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.
