Kovalev dominates Hopkins in 12-round title bout

Bernard Hopkins of Philadelphia, PA, left, gets hit by Sergey Kovalev of Russia during the fifth round of the Main Event IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight Titles boxing in Atlantic City, N.J. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Kovalev won by TKO in the 12th round. (AP Photo/Tim Larsen) Bernard Hopkins of Philadelphia, PA, left, gets hit by Sergey Kovalev of Russia during the fifth round of the Main Event IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight Titles boxing in Atlantic City, N.J. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Kovalev won by TKO in the 12th round. (AP Photo/Tim Larsen)

By Associated Press November 9, 2014 5 min read

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) – Bernard Hopkins will turn the big 5-0 without a championship belt around his waist.

Sergey Kovalev roughed up Hopkins from the opening bell, sending the aging fighter to the canvas – and possibly into retirement – with the fight he needed to serve as validation that he’s the class of the 175-pound division.

Kovalev used his punishing knockout power to abuse Hopkins for 12 rounds, winning a unanimous decision early Sunday to stake his claim as the best light heavyweight.

Kovalev, who missed the birth of his son because he was training for the fight, has three versions of the 175-pound belt after taking two from the 49-year-old Hopkins in the decisive victory. Kovalev is 26-0-1 with 23 knockouts.

And he’s really just getting started.