Hopkins Will Foul Out Against Kovalev

[bnovelist]

Remember Hopkin's biggest wins were over guys that he had the size advantage Tito, Oscar, Pavlik, and then when he started fighting guys his

size he started to struggle. Went tooth and nail against Pascal twice and now what's gonna happen against Kovalev a devastating clubber who

walks around at 200lbs in between fights? But you see Hopkins is smart fox who's been around forever if things gets too rough he will find a

way out of the fight believe this!!!! Someway somehow Hopkins isn't getting knocked out he will find a way to sabotage Kovalev's moment even

if it's by DQ or No Contest. Watch!!!!!!

[5burowz]

He's going to try and make it as ugly as possible that's for sure. But, if he were smart, he'd switch it up and fight southpaw in spots. Kovalev does have some weaknesses against southpaws that he has showed. He leans to his right against southpaws and gets hit clean with straight left hands and he also has more of a tendency to jump straight back in a straight line against southpaws. If Hop were smart, he'd try this tactic. I don't think Hop is going to fare too well just trying to land a counter overhand right or a lead right hand and falling in. I believe switch hitting is his best chance to try and confuse Kovalev and make a fight out of it.

[Butterbean]

You are propably right bnov, but, bhop may surprise once again. And even thoug kovalev looks mighty frightening, he hasnt met a guy with the skills, smartness and routine bhop represents. So dont be so sure.

[ikorolev]

Making it dirty is the only chance for BHop.

[JCS]

Did Hopkins really have a size advantage over Pavlik? I don't know about that..

Either way, we know what beats Hopkins.. athleticism, quick hands, stamina.. at least historically, and Kovalev ain't that. I'll throw reach/length in there as icing on the cake and Kovalev won't have an advantage there either. Even out of the fighters who Hopkins fought with all four.. only Jones beat him decisively. I don't think anyone has won more than 8 of 12 rounds against him. Nevertheless, at nearly 50, you gotta think the end is near.

If Darnell Boone can last with Kovalev for an SD loss, anything is possible.

[KBB]

Remember Hopkin's biggest wins were over guys that he had the size advantage Tito, Oscar, Pavlik, and then when he started fighting guys his

size he started to struggle. Went tooth and nail against Pascal twice and now what's gonna happen against Kovalev a devastating clubber who

walks around at 200lbs in between fights? But you see Hopkins is smart fox who's been around forever if things gets too rough he will find a

way out of the fight believe this!!!! Someway somehow Hopkins isn't getting knocked out he will find a way to sabotage Kovalev's moment even

if it's by DQ or No Contest. Watch!!!!!!




I think you are forgetting that Tarver was far bigger than all of those guys you listed, you went on to talk without mentioning the rest of the guys who are bigger than Hopkins at LHW and you left out the fact that all of those guys are far younger, stronger and faster than BHop and he still outclassed them all often making it look easy in the process.

The first fight was competitive with Pascal but hardly tooth and nail, and then in the rematch Hopkins totally outclassed and embarrassed him.

I just wonder what you'll say when the fight is over and Hopkins does not come anywhere close to doing what you stated? Worse, is what will you say should Hopkins win it easily or win it all for that matter??

[JCS]

I just wonder what you'll say when the fight is over and Hopkins does not come anywhere close to doing what you stated? Worse, is what will you say should Hopkins win it easily or win it all for that matter??

BNov is delusional.. he'll probably forget it ever happened within 2 hours and a month later, make a post about the referee being in Bernard's back pocket.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Why does everyone seem to forget one of Hopkins biggest wins ... against the BIGGER Antonio Tarver.

This topic is purely stupid. Hopkins will come to fight and win. Sick of people trying to blow Hopkins dirty tactics out of proportion. Hopkins has beaten every opponent with skill. Every once in a while he does something shady, but it's 95% footwork, defense, and sneaky right hands.

But whatever, there are two types of Hopkins haters. The first just hate him and try to diminish his skills. The second type don't know boxing well enough to see his effectiveness.

