By Bill Emes

IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2, 32KOs) has responded to last month's statement by WBA/IBO middleweight king Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23KOs). Golovkin said he would move up by two weight divisions to face Hopkins, a move that Hopkins did years ago when he moved up from 160  to 175 to challenge Antonio Tarver. Hopkins defends his title against mandatory challenger Karo Murat in July or August and Golovkin defends his belts against Matthew Macklin on June 29th.

"Did you read that quote? It was right around the Cloud fight. He said 'we don't have to do it at 170, we can do it at 175.' You read that quote? All I'm saying is 'here I am baby.' You don't hear me calling out a little guy. They are looking to make history. They think 'if Bernard did it then I can do it' when I went up to fight Tarver. Triple G is calling out Bernard Hopkins, the TV networks like his style. I commend a guy who is 15 pounds lighter, that is trying to do what I did already, and that's leaving 160 to go to 175. I thought maybe it's emotional because the guy who trains [Tavoris] Cloud - [Abel Sanchez] - is the same guy who trains him. But if he keeps talking, some of these guys in the industry will tell him 'be quiet, don't [do it]'," Hopkins told BoxingScene.com.