Hopkins becomes oldest boxer to win major title

NEW YORK (AP) – Bernard Hopkins became the oldest boxer to win a major title on Saturday night, scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over Tavoris Cloud to claim the IBF light heavyweight championship.

The 48-year-old Hopkins broke the record he set by beating Jean Pascal for the WBC light heavyweight title on May 21, 2011.

Hopkins improved to 53-6-2 in the main event of an eight-fight card at the Barclays Center. It was his 29th title bout. The 30-year-old Cloud fell to 19-1.

With Hopkins forcing a patient, technical match, Cloud was unable to press the issue and Hopkins circled him, landing jabs to his face, eventually opening a cut above his left eye.

Hopkins connected on 169 of 417 punches. Cloud landed 139 of 650.

Keith Thurman won the WBO intercontinental welterweight title with a 12 round, unanimous decision over Jan Zaveck. Thurman improved to 20-0 and Zaveck fell to 32-3.

Michael Perez (18-1-2) and Lonnie Smith (14-4-3) fought to a majority draw in the first bout on the main card. The bout was called midway through the seventh round after Perez absorbed what was ruled ''an accidental head butt'' that led to blood running down both sides of his face.

Judges Julie Lederman and Carlos Ortiz both had the fight 66-66, while Perez led 67-65 on Joe Pasquale's card.

Steve Bujaj (9-0), Claude Staten Jr. (1-0), Frank Galarza (9-0-1), Marcus Browne (3-0) and Eddie Gomez (13-0) won undercard fights.