By Rachel Aylett: At the weekend Bernard Hopkins was involved in one of his most incident-packed fights for years, as he turned back the futile challenge of the Sauerland team’s Karo Murat. Murat was so determined not to be intimidated and roughed up by Hopkins that he was ready for a rough-house war, which is pretty much what it turned into. Murat was lucky not to be disqualified as he perpetrated almost every foul in the book during the fight, most blatantly punching on the break on numerous occasions. Referee Steve Smoger only took one point away from Murat during the fight, for that very offence, but had he been more stringent a disqualification may have resulted.
Whilst Murat was getting involved with the naughties, Hopkins was busy boxing his head off. He simply couldn’t miss with his right hand leads, which thudded home throughout the fight. Murat was tough but we’ve yet to see anyone who can match Bernard for the inside game, as he always manages to have one hand free in the clinches to beat his opponent round the ear with. He is a genius at this and his short punches inside are deadly accurate.