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Hopkins, 47 this month, set to bow out of boxing after ‘one or two more’

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
‘B-Hop’ wants unification then retirement

The oldest world boxing champion of all time, Bernard Hopkins is ready to finally hang up his gloves after launching one last assault at adding another unification to his legacy this year.

The Philadelphian, who turns 47 on January 15th, is hoping to face Nathan Cleverly, Tavoris Cloud or Beibut Shumenov in his next fight, even though the WBC have ordered him to give Chad Dawson an immediate rematch.

The two fought out a no contest at the Staples Center last October after Hopkins picked up a shoulder injury whilst tussling with Dawson and after initially being called a knockout for the challenger, has been amended by the WBC.

Hopkins looks set to ignore the wishes of the body to give Dawson a return though and attempt to unify the division - which may be the only way that the former middleweight king can avoid the mandatory challenger next time out.

‘The Executioner’ may even be ready to retire after one more fight but admits that being involved in unifications and meaningful fights is the only thing that will keep him in boxing for more.

“My thing would be something that's historic, and that's not only defending the title a few times - not nine, not five, not even four , but right now, my Christmas gift would be to unifity the light heavyweight  championship and leave a mark,” Hopkins told RingTV.com.

"I don't want my next fight to be just a fight. It has to be historic. If I fight just a fight, then I would probably lose. That's a deep thing to say. But it has to be something that people can look at and say, "Man, he's taken on all of the ones who say that they're the best.

"I want at least one or two more fights. Then, I want to exit out of this game. I would feel as if I shut the door of history-making to the max with all of the things that I've done all the way up until now.”

Chad Dawson may now attempt to have Hopkins stripped of his belt if he does go through with his plan to unify and not step up to give him a rematch. The former title holder had already stepped aside for Hopkins to take the title from Jean Pascal and won’t be willing to do it again so Hopkins can meet another champion.

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