Hopkins challenges Tarver on Saturday

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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., June 9 (UPI) -- Antonio Tarver will defend his IBO light-heavyweight belt against Bernard Hopkins Saturday night in Atlantic City, N.J.

The 41-year-old Hopkins, who jumped two weight classes, gained 15 pounds for the bout after making 20 title defenses as a middle-weight champion.

"I'm the better fighter," Hopkins said this week. "I'm more determined, and I didn't do any movies in the last 20 years."

Hopkins has a career record of 46-4-1 with 32 knockouts while Tarver is 24-3 with 18 knockouts.

Tarver, 37, appears as a boxer in the upcoming release of Rocky VI.

Reports are that Tarver, who has bet $250,000 that he will knock Hopkins out within five rounds, lost 22 pounds to make weight for the bout. Despite that, Hopkins has been called "dumb" by boxing experts for making the fight.

Tarver is a solid favorite as Hopkins is a 2½-1 underdog.