Kovalev will retire BHop

[Ricky_]

So i guess it's only fair to praise the old dog for everything he's achieved in the sport. He stinks the place out with his wiley old man tactics, he grabs, clinches, fouls and pretends to have dislocated shoulders to get out of fights, so I guess I won't miss him much, or mind much when the last we see of him in a boxing ring is lying flat on his back crying foul.

But for his performances in taking apart the 40&0 Felix Trinidad, or the 32&0 Johnson, I salute one of the greatest ever middleweights, enjoy your retirement.

[expe]

Grabs, clinches and fouls yes, but to suggest he faked a dislocated shoulder is utter shite you fornicating belm, watch the fight again, you can actually see that it's out of place on the video. It was technically a separation anyway, as it was caused by an injury to the muscles connecting the shoulder to the arm, not the bone coming out of its socket.

[uptconnect]

Bernard has been known to overplay fouls received and injuries over the years, when the situation required it.
I've seen him take a soft rabbit punch and then proceed to stumble around holding his head and heart, like Fred Sanford, screaming "Elizabeth, I'm comin home!".


That being said, his conditioning is among the best if not THE best, as well as his bag of tricks (some questionable tricks, no doubt) being just more full than anyone else's.
Kudos.

He's amazing in the ring to me, at his advanced age.
Even when he's trying to pull some funny business, I'm intrigued.

This Kovalev fight is a monster for him, though. I don't think he'll get out of this one unscathed.
If he even keeps it competitive, that will be noteworthy.
I never bet against Bernard these days, but I would here, if I had to.

[Ricky_]

Grabs, clinches and fouls yes, but to suggest he faked a dislocated shoulder is utter shite you effing belm, watch the fight again, you can actually see that it's out of place on the video. It was technically a separation anyway, as it was caused by an injury to the muscles connecting the shoulder to the arm, not the bone coming out of its socket.

he was leaning on it. "Hey ref, my shoulder is out"... while his bodyweight is being supported by his shoulder:

[HomicideHenry]

I think it can be said, without doubt, that Hopkins is our generation's Archie Moore.

So I am surprised so many are actually saying Hopkins will be knocked out, or will quit on his stool, or foul himself out.

I know Kovalev is a beast, and very precise puncher, with a hellish body attack--- but this isn't the first time that Hopkins has been the underdog against powerful punchers, etc. (Pavlik).

I wont make a prediction on this fight, but will say Hopkins will do more than people expect, and that he will surprise everyone despite being 50+ years old against a young man all in his prime.

[FloydtheDuck]

Bernard doesn't see past round 9. And that might be generous

[stevedoc]

Only a fool would write Hopkins off he's proved many times before that he can do the unthinkable

[crusader]

I know Kovalev is a beast, and very precise puncher, with a hellish body attack--- but this isn't the first time that Hopkins has been the underdog against powerful punchers, etc. (Pavlik).

I wont make a prediction on this fight, but will say Hopkins will do more than people expect, and that he will surprise everyone despite being 50+ years old against a young man all in his prime.

Was Pavlik a power-puncher at LHW, the division in which he fought Hopkins? Check out his resume above middleweight, where in his last four bouts he was twice taken the distance by mediocre fighters and couldn't drop clubfighter Scott Sigmon despite pounding him for 7 rounds.

As for the last sentence, I've seen loads of people pick Hopkins (he was the favorite in a recent ESPN media poll of 20+) and there seems to be a fairly large 'never bet against BHOP' and 'I've learned my lesson' crew, so I'm not sure that he'll surprise everyone even if he wins. I think a precondition for Hopkins' reputation as an upsetter is unimpressive performances prior to the upsets, which thereby lower expectations and help vault him into the underdog role, and people seem to remember those performances less than his brighter moments.

[SenorPipino]

It was 40 years ago tonight that many were convinced that an undefeated, fearsome punching machine was going to demolish and finally retire an aging American boxing icon.
Does Zaire ring a bell?

So it's only fitting that little more than a week after the anniversary of the legendary Rumble in the Jungle, another old man is widely expected to meet his Waterloo at the hands of another boxing monster.

