Not to minimize Bernard Hopkins ,but what made Hopkins so successful is his selection of opponents ,fighters like Felix Trinidad and Kelly Pavlik both got schooled by Hopkins because they look for that one big punch instead of throwing combinations to try to out box Hopkins.
There is a reason he was reluctant to fight Chad Dawson when Dawson was up and coming ,there is a reason he loss twice to Jermaine Taylor and to Joe Calzaghe ,It's because they try to box and out score their opponents ,Kovalev looks for the KO punch and Hopkins will not allow Kovalev to stand in front of him while Kovalev's feet are planted.
I think Kovalev will be the favorite because of his power but Hopkins has proven before how effective he his at fighting power punchers.
No. Kovalev is definitely the favorite in this fight. Hopkins is a legend, and one of the greatest, but he is close to 50. In all honesty his last few fights look like a shell of himself. Dawson beat him up. Just imagine what Kovalev could do to him. Kovalev is the big favorite coming in, and Hopkins got to work some magic.
Reality is that old age cannot be beaten, eventually we all succumb to father time. If this is the fight where age catches up to Bernard, all we can hope for is that there are no serious injury's to anyone. If Hopkins defies age once again his legacy simply increases in stature. I agree with you, Bernard is the last of the American greats from his era, and Hopkins's legacy is far superior to that of Floyd.
I think so. Hopkins would have to put up his best to avoid being stopped or kayoed for the first time in his career while Kovalev will surely have his hands full and have his mind swooning trying to figure out Hopkins before it is too late. Whoever first unravel who will win the fight.
People were saying this same crap going into the Trinidad, Tarver, Pavlik, and Pascal fights yet he still embarrassed all of them. Does age catch up to the ageless wonder? Is Kovalev as legit as he looks? Who knows, but you have to look at what you know when predicting and to me this one is a toss up. People are really writing off Hopkins, and that has never ended well lol.
Hopkins wins
As long as Hopkins is in good shape, I think he can dominate Kovalev easy. Sergey is just a one dimensional power puncher from what I've seen, though just one punch can end Hopkins' night.
Hopkins UD
I always go with Bernard Hopkins.
If Hopkins loses, he should really retire. Cuz if he wins he might soon have to face Adonis Stevenson.
I would never bet against Hopkins. To me he's the greatest American boxer of the past 20 years and the last true remaining American boxing legend. Mayweather will never even come close to Hopkins in legacy or guts.
I fear for Hopkins health in this fight but we'll see what happens
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