NEW YORK (AP) – Nasaksihan ng mundo ang mapait na pagtatapos ng boxing career ni future hall-of-famer Bernard Hopkins. Sa edad na 51, nagbalik aksiyon ang dating world heavyweight champion matapos ang dalawang taong pahinga mula nang matalo via decision ni Sergey Kovalev noong 2014.

Sa kamao ng matikas na si Joe Smith Jr., natikman ni Hopkins ang pinakamasaklap na karanasan sa boxing via 8th round TKO.

Sa edad na 36-anyos, tulad ni Hopkins, lalaban muli si Miguel Cotto -- na inamin niyang huling hirit sa boxing career -- mula sa 14 na buwang pahinga kontra sa mapanganib at hard-punching na si James Kirkland sa Pebrero 25.

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Nagpahinga si Cotto mula nang matalo via decision kay Saul “Canelo” Alvarez noong Nobyembre. Huling nakatikim ng panalo si Cotto noong Hunyo 2015 nang pabagsakin si Daniel Geale.

Napanood ni Cotto ang laban ni Hopkins, ngunit tiniyak ng Puerto Rican star na hindi siya matutulad sa dating kampeon.

“None at all. As everyone has seen Miguel Cotto’s boxing has been kept in a high level and we will continue on that level. So we expect good things in 2017 and after that we will welcome [whatever comes],” pahayag ni Cotto sa boxingscene.com.

Nagsisimula na ang paghahanda ni Cotto, 40-5 (33 KOs) sa pangangasiwa ni Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach sa Wild Card Gym sa Hollywood.

Sa Enero 9, opisyal na niyang sisimulan ang pagsasanay sa Los Angeles, California.

“We are taking a plane to Los Angeles to train, and we are going in with the same commitment that has always characterized us and we will work exactly the same - with the same strength and with the same emphasis that we have done for all these years, “ aniya.

Tangan ni Kirkland ang karta na 32-2 (28 KOs). At tulad ni Cotto, mahabang panahon din ang kanyang pamamahinga mula nang mabigo kay Canelo noong Mayo 9, 2015.

“This represents the 46th chapter in the career of Miguel Cotto and we’re taking it with the same responsibility,” pahayag ni Cotto.

“I have to wait to sit down with Freddie (Roach) to see what the pros and cons are. What he sees and what he does not see.... how he wants me to emphasize my work for this next fight, and we will work according to whatever Freddie lays out.”

Pormal na ipinahayag ng Roc Nation Sports at Miguel Cotto Promotions ang laban sa isinagawang media conference kamakailan sa Ford Center sa Frisco, Texas.