Hopkins retains title

Bernard Hopkins, right, turned his bout with Karo Murat into a brawl and retained his share of the light-heavyweight championship with a unanimous decision Saturday night in Atlantic City, N.J. Hopkins (54-6-2) turned the later rounds into his own personal mission to score his first knockout win since 2004. He battered Murat for most of the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds to help successfully defend his championship at Boardwalk Hall. Hopkins, 48, extended his record as the oldest fighter to defend a major championship. He had winning scores of 119-108, 119-108, 117-110. Murat (25-2-1) lost a point in the seventh round for hitting after the break and was warned several times for questionable blows. Referee Steve Smoger shoved Murat in the face after another hit after the bell to end the 12th. – AP