LAS VEGAS, NV - Hopkins wasn't impressive, but he kept his part of the bargain with an ugly but easy decision, keeping an 11-year winning streak alive and defending his crown for an unprecedented 18 times.
Hopkins outclassed Allen from start to finish, as Allen seemed reluctant to let loose his punches.
Allen's trainer, Byron Ogelsby pleaded throughout the fight with Allen to do something. Ogelsby even slapped Allen several times between the 9th and 10th round, trying to urge his charge to punch.
Hopkins, who was dominating Allen throughout, decked the former U.S. Marine 45 seconds into the seventh round with a looping right hand that sent him sprawling face first to the canvas. Hopkins thereafter pummeled Allen for the rest of the round, but was unable to apply the finishing touches.
The judges scored the bout 119-107, 119-107 and 117-109 for Hopkins who improved to 44-2-1 (31 KOs), while Allen dropped to 36-5 (27 KOs).
"For this fight I was more nervous than usual because there was so much on the line," a relieved Hopkins said after the bout. "I was more cautious because I wanted everything to go perfectly."
Hopkins said he didn't want to do anything to derail the September fight with De La Hoya, which will be the biggest payday of his career.
"There's $10 million waiting for me if I win and De La Hoya wins," he said. "All of this on the line and all it would take is one shot."
Before the fight, Hopkins stirred up controversy threatening to pull out because of the Las Vegas Athletic Commission's decision to use Joe Cortez as the referee.
Hopkins's concerns were based on his rebellious actions in 2001 prior to his unification fight with Felix Trinidad. Hopkins twice threw the Puerto Rican flag on the ground and then vetoed Cortez as the referee for that fight. He also later had Cortez dismissed from officiating his title defense in December against William Joppy.
Cortez was born in New York but is of Puerto Rican descent and Hopkins was concerned that Cortez may hold the flag incident against him.
Cortez refused to withdraw but said he would be fair. Ironically it was Hopkins who got the benefit of a questionable decision by Cortez to deduct a point from Allen without warning him first for a low blow in the fifth round.
"I thought he refereed a great fight. He can do another fight of mine any time," Hopkins said.