[ikorolev]

There is no hating. BHop just too old to defeat Kovalev without dirty tricks. Pavlik fight was 6 years ago, and Pavlik is not as good as Kovalev skill wise. Besides, Pavlik is smaller and lacks power compared to Kovalev.

[Freedom2013]

I just hope there will be a fair referee who won't let Hopkins get away with illegal tactics.

[crusader]

Besides, Pavlik is smaller and lacks power compared to Kovalev.

Yes, I don't think many people have looked hard enough at Pavlik's career when they suggest that the power he brought to the bout with Hopkins is comparable to Kovalev's power; I haven't seen it in this thread but it's a fairly common assertion on other forums. Look at Pavlik's results when he fought in the high 160s as he did against Hopkins. He scored several decisions against mediocre opponents and he couldn't even put clubfighter Scott Sigmon down despite pummeling him for 7 rounds.

Obviously many argue that Kovalev's power won't be an issue because Hopkins will negate it, but just in terms of the Pavlik comparison I think many people are off the mark. In this case the guy who showed roughly average power at 168 is not comparable in that attribute to the guy who is consistently wrecking top 3-15 opponents at 175. People may say Pavlik wasn't the same after Hopkins, but I don't see how being outboxed like that drains one of their power.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Besides, Pavlik is smaller and lacks power compared to Kovalev.

Yes, I don't think many people have looked hard enough at Pavlik's career when they suggest that the power he brought to the bout with Hopkins is comparable to Kovalev's power; I haven't seen it in this thread but it's a fairly common assertion on other forums. Look at Pavlik's results when he fought in the high 160s as he did against Hopkins. He scored several decisions against mediocre opponents and he couldn't even put clubfighter Scott Sigmon down despite pummeling him for 7 rounds.

Obviously many argue that Kovalev's power won't be an issue because Hopkins will negate it, but just in terms of the Pavlik comparison I think many people are off the mark. In this case the guy who showed roughly average power at 168 is not comparable in that attribute to the guy who is consistently wrecking top 3-15 opponents at 175. People may say Pavlik wasn't the same after Hopkins, but I don't see how being outboxed like that drains one of their power.

Surely people don't believe Kelly fricken Pavlik is a Kovalev-level puncher. Haven't seen that expressed anywhere

[Badhusker]

Did Hopkins really have a size advantage over Pavlik? I don't know about that..

Either way, we know what beats Hopkins.. athleticism, quick hands, stamina.. at least historically, and Kovalev ain't that. I'll throw reach/length in there as icing on the cake and Kovalev won't have an advantage there either. Even out of the fighters who Hopkins fought with all four.. only Jones beat him decisively. I don't think anyone has won more than 8 of 12 rounds against him. Nevertheless, at nearly 50, you gotta think the end is near.

If Darnell Boone can last with Kovalev for an SD loss, anything is possible.

Good point. Kovalev may suddenly become over-rated if he does not destroy Hopkins. Hopkins isn't going to let Kovalev just tee off and be a punching bag like so many have. I give big time props to B-Hop for taking this fight....in an era where so many top guys avoid fighting other top guys.

[Cyclops]

Besides, Pavlik is smaller and lacks power compared to Kovalev.

Yes, I don't think many people have looked hard enough at Pavlik's career when they suggest that the power he brought to the bout with Hopkins is comparable to Kovalev's power; I haven't seen it in this thread but it's a fairly common assertion on other forums. Look at Pavlik's results when he fought in the high 160s as he did against Hopkins. He scored several decisions against mediocre opponents and he couldn't even put clubfighter Scott Sigmon down despite pummeling him for 7 rounds.

Obviously many argue that Kovalev's power won't be an issue because Hopkins will negate it, but just in terms of the Pavlik comparison I think many people are off the mark. In this case the guy who showed roughly average power at 168 is not comparable in that attribute to the guy who is consistently wrecking top 3-15 opponents at 175. People may say Pavlik wasn't the same after Hopkins, but I don't see how being outboxed like that drains one of their power.

