BoxRec

i know it's in June, but Tarver-Hopkins is the next really major fight (unless you count Judah-Mayweather). just been reading Tarver's interview on max, AT saying those of us who don't acknolwedge him as a great just aren't giving him credit, yap yap.

I'm starting to think Bernard might beat him. Tarver has looked so sloppy and tired in his last few fights. Hopkins was kept/remained on the outside just long enough not to get the decisions vs Taylor. but where Taylor is young, fit and strong, Tarver hasn't exaclty been accurate, fast or clean with his shots - I see more openings vs Tarver than with Taylor.

i can see a fight where Hopkins skirts the outside of the ring, coaxes mistakes from AT and 'punishes' him with little counters that'll score enough points. I think Bernard's defense and ability to read punches (especially from a bigger guy) will surprise AT

Tarver from the second Johnson fight beats Hopkins but Tarver from the third Jones fight makes this fight close. Even though Tarver's workrate is shite, I still think he will throw enough at Hopkins in the first 5 rounds to win them as I can't see Bernard developing a different style to the one he has used for his last few fights. Tarver's height and straight punching will make it difficult for Bernard to counter him although I give Hopkins the edge in speed.

Either way I can't see this fight being anything but boring

agreed on the boring bit. but i think BH can do it. Tarver doesn't have much of a jab, and he'll want to be aggressive vs the smaller man so I can see him lunging and making errors. Hopkins has been defending masterfully against the punches of middleweights and also smaller quick men like DLH, Carl Daniels etc. I think he can easily evade Tarver's work and the spaces for counters will be big. I'm going for Hopkins on points. then Tarver will shut up

update, Hopkins has hired Mackie Shilstone, the guy who helped M Spinks and R Jones bulk up to win versions of the heavyweight title. also, hopkins will have JD Jackson as trainer (head trainer again being Naz Richardson)

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing ... id=2377542

Frustrating thing is that Hopkins has been finishing his fights with plenty left in the tank by the looks of things. I think it's almost an attitude thing where he just wouldn't believe he was losing the Taylor fights. Interesting to see what the extra weight does to his already poor workrate, the punch stats could well be off the scale and I don't think Tarver will give Bernard as much respect as he gave Jones

Think the problem for Hopkins will be getting Tarver's respect. Tarver is big even for a LH, and probably weighs around 190 come fight night, the difference in power is likely to be quite significant, especially as Bernard doesn't have a lot of pop on his shots any more.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Think the problem for Hopkins will be getting Tarver's respect. Tarver is big even for a LH, and probably weighs around 190 come fight night, the difference in power is likely to be quite significant, especially as Bernard doesn't have a lot of pop on his shots any more.

i read a piece by bernard fernandez - the guy who said if it went the distance Calzaghe would get a gift nod vs lacy - and hopkins told fernandez that he wants to use Tarver's size, power etc against the man. bernard said he's going to fight small, compact. i can see a lot of sense in this. Tarver's shots have so much distance to travel and they're not the most accurate.

Tarver hated Jones' movement in fight 3, and was awfully off balance. he may have to do the same again, as Hopkins will be on the move for sure. but Bernard is such a scientific guy, and i can see Hopkins making AT miss badly. I'm pretty confident that Hopkins can have this guy totally off balance after 3 or 4 rounds, and then pick up a rhythm to win a cautious type of decision.

I can see a shock here Hopkins will be motivated to go out and do what Sugar Ray Robinson couldnt do and beat the main man in the light Heavyweight division. I have also doubts about Tarver at the weight because there was an interview a few weeks back where he said he had bulked up to 215 and was looking for fights at heavyweight so there is a possiblity he will come in drained

Would be funny if Tarver ended up getting knocked out after bulking up to heavyweight and then coming back down again, especially after the way he ripped into Jones when he suggested that's what went wrong for him.

if tarver loses he'll just go into denial like the last two times.

I really hope B-Hop wins the fight... he will make history if he does!

Also, I am willing for Hopkins to win, Tarver shows no class, and is too full of himself. The man was calling out Tyson and genuinely believes he beat a prime Roy Jones!

viciousmaussa wrote:i know it's in June, but Tarver-Hopkins is the next really major fight (unless you count Judah-Mayweather). just been reading Tarver's interview on max, AT saying those of us who don't acknolwedge him as a great just aren't giving him credit, yap yap.

I'm starting to think Bernard might beat him. Tarver has looked so sloppy and tired in his last few fights. Hopkins was kept/remained on the outside just long enough not to get the decisions vs Taylor. but where Taylor is young, fit and strong, Tarver hasn't exaclty been accurate, fast or clean with his shots - I see more openings vs Tarver than with Taylor.

i can see a fight where Hopkins skirts the outside of the ring, coaxes mistakes from AT and 'punishes' him with little counters that'll score enough points. I think Bernard's defense and ability to read punches (especially from a bigger guy) will surprise AT

I've a different question: is anyone seriously interest in this fight?
It has "celebrity cashcow bout" written all over it.

pundit wrote:

viciousmaussa wrote:i know it's in June, but Tarver-Hopkins is the next really major fight (unless you count Judah-Mayweather). just been reading Tarver's interview on max, AT saying those of us who don't acknolwedge him as a great just aren't giving him credit, yap yap.

I'm starting to think Bernard might beat him. Tarver has looked so sloppy and tired in his last few fights. Hopkins was kept/remained on the outside just long enough not to get the decisions vs Taylor. but where Taylor is young, fit and strong, Tarver hasn't exaclty been accurate, fast or clean with his shots - I see more openings vs Tarver than with Taylor.

i can see a fight where Hopkins skirts the outside of the ring, coaxes mistakes from AT and 'punishes' him with little counters that'll score enough points. I think Bernard's defense and ability to read punches (especially from a bigger guy) will surprise AT

I've a different question: is anyone seriously interest in this fight?
It has "celebrity cashcow bout" written all over it.

yes, it's a crap matchup and i hope the PPV does badly. Tarver has some serious holes in his game and i'd like to see them exposed once and for all. i'll vomit if he proclaims himself a 'great fighter' ever again.

i can see why Hopkins goes into the fight confident. I looked at the Taylor fights again. I always had Hopkins winning fight one, now I've changed my mind and reckon he deserved the 2nd one as well.

It's Tarver's fight to lose. The only way I see Hopkins winning is from some new mystical power shot he has.

I do hope Hopkins wins though.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Would be funny if Tarver ended up getting knocked out after bulking up to heavyweight and then coming back down again, especially after the way he ripped into Jones when he suggested that's what went wrong for him.

Tarver didn't bulk up to heavyweight for the Rocky film. Stallone is only 180-185 hence why they picked a light heavy to make Stallone look like a heavyweight.