Montreal, May 22 (AFP) Ring veteran Bernard Hopkins beat Jean Pascal by decision in a World Boxing Council light heavyweight bout to become the oldest major world champion in boxing history at 46 years old.
Hopkins came on strong in the middle rounds and hung on in the 12th against the hard-hitting Canadian Pascal to get the decision in front of a crowd of 17,750 at the Bell Centre arena yesterday.
Hopkins won a unanimous decision against Pascal in an entertaining rematch of their December 18 draw in Quebec City, Canada.
"I have always fought with heart and courage to get a guy out of there," Hopkins said. "You save the best for last. I want to go out a winner and not beat up, punch drunk and not broke."
Hopkins is 126 days beyond his 46th birthday.