Hopkins’ strategy frustrates Wright

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 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) landed his biggest blow when he opened a gash over Wright’s left eye with a head-butt in the third round. 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 light-heavyweight fight featuring more action than most expected from two defensive masters -- and Hopkins finished strong for another remarkable chapter in his legacy.

“It was a tough fight, a very close fight,” Hopkins said. “Winky is tough, and he kept coming. He knows that I respect him a lot. I had no ill intent. It was all good for both gentlemen, and boxing is back.”

Hopkins retired last year after a career highlighted by 21 middleweight title defenses in a row and last year’s shocking victory 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.

Judges Glenn Trowbridge and Dave Moretti scored it 117-111 for Hopkins, and Glenn Hamada scored it 116-112. The Associated Press also gave it to Hopkins, 115-113.

The punch statistics were nearly as even as the fight. Hopkins landed 152 of his 640 punches, and Wright landed 167 of his 618 blows.

“I won the fight,” said Wright, who doesn’t plan to fight again at 170 pounds. “It was a dirty fight. He was head-butting all day. I still want to fight the best. I thought I won the fight, but it was a close fight. ... I don’t think the head-butt was intentional. It was a head-butt. That’s that.”

Although the fight matched two veterans known best for their defense and counterpunching, a potentially boring matchup got interesting at Friday’s weigh-in.

After the fighters exchanged insults, Hopkins shoved Wright in the face, precipitating a brief scuffle between their entourages. Hopkins could face a hefty fine because of his actions.

Hopkins was his usual ebullient self even before the scuffle, promising to be a “big bully” and declaring he had discovered a plan to penetrate Wright’s renowned defense, saying, “Everybody has a plan until they get hit.”

Wright charged Hopkins and forced early action -- but in the third, the fighters bumped heads while Wright moved forward, opening a gash over Wright’s left eye.

Wright gestured angrily at Hopkins, apparently feeling the bump was on purpose.

“He was coming toward me and I was going under,” Hopkins said.

“It definitely was an accidental head-butt. It happens a lot when you fight southpaws.”