Hopkins defends title for 20th time

HOWARD EASTMAN pushed Bernard Hopkins all the way but failed to land the undisputed world middleweight title at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Eastman dropped a unanimous 119-110, 117-111, 116-112 points verdict to the champion who successfully negotiated one of his toughest tests to defend the title for an unprecedented 20th time.

There could be few arguments about the verdict, with Hopkins’ cleaner work ultimately proving decisive in repelling the spirited advances of the Englishman.

But Hopkins certainly knew he had been in a fight, with Eastman having the audacity to stun the supposedly invincible champion, most notably from two superb right hands in the seventh round.

Junior Witter left Los Angeles with a fractured left hand and the glowing praise of a modern boxing legend after the best win of his career at the Staples Center.

Witter had to visit a local hospital for X-rays after winning a unanimous 114-112 (twice), 115-111 verdict in his Commonwealth light-welterweight title defence against tough South African Lovemore N’Dou.

Witter’s win puts him in pole position for a crack at WBC champion Arturo Gatti - and afterwards the show’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, revealed Witter would be back in America soon.

De La Hoya has signed a three-fight deal with Witter’s English promoter Mick Hennessy for future fights on Golden Boy cards in the States - although his injury will doubtless delay his return.

Meanwhile former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has confirmed he intends to return to the ring this summer.

The 38-year-old has been out of action since a crushing fourth-round loss to Britain’s Danny Williams in Louisville last July.

A knee injury picked up early on in that contest has kept him sidelined but, despite calls for him to retire, Tyson insists he is still hungry to continue boxing.

“I’ve been training really well and now I’m ready to start working on sharpening up my skills,” Tyson said at the Bernard Hopkins-Howard Eastman fight.

Before the Williams defeat, Tyson had fought just once since June 2002.

However, financial problems seem sure to keep him motivated and a showdown with WBC champion Vitali Klitschko would provide him with a much-needed bumper pay-day.