Hopkins could reconsider retiring after his impressive win

The 41-year-old former middleweight world champion, who moved up two weights, claimed a unanimous decision.

All three judges scored the fringe IBO title bout 118-109 for Hopkins.

"I could have moved up to this weight five years ago and I've always been good against southpaws," said Hopkins, who may now carry on fighting.

Hopkins, who enjoyed a 10-year reign as world middleweight champion, dominated defending champion Tarver from the start.

His lightening-quick combinations kept his taller opponent at bay and 37-year-old Tarver was forced to touch down for a standing eight count after a straight right in the fifth.

It wasn't my night, you have days like this and there are no excuses Antonio Tarver

"Tarver has a good punch, I could see why he knocked Roy Jones out, but I didn't give him a clean target," said Hopkins.

"I didn't run, I used a Jersey Joe Walcott and Archie Moore type of style - keep spinning and rolling my shoulders without running and wasting energy.

"I was there to be able to counter and that was how I was able to put him down."

Hopkins lost his middleweight belts to fellow American Jermain Taylor last July and was outpointed in a rematch in December.

He insisted before the bout that this would be his last fight but hinted afterwards that he could continue.

"I wanted to make history in the middleweight division and then go up and fight the winner of Roy Jones v Tarver - that was my plan last year and I've completed that," Hopkins added.

"But Tarver is a great champion, a man that I've got a lot of respect for, and if I was to consider coming back, this is the only man that I'd give a rematch to and not Jones Jnr."

A subdued Tarver, who is appearing in the forthcoming Rocky VI film, could not find a way through and spent a lot of the time pinned back on the ropes.

"It wasn't my night," he said. "You have days like this. There are no excuses. I give all praises to Bernard Hopkins."