Hopkins: “Pavlik Is The Perfect Opponent For Me” – Latest Boxing News

By Boxing News - 10/10/2008 - Comments

hop333.jpgBy Jim Dower: To listen to some of 43 year-old Bernard Hopkins’ conference call comments today, he sounds more than a little out of touch with reality as he refers to himself in the third person, and says “If Kelly Pavlik thinks he’s going to beat Bernard Hopkins because he has a right hand, he’s a damn fool.” Unfortunately for Hopkins, the 26 year-old undefeated Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) has much more than just a big right hand, though that will probably be enough to defeat Hopkins in their October 18th bout at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Hopkins appears to have gone a step too far in the selection of his opponents. He was defeated by a 12-round split decision in his last fight against Joe Calzaghe on April 19th, and might easily have won the fight if he’d have just let his hands go a lot more rather than clinching continuously, wrestling and falling to the canvas when he was hit low. It seemed for the most part that Hopkins didn’t have the energy to fight hard for the full 12-rounds against Calzaghe, and hence Hopkins only has himself to blame for not getting the decision.

Against Calzaghe, Hopkins was fortunate to be facing a fighter with little power, one who slaps rather than throws power shots. This allowed Hopkins to be the power hitter in the bout, and he could have really made the difference in the fight if he’d have pulled the trigger a little more. But except for the 1st round in which Hopkins dropped Calzaghe with a right hand as he was coming forward, Hopkins fought in a slow, leisurely pace and looking every bit his 43 years.

In today’s conference call, Hopkins mentioned that his doctor told him that he has the body of a 25 year-old. It may be true that Hopkins is younger-looking than his 43 years, but his work rate and constant clinching suggests a fighter much older than 25. I hope Hopkins isn’t twisting things and equating looks as meaning his reflexes and work rate are still intact, because given the fact that he has now lost three out of his last five fights that would appear to be a signal that there is indeed some aging and cell necrosis going on inside his body.

“My motivation is back pay,” Hopkins mentioned in answer to a question as to why he’s still fighting after all these years in the sport. He’s referring to all the years where he wasn’t paid well in his earlier bouts, and has only started receiving big paydays in the later stages of his boxing career.

“Kelly Pavlik is the perfect opponent for me come October 18 because he comes forward, he comes to fight, and look — he wants to knock Bernard Hopkins out. At least that’s what he says.” I agree with Hopkins here, except that Pavlik would have been a good opponent years ago when Hopkins was much younger. I wouldn’t call him a perfect opponent for Hopkins even then, because he’d be in serious trouble regardless.

Other then Roy Jones Jr., Hopkins has never faced a fighter in the class of Pavlik during his long career, so he’s being a little shortsighted by making stating that Pavlik is the perfect opponent because he comes at him. Calzaghe came right at Hopkins in his last fight. The only probably Calzaghe had, excluding his 1st round knockdown, was Hopkins occasional pot shot and his constant clinching. This is what awaits Pavlik on October 18th, a low volume puncher that clinches constantly. It reminds me somehow of heavyweight John Ruiz, doesn’t it? That’s not exactly fear instilling.



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