And like what the brilliant Ali did during that storied night in Africa, the ring-savvy Hopkins will turn back the clock, accomplish the unexpected and take a virtual neophyte to the cleaners.
As Ali demonstrated, huge punchers only look impressive to both wide-eyed boxing fans and limited fighters who lack the skill-set to offset the power.
Hopkins has those skill in spades.

Kovalev? Like Foreman, he'll be exposed as just another over-hyped, one-dimensional puncher who will struggle to derail a master boxing technician....and fail badly in his quest.

[KBB]

I think it is foolery to write off Hopkins, sure he fakes the funk on some of the obvious fouls he has heaped upon him but what people who don't really understand boxing doesn't really know is that he's simply stealing time, letting the clock wind down (especially when he knows he's ahead) but even more importantly is that he is resting (the man is almost 50).

I won't be surprised when he disarms Kovalev and nullifies his punching power by making him miss (that tires out a fighter), my guess is that the Sergey strategy will be to go hard and fast to try and get him out before 4 rounds because they have to know that the longer the fight goes on the more comfortable Hopkins gets and the more trouble it will be for Kovalev trying to land that one shot he hopes will end it.

There won't be any KO either way but I will not be surprised if Bernard knocks him down once or maybe even twice, (yeah, go ahead and laugh on that one). Many people still underestimate Hopkins' ability to time a knockdown shot, ask Shumenov or ask Pascal (who was legitimately knocked down but it wasn't counted).

I really hope to LOL when all of the people who are overestimating Kovalev's abilities and chances of winning backfires by writing off the old Warrior.

[ikorolev]

It was 40 years ago tonight that many were convinced that an undefeated, fearsome punching machine was going to demolish and finally retire an aging American boxing icon.
Does Zaire ring a bell?

So it's only fitting that little more than a week after the anniversary of the legendary Rumble in the Jungle, another old man is widely expected to meet his Waterloo at the hands of another boxing monster.

And like what the brilliant Ali did during that storied night in Africa, the ring-savvy Hopkins will turn back the clock, accomplish the unexpected and take a virtual neophyte to the cleaners.
As Ali demonstrated, huge punchers only look impressive to both wide-eyed boxing fans and limited fighters who lack the skill-set to offset the power.
Hopkins has those skill in spades.

Kovalev? Like Foreman, he'll be exposed as just another over-hyped, one-dimensional puncher who will struggle to derail a master boxing technician....and fail badly in his quest.

Ali was only 32 at the time he beat Foreman, and we also know that Foreman stopped Frazier (twice) and Norton, and both of those guys had wins over Ali.

If your fact manipulation will make it easier for you to deal with nearing Bernard's loss, then keep doing it.

[SenorPipino]

Sorry, Ikov but it'll be shades of Zaire.
Kovalev ain't so great, he'll alos fall in 8.

BTW, Ali was just 32 at the time of the Rumble in the Jungle, but he was viewed as an "old man" coming into the Foreman bout. The previous year, Ali had 2 life-and-death bouts with Norton and then won a lackluster decision over a Joe Frazier who was considered washed-up.
That's not playing with the facts...that's accurate.

And you're right, Foreman did demolish both Frazier and Norton, which actually gave him legitimacy heading into Africa.
He destroyed the 2 guys who Ali struggled with.

Hopkins will have an even easier time. Who has Kovalev ever beaten approaching the level of Frazier and Norton?
The dreaded Cleverly? Don't make me laugh. The Russian will be exposed. Bet on it.

[ikorolev]

Well, Kovalev will soon have a good win on his resume thanks to Bernard. Stevenson and Pascal are still ducking, Dawson and Bute are irrelevant. I guess we will see a huge fight against Beterbiev.

[tiny_acres]

I have learned over the years to NEVER bet against Hopkins.I personally think Hopkins
will lose,but I would never place a buck against the guy.He surprises me every time.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

I love how people summarize Hopkins's career. There is so much effort to diminish his skills and ability. Hopkins does some dirty shit, but all of his wins were earned by skill and intelligence.

