Bernard Hopkins vs Karo Murat bout set for July 13May 1, 2013 - 12:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Bernard Hopkins placed his right hand near his neck as his left hand tightened the imaginary tie he wore at Joe Hand Gym. The International Boxing Federation light-heavyweight champion of the world is preparing for a blind date, Hopkins said, according to Daily Telegraph. He conceded he knew little about Karo Murat, the 29-year-old German he will meet July 13 in a 12-round title defense at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. And that, Hopkins said, is what makes Murat dangerous. Murat (25-1-1, 15 knockouts), who is of Armenian descent, has never fought in the United States and has won three bouts against subpar U.S. competition. Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KO's) said Murat has nothing to lose. If Murat falls, Hopkins said, he is not losing to "some 48-year-old guy." He's losing to the sport's oldest world champion. Hopkins will travel to Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 1 to assist Golden Boy Promotions with Saturday night's Floyd Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero bout. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |