Hopkins is oldest world champ at 46

American ring veteran Bernard Hopkins became the oldest major champion in boxing history at 46 years old by dethroning Jean Pascal for the World Boxing Council light heavyweight title on Saturday.

Hopkins came on strong in the middle rounds and hung on in the 12th against the hard-hitting Canadian Pascal to get the decision in front of a crowd of 17,750 at the Bell Centre arena Saturday.

Hopkins won a unanimous decision against Pascal in an entertaining rematch of their December 18 draw in Quebec City, Canada.

"I have always fought with heart and courage to get a guy out of there," Hopkins said. "You save the best for last. I want to go out a winner and not beat up, punch drunk and not broke."

Hopkins (52-5-2) is 126 days beyond his 46th birthday. He is 24 days older than US heavyweight legend George Foreman was when Foreman defended the International Boxing Federation crown against Germany's Axel Schulz in 1995 with a split-decision victory. Foreman, then 45, became the oldest fighter to take a world title when he knocked out fellow American Michael Moorer 2:03 into the 10th round to claim the IBF and World Boxing Association heavyweight crowns on November 5, 1994.