Bernard Hopkins AP FILE PHOTO
PHILADELPHIA—Bernard Hopkins is ready to defend his WBC light heavyweight title.
Hopkins became the oldest fighter to win a major world championship, taking the WBC light heavyweight title May 21 from Jean Pascal at the age of 46.
He dethroned George Foreman as the oldest boxer to win a world title when he beat Pascal.
Foreman was 45 years, 10 months when he knocked out heavyweight champion Michael Moorer in 1994. Hopkins was 46 years, four months and six days in his bout with Pascal.
Hopkins (52-5-2) will try to defy history again when he defends the title against Chad Dawson (30-1) Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Dawson lost the light heavyweight championship to Pascal before beating Adrian Diaconu in May to earn another title shot.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is sponsoring the bout because of Hopkins’ incredible achievement.