Bernard Hopkins outfoxed age and Winky Wright the same way: First with his head, then with his heart.
The 42-year-old Hopkins earned another stunning victory in the twilight of his career Saturday night, ending Wright’s 7 1/2-year unbeaten streak with a unanimous decision in their 170-pound fight in Las Vegas.
Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KO’s) opened a gash over Wright’s left eye with a head-butt in the second round, and Hopkins spent the night picking at it while Wright (51-4-1) scrambled and counterpunched.
Wright grew frustrated and tired in the late rounds, and Hopkins stuck with his patient, steady strategy in a fight featuring more action than most expected from two defensive masters.
The win is another remarkable achievement for Hopkins, who retired last year after a career highlighted by 21 straight middleweight title defenses and last year’s shocking win over Antonio Tarver.
Months later, he abandoned retirement for a shot at the 35-year-old Wright, who hadn’t lost in 13 fights since December 1999.
Two judges scored it 117-111 for Hopkins, and the third judge scored it 116-112.
