My Two Cents: Hopkins vs. Murat

By Jay McIntyre - 10/25/2013 - Comments

hopkins673By Jay McIntyre: The prevailing wisdom going into this Saturday’s bout between Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2-2, 32 KO’s) and Karo Murat (24-1-1, 14 KO’s) is that Bernard Hopkins will win. Given the experience, resume and set of skills that both men bring to the table, this really is an open and shut case. In what world could Karo Murat defeat Bernard Hopkins?

Well, one irrefutable fact in the world of boxing is that every fighter has a “puncher’s chance”. One defensive lapse and the whole game can change in just one move. One need only look as far back as Mike Tyson’s 10th round TKO to the 42:1 underdog James “Buster” Douglas to evoke a nostalgic memory for the underdog.

A major difference between victory and defeat in that fight, however, was Mike Tyson’s unwillingness to take his training seriously. Bernard Hopkins does not make that mistake. Let’s take a glance at why this Saturday’s fight looks to be another day at the office for Bernard Hopkins.

During tomorrow’s bout expect Bernard to use three tactics to great effect: the clinch, constant evasive footwork, and shrewd potshots to open up his opponent’s guard and to abruptly counter Murat’s offense.

Hopkin’s willingness to clinch and the timing of his clinches has without doubt contributed to his longevity in a sport as brutal as boxing. Clinching as a delaying tactic is used by a fighter that wants to stifle his opponent’s aggression. This can be used off a straight punch to avoid combinations on the outside, or once your opponent has gotten inside and is in your kitchen. Tying him up will force the referee to separate you – thus giving you distance, and resetting the initiative. Think about it: if you lose the advantage of footwork and give them an angle, and you cannot get away, simply grab them until the ref separates you – they no longer have their advantage. After evading shot, if he feels that he is not in position to strike, or that his opponent is ready to punch again, Hopkins will clinch and turn away to the desired part of the ring most advantageous to him. Against Kelly Pavlik, Hopkins made it nearly impossible for Pavlik to put any combinations together once he got Hopkins in front of him because of his steady use of clinching. If Murat intends to swarm and smother Hopkins with punches he will be clinched time and again.

When fighting Tavoris Cloud, Bernard Hopkins was able to glide about the ring, constantly moving and refusing to be the static target that Cloud desperately needed. Stating that a fighter needs to “use his footwork” is a tired cliche as old as the sport of boxing, and delving into this a tale for another time. To put it simply, footwork involves creating opportunities for yourself, and denying those of your enemy by keeping your opponent in your line of attack and staying off of your opponent’s. If a fighter stays on his opponent’s line of attack, then the opponent can set his feet and make the fighter pay. I will use Hopkins’ fight against Tavoris Cloud to prove the value of footwork. Tavoris was never able to landed significantly, nor was he able to decisively hurt Hopkins the game changing way that he needed. Andre Ward said it best in the first round when he said that Cloud looks best when he is in “heavy bag mode”, something that Hopkins will never subject himself to. To his credit, Murat throws more hooks which can be used to intercept a circling fighter. Hopkins will need to expect and train for these.

Perhaps one of Bernard Hopkins’ best tactics is pulling his enemy out of position (or moving effectively into a position which compromises his opponent) and making him pay for it. As soon as an opponent throws a punch and is even the slightest bit out of position or off-balance, Hopkins is good at making use of accurate counters. Hopkins is not the hardest of punchers, but these punches are nonetheless effective. He does lead with his right hand with surprising speed and can tag his opponent very cleanly. If Murat gives chase of sacrifices his line of attack to Hopkins, expect to see a few beautiful leads straights and well-timed jabs when Murat gives him the opening, or as a stratagem to set up other punches.

Karo Murat is certainly a tough, forward moving fighter. His background and migration from his homeland to Germany has self-admittedly made him unafraid of anything in the ring. He will need to keep the pressure on Hopkins for the entirety of the fight and therein lies both his salvation and his potential for ruin. Keeping Hopkins moving constantly will make the bout both mentally and physically exhausting for Hopkins. On the other hand, he plods forward with a high guard and is not terribly great at setting up his punches or cutting off the ring. Murat typically takes his opponent’s shots off his gloves and forearms while he waits for chance to punish his opponent. The problem here is that Murat doesn’t adjust to a clever moving fighter and will give up his angles to Hopkins and thus be prone to counters. Murat also has the questionable habit of standing upright and keeping a high guard which leaves him open to jabs and straights to the body. Hopkins is savvy enough to see these openings and will set them up for exploitation.

There is so much more to say when you look at a fighter with a career like that of Bernard Hopkins’. Hopkins will make this fight, what Jim Lampley calls “a scratch and sniff fight”, and when he makes the fight happen at his pace, he wins. Bernard Hopkins was wise to pick an opponent that will walk at him, and will provide some contrast to his methodical (read: occasionally un-enthused) style. Had he matched himself against another boxer, instead of a puncher, fans could expect a tactical, perhaps largely uneventful evening. What will we see? Hopkins will play chess, and Murat will give chase.

Bernard Hopkins wins a decision. He hasn’t knocked out anybody since Oscar De La Hoya in 2004, so there is no reason to see why he should knock out Murat. Hopkins beats his opponent’s mind more than he beats their bodies – a skill unto itself.

I will leave you with this: if you hear “boos” then that means Hopkins is fighting his style of fight and he will win probably win.



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