Did elbow blow help Bernard Hopkins become oldest boxing champion?

Bernard Hopkins eclipsed his own record as the oldest boxing champion on Saturday night with his unanimous-decision victory over Tavoris Cloud at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

But did an elbow by “The Executioner� to Cloud’s left eye help the 48-year-old champion win the IBF light-heavyweight title?

“He hit me with an elbow but I’m not complaining,� Cloud said after the bout, his first loss in 20 outings. “It is what it is.�

Actually, that would be a complaint. The referee ruled it an accidental head butt, but replays showed it was a short left hook, complete with elbow, that did the damage.

Hopkins (53-6-2) was the better boxer aside from that. He landed 169 of 417 punches while Cloud could land only 139 out of 650 punches. Hopkins also connected on an impressive 48% (110 of 227) of his power shots.

“Tonight was one of the bigger fights,� said Hopkins, who became the oldest champion at 46 when he defeated Jean Pascal for the WBC light-heavyweight title two years ago.

Why was it one of his best fights?

“Because I’m older ... more gratifying,� he said of the victory, which was scored 116-112 by two judges and 117-111 by the other.

It doesn’t appear a rematch is imminent. Hopkins, who has said he will retire before turning 50, says he’s ready to take on any of the champions in the light-heavyweight and super-welterweight divisions.

“I’m motivated to do it,� Hopkins said. “I don’t believe anybody in the 175 weight class and possibly the 168 class can beat me.�

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