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Bernard Hopkins: “Karo Murat Is A Danger”
BERNARD HOPKINS AND NUMBER ONE RATED IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER KARO MURAT NEW YORK CITY MEDIA ROUNDTABLE QUOTES
New York City (June 6) – IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins held an intimate media roundtable in Midtown Manhattan today to discuss his July 13 title defense against number one rated IBF Light Heavyweight contender Karo Murat, who joined the roundtable via Skype from his training camp in Germany. Below please find quotes from Hopkins, Murat, COO of Golden Boy Promotions David Itskowitch, CEO of Barclays Center Brett Yormark and Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports Stephen Espinoza who were also on hand to discuss the highly anticipated fight taking place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. and which will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.
Photo Credit: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME®
BERNARD HOPKINS, IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
“I just found out a month ago, the doctor will be here before the [fight week] press conference hopefully to explain this, but I must confess that I am not human. I am an alien. No, seriously. I realize that Pluto is no longer a planet now, so I’m from Mars. I’ve definitely retired the ‘Executioner.’ You will not hear me mention the Executioner.
“Now, I’m in this world but I’m not of this world. There is no aging process for me.
“The breaking news is that I am an alien.
“I reflect a little bit in my mind about not only defending my title, but also defending my historic career.
“I’m a Philly guy. I get a lot of love in Philly, but, to be able to be a part of Brooklyn and to be fighting in a new facility that in 15 or 20 years from now, people will be talking about the great events that happened there and I will be mentioned for what I did on March 9.
“When Murat’s name came up and it was agreed upon, I was like ‘let’s do this.’ I see bigger things in my future believe it or not and he’s in the way of that.
“I feel like I’m in my mid to early 30’s instead of my 40’s.
“If you don’t know Karo Murat, then you’ll know him after July 13.
“I think you should pay attention, because I know when I was a number one contender, I was hungry for a title.
“There’s a reason why a fight between Cloud and Murat didn’t happen. I got the opportunity to fight with Cloud, and here we are.
“I look at it as ‘look what’s on my plate.’ The burden is on me, not Karo Murat. The burden is on me to be who I am and to show the world that when it comes to age, you know don’t count Bernard Hopkins out.
“This guy [Murat] and anybody I fight is a danger at this stage of my career.
“I have to look past him to the future. That means I’m motivated to make a profound statement and outdo the last fight. That’s one of my whole objectives is to outdo what people thought was a historic moment March 9. To me, other than the push-ups, I outdid myself in both Jean Pascal fights. This is my motivation. I want a super fight before I retire. If I want that super fight, I have to get past this. This is more of a political, do or die fight for me. I’m good under pressure.
“Karo Murat, to me, is that super fight for now as far as on paper, because there’s no reason to talk about anything else if July 13 becomes a disaster for my plans. It’s counterproductive to talk about anyone else past July 13.
“Karo Murat has been thirsty, he’s been waiting and he has a mentality of, ‘I’m in a win win situation because there are a lot of other people who have lost to me. So that’s not an embarrassment to him. It’s almost like a badge of honor. Can you imagine getting a black eye from someone you loved and watched growing up? This guy was 10 years old when I had a title. That’s a shiner that you don’t want to heal.
“I’m in a unique situation being 48 and being a guy that you don’t want to take a risk with your fighters because I have a history of ruining a lot of young fighters’ careers.
“This isn’t an off day for me. I’m not taking him lightly because I know what’s on the table for my future. This year there is a possible chance that you will see a 48-year-old athlete fighting at a top level three times. Who does that?”
KARO MURAT, Number One Rated IBF Light Heavyweight Contender
“I respect what Bernard’s achieved so far in his career, but at the end of the day, I’m traveling to America for the fight of my life. I’m prepared for a battle and I’m going to show you a real battle once we get into the ring.
“Of course I’m taking Bernard seriously. Who wouldn’t? Like I said, I’ve been following his career since I was 10, so I pretty much know all of his moves; everything he does, I know already.
“The deciding factor will be who is mentally stronger and I believe that’s me because I don’t have the same pressure that Bernard does, so that gives me an advantage.
“I believe there’s a big Armenian community in New York, so ever since I found out that I was coming to New York, I’ve been hoping all of the Armenians will come out and support me.
“I’m happy that he accepted the fight. It’s by far the biggest fight of my career.
“It’s a joy listening to Bernard. He’s a smart guy and it’s been quite fun listening to him. In my opinion, the roles have reversed from his fight against Cloud. A lot of people were writing him off because he’s old. He was the dark horse in that fight, and I think the roles are switched now. I think right now I’m the underdog. I’m the dark horse. I’m caught in the crosshairs and I’ll turn up in the best shape possible. I’ll turn up with the right mind set and Bernard Hopkins is going to feel that on July 13.”
DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO of Golden Boy Promotions
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Karo Murat. It’s his first time fighting in the United States. He’s fighting a living legend and a win over Bernard certainly puts him on the boxing map.
“Bernard is a guy that doesn’t need much of an introduction, but I feel his accolades are worth mentioning.
“He’s the oldest fighter ever to win a world title and one of the greatest moments in sports history was when Jean Pascal was slow getting off of his stool between rounds, Bernard decided to do pushups in the middle of the ring.
“He continued to make history with his record-setting unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Tavoris Cloud in March at Barclays Center and that showed he’s far from finished. I think we’re going to be doing these press conferences for a few years to come.”
BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Barclays Center
“We’re thrilled to be hosting Bernard Hopkins and Karo Murat on July 13. On March 9, it was so dramatic at Barclays Center when we witnessed an incredible moment when Bernard won the title.
“He said to me after the fight that he wanted to make Barclays Center his home away from home, and here we go…he returns in July.
“We had a vision three years ago. Our goal was to bring dramatic moments to Barclays Center. To have a big time return of boxing back to a borough like Brooklyn where there is so much history and I think it’s unfolded just the way we’ve wanted it to.
“We’re building a brand and a business in Brooklyn. We’re very excited about it.
“We’re thrilled that Showtime continues to deliver us to a national audience.
“Thank you Bernard for defending your title at Barclays Center.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports
“We’re very happy to be working with Barclays Center again. Brett and his team have been extremely creative in marketing and producing these events. Each event has had a larger crowd than the one prior, and that’s a sign of building a very solid business and building a solid venue in Brooklyn.
“We’re also very proud to be back in business again with Bernard Hopkins. The words ‘living legend’ get thrown around quite a bit but he literally is a living legend, a medical marvel and every time he fights it is truly an event.
“That’s not to ignore Karo Murat by any means. He’s, for those in the U.S. that might not know him as well, a fighter that has been highly avoided by many, many different fighters at different skill levels. I’m not surprised Bernard would take the challenge. It’s going to be a very competitive fight.”
# # #
Hopkins vs. Murat, a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship taking place Saturday, July 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The event can also be heard in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale now and may be purchased at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.
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Skylar Lacy Blocked for Lamar Jackson before Making his Mark in Boxing
Skylar Lacy, a six-foot-seven heavyweight, returns to the ring on Sunday, Feb. 2, opposing Brandon Moore on a card in Flint, Michigan, airing worldwide on DAZN.
As this is being written, the bookmakers hadn’t yet posted a line on the bout, but one couldn’t be accused of false coloring by calling the 10-round contest a 50/50 fight. And if his frustrating history is any guide, Lacy will have another draw appended to his record or come out on the wrong side of a split decision.
This should not be construed as a tip to wager on Moore. “Close fights just don’t seem to go my way,” says the boxer who played alongside future multi-year NFL MVP Lamar Jackson at the University of Louisville.
A 2021 National Golden Gloves champion, Skylar Lacy came up short in his final amateur bout, losing a split decision to future U.S. Olympian Joshua Edwards. His last Team Combat League assignment resulted in another loss by split decision and he was held to a draw in both instances when stepping up in class as a pro. “In my mind, I’m still undefeated,” says Lacy (8-0-2, 6 KOs). “No one has ever kicked my ass.”
Lacy was the B-side in both of those draws, the first coming in a 6-rounder against Top Rank fighter Antonio Mireles on a Top Rank show in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and the second in an 8-rounder against George Arias, a Lou DiBella fighter on a DiBella-promoted card in Philadelphia.
Lacy had the Mireles fight in hand when he faded in the homestretch. The altitude was a factor. Lake Tahoe, Nevada (officially Stateline) sits 6,225 feet above sea level. The fight with Arias took an opposite tack. Lacy came on strong after a slow start to stave off defeat.
Skylar will be the B-side once again in Michigan. The card’s promoter, former world title challenger Dmitriy Salita, inked Brandon Moore (16-1, 10 KOs) in January. “A capable American heavyweight with charisma, athleticism and skills is rare in today’s day and age. Brandon has got all these ingredients…”, said Salita in the press release announcing the signing. (Salita has an option on Skylar Lacy’s next pro fight in the event that Skylar should win, but the promoter has a larger investment in Moore who was previously signed to Top Rank, a multi-fight deal that evaporated after only one fight.)
Both Lacy and Moore excelled in other sports. The six-foot-six Moore was an outstanding basketball player in high school in Fort Lauderdale and at the NAIA level in college. Lacy was an all-state football lineman in Indiana before going on to the University of Louisville where he started as an offensive guard as a redshirt sophomore, blocking for freshman phenom Lamar Jackson. “Lamar was hard-working and humble,” says Lacy about the player who is now one of the world’s highest-paid professional athletes.
