Bernard Hopkins, Tavoris Cloud announce March 9 fight at Barclays Center

Bernard Hopkins razzed promoter Don King telling the promoter that he's "different" than other fighters.

The oldest boxer to ever win a world title also said that to undefeated opponent Tavoris Cloud, telling the IBF light heavyweight champ that he's "different" than anyone the 31-year-old has fought.

During the announcement Tuesday of his March 9 bout against Cloud at Barclays Center, the 48-year-old Hopkins said he's way "different" than the average, middle-aged guy.

Looking fit and lean in a black sweatshirt and cap, Hopkins (56-6-2, 32 KO's) celebrated his birthday Tuesday by loudly predicting he'll defeat Cloud (24-0, 19 KO's) in their bout, which will be televised by HBO.

"Age is not an enemy to me," Hopkins said.

To prove his point, he waved away the first slice of his birthday cake from Junior's and offered it to Cloud instead.

"I got to take the young boy to old school, to be the professor I am and let him know his A-B-C's," Hopkins said.

Hopkins beat 28-year-old Jean Pascal in 2011 to break George Foreman's record for oldest boxer to win a title. But does he have enough left in the tank to beat the powerful Cloud? Hopkins' last bout was a loss to Chad Dawson in Atlantic City on April 28.

Cloud, a Florida native, countered he'll beat the cagey veteran with a simple strategy.

"I'm going to do it throwing punches. That's how every fight is won," said Cloud, who kept his cool while Hopkins and King verbally sparred before, during and after the news conference.

Hopkins and King entertained the crowd with their trash-talking. Hopkins taunted King that Cloud is the "last horse" in his stable. He predicted he'll put the 81-year-old promoter out to pasture by beating an opponent young enough to be his son.

King cackled his familiar laugh and countered that Cloud is a boxing Secretariat. "Triple Crown," King said.

For the new Barclays Center, this will be the third big boxing event.

"There's so much potential to continue growing the sport in Brooklyn," said Sean Saadeh, Barclays' vice president of programming. "We want up-and-coming Brooklyn boxers to aspire to fight at Barclays Center. We want this arena to be their ultimate goal."