started slow and lost the first couple of rounds, but after that Hopkins put on a show and completely outclassed Shumenov. Round after round Shumenov would walk forward throwing slow ponderous shots, and Hopkins would roll the shoulder and return fire, a jab followed by the right. It was easy for Hopkins. Shumenov just had no answer to the Hopkins puzzle.
It seems amazing that a fighter 19 years Hopkins junior could not apply enough pressure to make a fight of it. Hopkins had Shumenov down in the 11th round after throwing a jab followed by a short right hand. The punch seemed to catch him at the side of the head and down he went. He survived as Hopkins just toyed with his man. The crowd loudly booed when it was announced that judge Padilla had scored the fight for Shumenov.
After the fight Hopkins commented that he was special and he had no concerns about the Judge who scored the fight incorrectly. He also had a message for WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, telling him that he was getting his papers ready and will be coming to Canada. I for one think he’s got the beating of Stevenson and Sergey Kolavev.
Neither fighter has yet to be truly tested nor did neither look great in their last fights. With this victory Hopkins became the oldest fighter to unify portions of a world title, and on this brilliant performance he could go on for a while yet. I once said Floyd Mayweather was properly the best defensive fighter ever. Well, I could be wrong as “The Alien” could certainly give Floyd a run for his money. Hopkins makes a believer out of me. Well done champ and as for Mr. Padilla, he needs to find another line of work – Disgrace.
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