When Lacy committed to Louisville, the head coach was Charlie Strong who went on to become the head coach at the University of Texas. Lacy was never comfortable with Strong’s successor Bobby Petrino and transferred to San Jose State. Having earned his degree in only three years (a BA in communications) he was eligible immediately but never played a down because of injuries.
Returning to Indianapolis where he was raised by his truck dispatcher father, a single parent, Lacy gravitated to Pat McPherson’s IBG (Indy Boxing and Grappling) Gym on the city’s east side where he was the rare college graduate pounding the bags alongside at-risk kids from the city’s poorer neighborhoods.
Lacy built a 12-6 record across his two seasons in Team Combat League while representing the Las Vegas Hustle (2023) and the Boston Butchers (2024).
For the uninitiated, a Team Combat League (TCL) event typically consists of 24 fights, each consisting of one three-minute round. The concept finds no favor with traditionalists, but Lacy is a fan. It’s an incentive for professional boxers to keep in shape between bouts without disturbing their professional record and, notes Lacy, it’s useful in exposing a competitor to different styles.
“It paid the bills and kept me from just sitting around the house,” says Lacy whose 12-6 record was forged against 13 different opponents.
As a sparring partner, Lacy has shared the ring with some of the top heavyweights of his generation, e.g., Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. He was one of Fury’s regular sparring partners during the Gypsy King’s trilogy with Deontay Wilder. He worked with Joshua at Derrick James’ gym in Dallas and at Ben Davison’s gym in England, helping Joshua prepare for his date in Saudi Arabia with Francis Ngannou and had previously sparred with Ngannou at the UFC Performance Center in Las Vegas. Skylar names traveling to new places as one of his hobbies and he got to scratch that itch when he joined Whyte’s camp in Portugal.
As to the hardest puncher he ever faced, he has no hesitation: “Ngannou,” he says. “I negotiated a nice price to spend a week in his camp and the first time he hit me I knew I should have asked for more.”
Lacy is confident that having shared the ring with some of the sport’s elite heavyweights will get him over the hump in what will be his first 10-rounder (Brandon Moore has never had to fight beyond eight rounds, having won his three 10-rounders inside the distance). Lacy vs. Moore is the co-feature to Claressa Shields’ homecoming fight with Danielle Perkins. Shields, basking in the favorable reviews accorded the big-screen biopic based on her first Olympic journey (“The Fire Inside”) will attempt to capture a title in yet another weight class at the expense of the 42-year-old Perkins, a former professional basketball player.
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Mizuki Hiruta Dominates in her U.S. Debut and Omar Trinidad Wins Too at Commerce
Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta smashed through Mexico’s Maribel Ramirez with ease in winning by technical decision and local hero Omar Trinidad continued his assault on the featherweight division on Friday.
Hiruta (7-0, 2 KOs), who prefers to be called “Mimi,” made her American debut with an impressive performance against Mexican veteran Maribel Ramirez (15-11-4) and retained the WBO super flyweight world title by unanimous decision at Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.
The pink-haired Japanese southpaw champion quickly proved to be quicker, stronger and even better than advertised. In the opening round Ramirez landed on the floor twice after throwing errant blows. On one instance, it could have been ruled a knockdown but it was not a convincing blow.
In the second round, Ramirez again attacked and again was met with a Hiruta check right hook and down went the Mexican. This time referee Ray Corona gave the eight-count and the fight resumed.
It was Hiruta’s third title defense but this time it was on American soil. She seemed nervous by the prospect of getting a favorable review from the more than 700 fans inside the casino tent.
For more than a year Hiruta has been training off and on with Manny Robles in the L.A. area. Now that she has a visa, she has spent considerable time this year learning the tricks of the trade. They proved explosively effective.
Though Mexico City’s Ramirez has considerable experience against world champions, she discovered that Hiruta was not easy to hit. Often, the Japanese champion would slip and counter with precision.
It was an impressive American debut, though the fight was stopped in the eighth round after a collision of heads. The scores were tallied and all three saw Hiruta the winner by scores of 80-71 twice and 79-72.
“I’m so happy. I could have done much more,” said Hiruta through interpreter Yuriko Miyata. “I wanted to do more things that Manny Robles taught me.”
Trinidad Wins Too
Omar Trinidad (18-0-1, 13 KOs) discovered that challenger Mike Plania (31-5, 18 KOs) has a very good chin and staying power. But over 10 rounds Trinidad proved to be too fast and too busy for the Filipino challenger.
Immediately it was evident that the East L.A. featherweight was too quick and too busy for Plania who preferred a counter-puncher attack that never worked.
“He was strong,” said Trinidad. “He took everything.”
After 10 redundant rounds all three judges scored for Trinidad 100-90 twice and 99-91. He retains the WBC Continental Americas title.
Other Bouts
Ali Akhmedov (23-1, 17 KOs) blasted out Malcolm Jones (17-5-1) in less than two rounds. A dozen punches by Akhmedov forced referee Thomas Taylor to stop the super middleweight fight.
