There wasn’t anyone for Hopkins to fight this summer, since all the major contenders already had fights locked in or were injured.
Hopkins didn’t want to give up his IBF belt, so he will take on the mandatory challenger, while hoping for a bigger fight in the fall.
Light heavyweight titleholder Bernard Hopkins will continue his storied career at age 48 by facing mandatory challenger Karo Murat of Germany this summer, Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com on Wednesday.
“History is marching on,” Schaefer said. “Bernard is up for the challenge. Karo Murat is 29, young enough to be Bernard’s son. He’s a good fighter and he has been waiting for this kind of opportunity.”
Schaefer said he and Chris Meyer, the general manager of Murat promoter Sauerland Event, have agreed to all terms. Schaefer said he is working on the date, location and television outlet but said the fight would take place in July or August with either the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., or Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., as the likely venue.