Ring veteran Bernard Hopkins beat Enrique Ornelas by unanimous decision in a light heavyweight homecoming bout on Wednesday.
Hopkins came on strong in the 12th round and his hometown crowd were delighted to see him get the decision by scores of 118-110, 120-108 and 119-109.
Hopkins improved to 50-5-1 with 32 wins inside the distance while Ornelas fell to 29-6.
The 44-year-old American showed he still has some fight left, but maybe not one against fellow veteran Roy Jones jnr.
The two had hoped to fight in March, but Jones was stopped on Wednesday in the first round by Australian Danny Green.
”I think I can still fight him,” Hopkins said.
In Sydney, Green put down the eight-time world champion Jones with a well-timed right hand which sent the American tumbling to the canvas midway through the opening round and then pummelled the American legend with a flurry of blows against the ropes.
English referee Howard Foster called a halt to the fight at 2:02 into the first round.
Hopkins, who last fought nearly 14 months ago, said beating Ornelas was the first part of a three-fight plan to gain one more title.
He wanted to fight Jones, then challenge World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye.
”I’m now going to be heavyweight champion in 2010,” said Hopkins, who reigned for 10 years as middleweight world champion.
Jones holds the distinction of becoming the first former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight world title in 106 years. — AFP
