Coming up Wednesday

Wildfires burn through Colorado causing thousands to evacuate, and protests in Turkey are in 13th day. Tune in at 7am ET.
March 15th, 2013
10:00 AM ET

Oldest Boxing Champion Bernard Hopkins defeats fighter 17 years his junior

Bernard Hopkins sits down with John Berman and Brooke Baldwin on Starting Point to talk about his historic boxing win in the IBF light-heavyweight championship. On Saturday, the 48-years-old Hopkins beat Tavoris Cloud, who is 17 years his junior to become the oldest fighter to ever win a championship belt. Hopkins broke his own record that he set two years ago.

Hopkins states, he is “outsmarting the guys", and his "strategy is better.” On his success, he believes it is through dedication, and a healthy lifestyle that he has been able to continue boxing. Hopkins attributes the healthy lifestyle he took on early in his career to his success today. His advice to people is, “it's a process that takes place. You have to take time, work your way up to as they say a championship level. I tell people that in life. You work your way up.”

Hopkins says that by 35-years-old many boxers start to be fazed out of the industry, but that he has “really superseded everyone’s expectations.”

You can watch Hopkins' historic fight on HBO demand.


Filed under: Boxing • Sports
December 7th, 2012
11:29 AM ET

Round four for Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, John Berman talks with Pacquiao ahead of the big fight

For the fourth time in the past ten years, boxers Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will face each other in the ring. The brawl goes down in history tomorrow night in Las Vegas.

While Pacquiao is a fighter by trade, there are many sides to the Filipino champion. “Early Start” anchor John Berman learned all about them when he spent time in the Pacquiao camp recently, talking to his trainers and the boxer himself.

“Manny Pacquiao has won titles in eight different weight classes,” Berman says. And though it won't be the first time Pacquiao fights Marquez, round four is no less important. “All of have been close, all have been tough victories for Pacquiao.” It's a rivalry practically unmatched in sports.

Pacquiao wants this fight to be a knockout. “I want this fourth fight to be the answer of all the doubts that is in his mind,” Pacquiao says. “His fans, they’re still claiming that they won the fights.”

Pacquiao’s fans don’t doubt him. The fighter dabbles in singing, acting and politics. “Pacquiao is a legend back home in the Philippines,” Berman says. “He was elected to Congress there in 2010.”

“I like politics to serve people,” Pacquiao says. “I know a lot of the people in the Philippines live in poverty, and I want to help them.”

CNN will air the fourth and final installment of HBO's 24/7 Pacquaio-Marquez 4 at midnight on Friday.


Filed under: Boxing • Sports
June 14th, 2012
01:58 PM ET

Sports mashup: Armstrong booted from Ironman & Pacquiao/Bradley scoring dispute

Sports Illustrated.com anchor Maggie Gray on the Lance Armstrong doping conspiracy and the Pacquiao vs. Bradley match scoring dispute.


Filed under: Boxing • Lance Armstrong