[Roe]

"There are numerous champions that have been calling me out after my historic victory on Saturday night. I am aware that I have a mandatory obligation under the IBF guidelines to fight Karo Murat, the mandatory challenger," Hopkins said. "Out of respect to the IBF, it is my intention to honor my commitment to the mandatory challenger at this point of the game just as I have done throughout my 25-year career, namely through 20 straight defenses of the middleweight title.

"However, the fans, including my supporters, have made it very clear that at this point of my career they want 'The Executioner' in big fights. In fact, 12,300 fans in Brooklyn have sent that message very loud and clear across the boxing world. I look forward to getting back in the ring and continuing with my legacy."

Article: http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/3407

 

[adamcanavan]

pretty pointless fight but a solid defense i guess

 

[Batkilt]

I'm gutted that Campillo was stopped by Kovalev. I'm probably one of about five people outside of Handsome Gaby's immediate family that wanted to see him fight Hopkins.

 

[GazOC]

“There are numerous champions that have been calling me out after my historic victory on Saturday night. I am aware that I have a mandatory obligation under the IBF guidelines to fight Karo Murat, the mandatory challenger,” Hopkins said. “Out of respect to the IBF, it is my intention to honor my commitment to the mandatory challenger at this point of the game just as I have done throughout my 25-year career, namely through 20 straight defenses of the middleweight title."

Translates: "I've seen Murat fight and really fancy my chances against him."

 

[Batkilt]

It's not as farcical a quote as this belter from Nathan Cleverly though:

"A potential fight between myself and Hopkins is inevitable now," he said. "I think we'll definitely get that fight on and I believe it will be after my next fight. Provided I get rid of this Krasniqi now... then I'm convinced that the Hopkins fight will be after that."

Haven't the WBO mandated that he has to fight Braehmer after the Krasniqi fight anyway? Assuming the WBO were willing to give him a pass on it, I still think a fight with Hopkins is far from inevitable - and I still don't see Cleverly having any chance of winning.

 

[iamasadlittleboy]

...the Light Heavyweight division is so annoying. You have some very good "contenders" (White, Kovalev, Alvarez, Chilemba) but the champions just seem so content in sitting on their belts (Shumenov, Dawson) or fighting garbage (Cleverly).

If Hopkins fights Murat I've no complaint there, it's a good enough match ups looking at the crap that is going on in the division.

 

[Shazz]

"There are numerous champions that have been calling me out after my historic victory on Saturday night. I am aware that I have a mandatory obligation under the IBF guidelines to fight Karo Murat, the mandatory challenger," Hopkins said. "Out of respect to the IBF, it is my intention to honor my commitment to the mandatory challenger at this point of the game just as I have done throughout my 25-year career, namely through 20 straight defenses of the middleweight title."

Translates: "I've seen Murat fight and really fancy my chances against him."

I think it translates to:

"Although Murat is a mandatory, he is a nobody and my fans want me to only fight champions for my remaining bouts, for big money."

 

[Batkilt]

...the Light Heavyweight division is so annoying. You have some very good "contenders" (White, Kovalev, Alvarez, Chilemba) but the champions just seem so content in sitting on their belts (Shumenov, Dawson) or fighting garbage (Cleverly).

If Hopkins fights Murat I've no complaint there, it's a good enough match ups looking at the crap that is going on in the division.

To be fair to Dawson, his last fight was against the best 168lbs fighter on the planet - and I'm pretty sure if Ward had been willing to move up to 175lbs then it would not have been a non-title fight - and he was scheduled to rematch Pascal, until agreeing to step aside so that Pascal and Bute can have their 'Quebec super fight'.

Having said (well, typed) that, if he could settle on a trainer rather than blaming them for any of his poor performances, then maybe he'd have more time to actually focus on being active. I'm by no means suggesting he's a fantastic fighter, but I think he's as much hampered by his constant switching of trainers as he is by his lack of box office appeal.