Iyana “Roxy” Verduzco (3-0) bloodied Lindsey Ellis in the first round and continued the speedy assault in the next two rounds. Referee Ray Corona saw enough and stopped the fight in favor of Verduzco at 1:34 of the third round.
Gloria Munguilla (7-1) and Brook Sibrian (5-2) lit up the boxing ring with a nonstop clash for eight rounds in their light flyweight fight. Munguilla proved effective with a slip-and-counter attack. Sibrian adjusted and made the fight closer in the last four rounds but all three judges favored Munguilla.
More Winners
Joshua Anton, Tayden Beltran, Adan Palma, and Alexander Gueche all won their bouts.
Photos credit: Al Applerose
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More
Avila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More
Best wishes to the survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires that took place last week and are still ongoing in small locales.
Most of the heavy damage took place in the western part of L.A. near the ocean due to Santa Ana winds. Another very hot spot was in Altadena just north of the Rose Bowl. It was a horrific tragedy.
Hopefully the worst is over.
Pro boxing returns with 360 Boxing Promotions spotlighting East L.A.’s Omar Trinidad (17-0-1, 13 KOs) defending a regional featherweight title against Mike Plania (31-4, 18 KOs) on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.
“I’m the king of L.A. boxing and I’ll be ready to put on a show headlining again in the main event. This is my year, I’m ready to challenge and defeat any of the featherweight world champions,” said Trinidad.
UFC Fight Pass will stream the Hollywood Night fight card that includes a female world championship fight and other intriguing match-ups.
Tom Loeffler heads 360 Promotions and once again comes full force with a hot prospect in Trinidad. If you’re not familiar with Loeffler’s history of success, he introduced America to Oleksandr Usyk, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and the brothers Wladimir and Vitaly Kltischko.
“We’ve got a wealth of international talent and local favorites to kick off our 2025 in grand style,” said Loeffler.
He knows talent.
Trinidad hails from the Boyle Heights area of East L.A. near the Los Angeles riverbed. Several fighters from the past came from that exact area including the first Golden Boy, Art Aragon.
Aragon was a huge gate attraction during the late 1940s until 1960. He was known as a lady’s man and dated several Hollywood starlets in his time. Though he never won a world title he did fight world champions Carmen Basilio, Jimmy Carter and Lauro Salas. He was more or less the king of the Olympic Auditorium and Los Angeles boxing during his career.
Other famous boxers from the Boyle Heights area were notorious gangster Mickey Cohen and former world champion Joey Olivo.
Can Trinidad reach world title status?
Facing Trinidad will be Filipino fighter Plania who’s knocked off a couple of prospects during his career including Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer and Giovanni Gutierrez. The fighter from General Santos in the Philippines can crack and hold his own in the boxing ring.
It’s a very strong fight card and includes WBO world titlist Mizuki Hiruta of Japan who defends the super flyweight title against Mexican veteran Maribel Ramirez. It’s a tough matchup for Hiruta who makes her American debut. You can’t miss her with that pink hair and she has all the physical tools to make a splash in this country.
Two other female bouts are also planned, including light flyweight banger L.A.’s Gloria Munguilla (6-1) against Coachella’s Brook Sibrian (5-1) in a match set for six rounds. Both are talented fighters. Another female fight includes super featherweights Iyana “Right Hook Roxy” Verduzco (2-0) versus Lindsey Ellis (2-1) in another six-rounder. Ellis can crack with all her wins coming via knockout. Verduzco is a multi-national titlist as an amateur.
Others scheduled to perform are Ali Akhmedov, Joshua Anton, Adan Palma and more.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Boxing and the Media
The sport of professional boxing is currently in flux. It’s always in flux but no matter what people may say or write, boxing will survive.
Whether you like Jake Paul or not, he proved boxing has worldwide appeal with monstrous success in his last show. He has media companies looking at the numbers and imagining what they can do with the sport.
Sure, UFC is negotiating a massive billion dollar deal with media companies, as is WWE, both are very similar in that they provide combat entertainment. You don’t need to know the champions because they really don’t matter. Its about the attractions.
Boxing is different. The good champions last and build a following that endures even beyond their careers a la Mike Tyson.
MMA can’t provide that longevity, but it does provide entertainment.
Currently, there is talk of establishing a boxing league again. It’s been done over and over but we shall see if it sticks this time.
Pro boxing is the true warrior’s path and that means a solo adventure. It’s a one-on-one sport and that appeals to people everywhere. It’s the oldest sport that can be traced to prehistoric times. You don’t need classes in Brazilian Jiujitsu, judo, kick boxing or wrestling. Just show up in a boxing gym and they can put you to work.
It’s a poor person’s path that can lead to better things and most importantly discipline.
Photos credit: Lina Baker
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