The man whose accomplishment Bernard Hopkins surpassed on Saturday couldn’t have been happier for him.

George Foreman, the oldest fighter to win a major title until Hopkins outpointed Jean Pascal on Saturday in Montreal, said this is only the beginning for older fighters.

Foreman was 45 when he stopped Michael Moorer to win the heavyweight championship in 1994. Hopkins, 46, won THE RING and WBC light heavyweight titles.

“I was on the edge of my seat every round,” Foreman said. “It was such an exciting fight. Bernard was the better athlete, the smarter fighter and in the better condition. Now that 46 has done it, next a 47, 48, 49 and 50 will do it. And if somebody does it at 60, then I'll have to get back in there.

“Look, Hopkins is doing pushups. What great conditioning. And he did it in Pascal’s home town. Isn't that something? He was just so much better. I'm happy for Hopkins and I'm happy for mature athletes."  

"If my record goes down you want to see it go down that way. … This was the best I've seen the way Bernard took charge of the fight with a young strong champion like Pascal.  Long live the king."