Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Veteran Hopkins targets Haye bout

Bernard Hopkins and Enrique Ornelas
Hopkins was a comfortable victor against his Mexican opponent

Veteran Bernard Hopkins has set his sights on a heavyweight world title clash with Britain's David Haye after making a winning return to the ring.

The 44-year-old American took a unanimous points decision against Enrique Ornelas in Philadelphia.

The former world middleweight and light-heavyweight champion, then declared: "I'm now going to be heavyweight champion in 2010."

Britain's Haye, a former cruiserweight, is Hopkins' most obvious target.

He holds the WBA version of the heavyweight crown, while the Klitschko brothers between them hold the WBC, IBF and WBO belts.

Haye, who defeated giant Russian Nikolai Valuev in November, first faces a mandatory defence against the America's John Ruiz.

He then plans to face one of the Klitschkos in a unification bout, and fighting Hopkins - a notoriously awkward opponent - may not be on his agenda.

606: DEBATE
hayemaker

Hopkins fought well against Ornelas, landing sharp counters, and when the Mexican stood off, scoring with right.

After a wobble in round four, Hopkins took over in the fifth, pinning Ornelas into a corner and digging to the body with the Mexican visibly tiring by the tenth.

"I'd like to give Ornelas a lot of credit, he didn't come to lay down," said Hopkins, who has now won 50 of his 56 professional fights, 32 by knockout.

"He hung in there, he took some great shots. I took some great shots. I think for 44 years old, my energy level was fantastic."

The judges scored it 120-109, 119-109 and 118-110 for Hopkins, who had been planning to take on old foe Roy Jones Jr in his next fight.

However, that plan seems to be in tatters after Jones was stopped in the first round by IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green in Sydney on Wednesday.

Afterwards, Jones said: "I guess now I go back into retirement", but when asked if a bout could still happen, Hopkins said: "Oh yeah, definitely."

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