 Hopkins defended his middleweight title a record 20 times |
Bernard Hopkins has announced his intention to come out of retirement after just six months and challenge for a heavyweight world title. Hopkins, who fought most of his career at middleweight, hung up his gloves after beating Antonio Tarver in a light heavyweight bout in June.
But the 41-year-old now wants to challenge for Oleg Maskaev's WBC title.
"I want to bring the heavyweight championship back to the United States," said Hopkins.
"I'm going to be the guy that everybody says preserved the reputation of the American fighter."
Hopkins said he presently weighs 180 pounds, 20 pounds above his middleweight fighting weight, but that he aims to add on 20 more in a little over a month.
"I plan on being a heavyweight by the end of the year," he said.
Hopkins successfully defended his middleweight title a record 20 times between 1995 and 2005, before losing a pair of controversial decisions to current champion Jermain Taylor.
If a fight with Maskaev does not materialise, Hopkins said he would turn his sights on Joe Calzaghe to prevent the Briton exceeding his string of title defences.
Calzaghe will equal Hopkins' tally of 20 successful defences if he beats Peter Manfredo in March.
"If I can't make my history, then I can stop him making his history," said Hopkins.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 