Bernard Hopkins vs Beibut Shumenov

At Washington's DC Armory on April 19, 2014, Bernard Hopkins faced WBA champion Beibut Shumenov in a light heavyweight unification bout. Hopkins, ranked #1 by The Ring magazine and entering as a -200 favourite, sought to extend his record as boxing's oldest champion at age 49.

The fight's early rounds were tentative, with Shumenov holding a slight edge. Hopkins found his rhythm in round three, landing an overhand right that sparked "B-Hop" chants from the 6,823 attendees. His accuracy proved decisive: CompuBox recorded Hopkins landing 49% of his total punches (186 of 383) compared to Shumenov's 20% (124 of 608). The disparity in power punches was even more pronounced, with Hopkins connecting on 51% to Shumenov's 20%.

The pivotal moment came in round eleven when Hopkins scored his first knockdown since dropping Joe Calzaghe in 2008. A feinted jab followed by an overhand right sent Shumenov to one knee. Though Shumenov survived, Hopkins continued his aggression through the final round.

The split decision victory (116-111 twice for Hopkins, 114-113 for Shumenov) sparked controversy, with ESPN's Dan Rafael calling judge Gustavo Padilla's scorecard "among the worst in modern boxing history." Rafael and The Ring's Lem Satterfield scored 118-109 for Hopkins.

The victory made Hopkins the oldest boxer to unify significant titles, though he didn't claim Shumenov's IBA belt due to declining to pay the sanctioning fee. The performance showcased Hopkins' continued excellence against a champion 19 years his junior, marking his second successful IBF title defence while capturing Shumenov's WBA "Super" title.

For Hopkins, who hadn't scored a knockout since stopping Oscar De La Hoya in 2004, the dominant performance demonstrated his sustained abilities despite nearing 50. The win positioned him for potential unification bouts with other light heavyweight champions, including Ring champion Adonis Stevenson.