Bernard Hopkins © Action Images

Hopkins came on strong in the twelfth round and his hometown supporters were delighted to see him get the decision. The scores were 118-110, 120-108 and 119-109.

Hopkins improved to 50-5-1, with 32 wins inside the distance, and Ornelas fell to 29-6.

The 44-year-old American showed he still had some fight left, but maybe not one against Roy Jones Jr.

The two had hoped to fight in March, but Jones was stopped in the first round by Australian Danny Green in Sydney on Wednesday.

Hopkins, who last fought nearly 14 months ago, said beating Ornelas was the first part of a three-fight plan to gain one more title. "I think I can still fight Jones," Hopkins said.

He wants to fight Jones, then challenge WBA heavyweight champion David Haye. "I'm now going to be heavyweight champion in 2010," said Hopkins, who reigned for ten years as middleweight champion.

Jermain Taylor's future uncertain

A final decision on the future of Jermain Taylor, another former middleweight champion, may be announced next week, repoorts Sapa-AP.

Ozell Nelson, who has coached Taylor since the boxer was an amateur, said on Wednesday he could not say anything about Taylor's plans.

Taylor could fight Andre Ward in March as part of the Showtime-backed Super Six super middleweight series, but he has lost four of his last five fights, three by knockout.

Taylor was hospitalised after his last defeat, a 12th-round knockout at the hands of Arthur Abraham in October.

Taylor beat Hopkins in 2005 to win the middleweight title, which he held for two years.

Jones holds the distinction of becoming the first former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight world title in 106 years.

Bernard not ready to go

Hopkins promised his mother he would retire at 40. Yet, creeping up on 45, he is aiming at a heavyweight title.

The end of his 21-year career, which he claimed was over after he defeat Antonio Tarver in 2006, is no longer on the immediate horizon.

Hopkins, not a stylistically pleasing fighter but efficient at what he does, intends to go out on top as the heavyweight champion.

"There's no division after heavyweight," he said. "It's over."

Hy plans to "put some muscle on this lean body," and then challenge Haye.

"He's not the biggest heavyweight and I won't be either," he said. "But at the end of the day, what a career."

Hopkins started boxing in a Pennsylvania state prison, where he served five years, beginning at the age of 17.

He turned professional in 1988 and won his first bout in 1990. On May 22, 1993, he lost an unanimous decision to Jones for the vacant IBF middleweight crown; a setback he vowed won't happen again if they sign for a rematch.

Hopkins, who usually trains in Miami, is a regular at the Upper Darby Boxing Club, training in a dingy gym in a dilapidated neighbourhood just outside Philadelphia.

His trainer, Nazim Richardson, has stopped trying to talk Hopkins into retirement.

"If he can make the heavyweight thing happen, I'd have to be adamant about him retiring," Richardson said. "He'll have proven he's the greatest fighter of all time.

If he wins the heavyweight title, he's the greatest fighter of all time. It's not Ray Robinson no more."

	Remember to go to www.supersport.com on your Mobile phone and keep in touch with the latest scores wherever you are.