The Pavlik fight was a 170lb catchweight which was the dumbest move ever by Pavlik's team, who were chasing a Calzaghe fight and thought they would just walk through Hopkins. Pavlik didn't really add any natural 'size' to himself to go up to practically light heavyweight, like other fighters who have successfully jumped weight divisions: they just thought, "oh well he won't have to train so hard to get the weight off..." You can see it if you watch the fight. His main advantage at MW was that he was huge. Hopkins was the bigger guy. Pavlik had a bigger head and might have been an inch or so taller, but Hopkins was stronger. He scuttled back down to MW after that and only went to SMW when all his discipline had gone.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Regardless of weight, Pavlik was not skilled enough to beat Hopkins, it's as simple as that.

Also, regarding power, there were TONS of Pavlik by KO predictions. As a longtime Pavlik realist, it's shocking to see his ability judged fairly for once. It's a shame that it's being done in a way to diminish Hopkins' win.

[Cyclops]

Regardless of weight, Pavlik was not skilled enough to beat Hopkins, it's as simple as that.

Also, regarding power, there were TONS of Pavlik by KO predictions. As a longtime Pavlik realist, it's shocking to see his ability judged fairly for once. It's a shame that it's being done in a way to diminish Hopkins' win.

Oh I'm certainly not diminishing his win: I watched the broadcast as it happened and thought it was one of the most amazing performances I'd ever seen at the time. He just wiped the floor with him. I didn't really like Pavlik but I expected him to win. The showboating and the hard stare at the press row at the end (I recall Hopkins' bottom lip quivered with emotion), all great drama. I've watched it since and it's not so amazing to watch now you know the result, but it was an upset and a fairly Lacy-esque hiding Bernard dished out there. People forget that Hopkins didn't 'ruin' Pavlik in this fight, that afterwards he went back down and stopped Rubio, who some people are pathetically trying to paint as some sort of legitimate challenge to GGG, and only lost again to a prime Sergio Martinez in a competitive fight. It was after that he lost it and went all Ricky Hatton on us.

I'm just agreeing that that the Pavlik Kovalev comparisons are stupid. No matter how big a middleweight he was, Pavlik was still a middleweight. He basically fought Hopkins at light heavy, well outside his natural weight class and a stupid thing to do, and got handled easily. Kovalev is a big, healthy, career light heavyweight who punches much much harder. It's not the same fight at all.

I still don't know how it's gonna go, and if I had a gun to my head I'd be picking Hopkins.

[crusader]

Besides, Pavlik is smaller and lacks power compared to Kovalev.

Yes, I don't think many people have looked hard enough at Pavlik's career when they suggest that the power he brought to the bout with Hopkins is comparable to Kovalev's power; I haven't seen it in this thread but it's a fairly common assertion on other forums. Look at Pavlik's results when he fought in the high 160s as he did against Hopkins. He scored several decisions against mediocre opponents and he couldn't even put clubfighter Scott Sigmon down despite pummeling him for 7 rounds.

Obviously many argue that Kovalev's power won't be an issue because Hopkins will negate it, but just in terms of the Pavlik comparison I think many people are off the mark. In this case the guy who showed roughly average power at 168 is not comparable in that attribute to the guy who is consistently wrecking top 3-15 opponents at 175. People may say Pavlik wasn't the same after Hopkins, but I don't see how being outboxed like that drains one of their power.

Surely people don't believe Kelly fricken Pavlik is a Kovalev-level puncher. Haven't seen that expressed anywhere

I see them lumped together all the time as if there's no differences between them and Pavlik was some type of murderous puncher at the weight he fought Hopkins at.

[diddy]

The only thing I'm sure of in this fight is Hopkins won't win inside distance.