Two of his biggest wins, Tarver and Pavlik were clinics. The Trinidad win was an epic display of skill. The HBO crew tried to relegate his win over DLH as some kind of mugging, but B-Hop outboxed him too.

If B-Hop beats Kovalev, man, there better be some serious retractions and praise for Hopkins. I thought it was clear after the Tarver win, but for the people whose perception of boxing begins and ends with Jim Lampley/Larry Merchant's horribly biased commentary, Hopkins better start getting his ATG props ... and not just because of his longevity, but because he would have given any fighter from 160-175 hell.

[polecateddy]

I would imagine that Kovalev and his team are excited about this fight but also slightly worried. Hopkins is tried and tested to say the least, whereas despite a decent amateur career, Kovalev is just arriving at this higher level. Certainly Hopkins has beaten more skilled boxers before. Of course Kovalev's power could decide the match, but they will need to be ready with a plan B if the ususl hit the arms, hit anything approach is getting him outboxed the time. And nobody knows if Kovalev's stamina over 12 rounds is strong or just average. I would imagine youth may be served but I wouldn't want to wager any large amounts of cash on that assumption

[amwsnw]

I expect BHop to win this. His level of opposition is far superior and Kovalev hasnt been in the ring with any one remotely near Bhop's ability.
Bhop will tie him upwhen required, use his usual "dirty tactics when needed and counter punch his way to a UD.

[ikorolev]

I expect BHop to win this. His level of opposition is far superior and Kovalev hasnt been in the ring with any one remotely near Bhop's ability.
Bhop will tie him upwhen required, use his usual "dirty tactics when needed and counter punch his way to a UD.

... in his dreams.

[ikorolev]

Here is Cleverly's view:

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/stor ... MP=OTC-RSS

[Evander]

I'm really looking forward to the fight.
But rule 46 clearly states "Don't ever underestimate BHOP" and I'm not about to do so.

[squiggy]

Grabs, clinches and fouls yes, but to suggest he faked a dislocated shoulder is utter shite you effing belm, watch the fight again, you can actually see that it's out of place on the video. It was technically a separation anyway, as it was caused by an injury to the muscles connecting the shoulder to the arm, not the bone coming out of its socket.

he was leaning on it. "Hey ref, my shoulder is out"... while his bodyweight is being supported by his shoulder:

And that is pretty much the one frame of footage of him in that position, as he shifted his weight back off of it after about a third of a second.

[Prediction...Pain]

I know Kovalev is a beast, and very precise puncher, with a hellish body attack--- but this isn't the first time that Hopkins has been the underdog against powerful punchers, etc. (Pavlik).

I wont make a prediction on this fight, but will say Hopkins will do more than people expect, and that he will surprise everyone despite being 50+ years old against a young man all in his prime.

Was Pavlik a power-puncher at LHW, the division in which he fought Hopkins? Check out his resume above middleweight, where in his last four bouts he was twice taken the distance by mediocre fighters and couldn't drop clubfighter Scott Sigmon despite pounding him for 7 rounds.

As for the last sentence, I've seen loads of people pick Hopkins (he was the favorite in a recent ESPN media poll of 20+) and there seems to be a fairly large 'never bet against BHOP' and 'I've learned my lesson' crew, so I'm not sure that he'll surprise everyone even if he wins. I think a precondition for Hopkins' reputation as an upsetter is unimpressive performances prior to the upsets, which thereby lower expectations and help vault him into the underdog role, and people seem to remember those performances less than his brighter moments.

[Bard of Boxrec]

against powerful punchers, etc. (Pavlik).

[danamba7]

Here is Cleverly's view:

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/stor ... MP=OTC-RSS

Cleverly's bound to say that because he got embarrassed by Kovalev. I personally think Sergey will win but as others have said, I wouldn't bet on it. And Clev's opinion is pretty irrelevant.

[Crease]

Only a fool would write Hopkins off he's proved many times before that he can do the unthinkable

Agreed.