Former world champion Bernard Hopkins will battle fellow American Roy Jones in April in a rematch of their middleweight fight 17 years ago.
Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KOs) has been looking for a rematch with Jones since May 1993 in Washington, DC, when Jones beat Hopkins in a unanimous decision for the vacant International Boxing Federation middleweight crown.
The 45-year-old Hopkins (50-5-1 32 KOs) rebounded from that loss to win the middleweight title which he held for 10 years. He is also a former light heavyweight champ.
Two months ago, he defeated Enrique Ornelas by unanimous decision in a light heavyweight bout in Philadelphia.
“A rematch with Roy has been in the back of my mind for a long time and it’s finally going to happen,” Hopkins said.
“I have accomplished a lot in my career since that night in Washington, DC in 1993, and I am going to end this thing between me and Roy once and for all.”
The 41-year-old Jones is fresh off a first-round loss to Danny Green of Australia in December.
“We’re giving the fans what they want to see,” said Jones, who has a record of 54 wins, six defeats and 40 knock outs.
“They deserve this fight and why not supply the fans with what they demand?”
The fight will take place April 3 at Mandalay Bay hotel and casino. — AFP