[KBB]

There is no hating. BHop just too old to defeat Kovalev without dirty tricks. Pavlik fight was 6 years ago, and Pavlik is not as good as Kovalev skill wise. Besides, Pavlik is smaller and lacks power compared to Kovalev.

I think they fight exactly the same (Pavlik and Kovalev), there will be no need for fouls or dirty tricks because that isn't all that is in Hopkins' arsenal, it seems you are forgetting that BHop can actually box and if a slow and unskilled Darnell Boone can take Kovalev the distance then what can a more skillful, faster and smarter Hopkins with a better defense do to him?

Nevermind, I just realized who I was replying to.

[ikorolev]

Yes, Hopkins can box throwing like 15-20 punches per round at most. Good luck beating an active fighter like Kovalev with volume like that. If Kovalev listens to his trainer and goes after Bernard's body, arms and shoulders, Bernard won't be able to throw even that many.

P.S. KBB, who the hell are you and what did you just realize ? Just joined two days ago, and jumps to conclusions right away ...

[KBB]

Yes, Hopkins can box throwing like 15-20 punches per round at most. Good luck beating an active fighter like Kovalev with volume like that. If Kovalev listens to his trainer and goes after Bernard's body, arms and shoulders, Bernard won't be able to throw even that many.

P.S. KBB, who the hell are you and what you realized ? Just joined two days ago, and jumps to conclusions right away ...

Who I am is not important, that I've been reading how biased you are concerning Kovalev for a while now is. You have no objectivity whatsoever, I don't consider Kovalev a high volume puncher in the vain of a guy like Calzaghe because he focuses on throwing with power.

I saw Hopkins throw volumes of punches against Pavlik (who fights like Kovalev), volumes of punches in his last 5 fights and still win. Don't think because someone has 2 or 3 posts that they're not reading the forum/following it and don't assume that because you have more posts that you know more either.

[ikorolev]

Yes, Hopkins can box throwing like 15-20 punches per round at most. Good luck beating an active fighter like Kovalev with volume like that. If Kovalev listens to his trainer and goes after Bernard's body, arms and shoulders, Bernard won't be able to throw even that many.

P.S. KBB, who the hell are you and what you realized ? Just joined two days ago, and jumps to conclusions right away ...

Who I am is not important, that I've been reading how biased you are concerning Kovalev for a while now is. You have no objectivity whatsoever, I don't consider Kovalev a high volume puncher in the vain of a guy like Calzaghe because he focuses on throwing with power.

I saw Hopkins throw volumes of punches against Pavlik (who fights like Kovalev), volumes of punches in his last 5 fights and still win. Don't think because someone has 2 or 3 posts that they're not reading the forum/following it and don't assume that because you have more posts that you know more either.

I am not biased about Kovalev at all. He is not my favorite fighter, and I am not following him in news, social media, etc. I do argue with uneducated fellows like you who compare him to Pavlik, but it doesn't make me biased.

[Ian1973]

Why do people keep going on about Pavlik like he's some sort of Kovalev double?

The Pavlik v Hopkins fight has no bearing at all on the Kovalev v Hopkins fight. To think that it does or that Pavlik and Kovalev are somehow the same fighters is just silly.

[diddy]

Kovalev is a surprisingly agile 175 lb killer who cuts off the ring and throws a variation of punches.

Pavlik was a 160 lb slow footed plodder with a big heart who threw nothing but 1-2's. Pavlik also didn't carry his power above 160.

Comparing these 2 is sheer ignorance. The only thing they have in common is skin color.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Who I am is not important, that I've been reading how biased you are concerning Kovalev for a while now is. You have no objectivity whatsoever, I don't consider Kovalev a high volume puncher in the vain of a guy like Calzaghe because he focuses on throwing with power.

I saw Hopkins throw volumes of punches against Pavlik (who fights like Kovalev), volumes of punches in his last 5 fights and still win. Don't think because someone has 2 or 3 posts that they're not reading the forum/following it and don't assume that because you have more posts that you know more either.

Oh, hi Brut.