Intro:

Tensions ran high as Bernard Hopkins and Beibut Shumenov weighed in on Friday ahead of their bout on Saturday night in Washington D.C.

Script:

As if it needed any more spice than that but at the press conference before this weighin between Bernard Hopkins and Beibut Shumenov, Hopkins snatched the belts something Shumenov didn't like...

SOUNDBITE: (English) Beibut Shumenov:

"When he grabbed my belts, that was very disrespectful because first of all, we are not only boxers we are warriors. We put our lives on the line. So either of us could die in the ring. That's why I respect every opponent. I don't know what there is, but that was very disrespectful."

Of course 49 year old Hopkins has seen all this before and was not too bothered...

SOUNDBITE: (English) Bernard Hopkins:

"It stops now. He had fun. It's a hobby for him. It stops now."

IBF champion Hopkins is hoping to become the oldest boxer to ever unify belts, beating Shumenov would lead to a fight against WBC champion Adonis Stephenson. It shouldn't really be physically possible but not many look like this man on the brink of turning 50.