Hopkins vs Pavlik (fight)

[LaoTzuMindFu]

What do you all think of the big fight coming up this weekend?

Id like to see Bernard Hopkins beat Pavlick. Dont think he will knock him out, but I do think that if he starts fast (i.e, at least split the first 6 rounds, he will win via decision.

[Rggr]

Hopkins may well win by decision. Hopkins will win the early rounds. He needs to be able to fight the whole fight. I think that if it's a knockout, then it goes to Pavlik.

[Mike in TN]

I can't pick a winner.

If Hopkins wins I say it will be a boring decision.

If Pavlike wins it will probably be an exciting fight.

[NJ Chutzpah]

Pavlik knocks bhop out because bhop age will finally catch up to him

[Positiveone]

Hopkins will fight his usual fight, in & out, hold a lot. I cant see Pavlik stopping Hopkins because hopkins is very tough to catch clean. I see it being a decent fight with Pavlik winning on points.

[LexusNexus]

This one is hard to call. One one hand, we have Hopkins. He's 43, well-conditioned in terms of being strong, but ever-conscious of conserving his energy because he doesn't have the reserves or the stamina for sustained action over a long fight. He's crafty, but not as versatile as he used to be. He may see openings but no longer able to take advantage. He relies on his opponent giving him opportunities to rest during rounds. He can outbox, outwait anyone, who allows him to get his breather when he needs it. Calzaghe didn't let this happen and won that fight, with Hopkins pretending he had been hit below the belt in order to get a breather. It was the first time I saw his limitations, stamina-wise. I think Hopkins underestimated Calzaghe, probably the first time he's ever underestimated a fighter think that no white fighter could beat him.

Pavilik looks like the ultimate overachiever. Tall with big feet, he looks like a big, rangy fighter. Good power, but he's not capable of taking you out with one shot. He beat Miranda who has respectable power, but was physically smaller, and has trouble with his stamina. He beat Taylor twice. The first fight, Taylor tagged him pretty good and knocked him down. He got up, adjusted, and pressed the action, wearing Taylor down. Taylor stamina also suspect and Pavlik outlasted him. In second fight, he and Taylor came in 5 pounds lighter than their first fight, and making this weight took much out of Taylor who looked thin and weak. Result? Pavlik too strong and Taylor (stamina already suspect) was beaten up to a 7th round stoppage.

I think Pavlik has the edge in stamina here. Hopkins will be looking for that breather during each round, but he's not going to get it. Pavlik is very willing to takes shots to get in his own and he will press Bernard. I also don't think Bernard has one-shot knockout power either, and it would take this to gain Pavlik's respect.

But this is at 170, not 160. This is Hopkins best weight. He beat a smaller Winky Wright at this weight... in NJ, near Hopkins home. Winky is a better defensive fighter than Pavlik, but doesn't have Pavlik's power. he beat a naturally bigger Tarver at 174. This fight also in NJ...where Pavlik knocked out Taylor. Pavlik has to come up in weight, to fight Hopkins who is probably a natural 170 lb fighter. Question is what will the added weight do for Pavlik? Give him more power? Make him slower? Reduce his stamina? Hard to tell. He has looked good against a depleted Taylor and a smaller Miranda and a bunch of overmatched no-names.

Edge to Hopkins because of the intangibles. He's at his best weight, fighting near his home, and fighting someone who fights like Tarver.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

It looks real bad for Pavlik right now. Looks real bad!!

9th round just started and he's getting smoked.

[LexusNexus]

Originally Posted by DaBeez

It looks real bad for Pavlik right now. Looks real bad!!

9th round just started and he's getting smoked.

Edge to Hopkins like I said.

http://www.fightnews.com/fightnews_2/headlines//EkkuFZZElFLxEWdCHL.html (broken link)

[Mike in TN]

Originally Posted by Alexus

In second fight, he and Taylor came in 5 pounds lighter than their first fight, and making this weight took much out of Taylor who looked thin and weak. Result? Pavlik too strong and Taylor (stamina already suspect) was beaten up to a 7th round stoppage.

What in the world are you talking about? Their second fight was at a catch weight of 166 - six pounds heavier than their first fight.

[Bjorn_Ironside32]

i was watching a live stream of the fight.

and i must say, b-hop is truly a boxing legend, beat a younger boxer, even at such an out of prime age of 43 years old.

the winner of calzaghe-jones faces hopkins...who you guys think it will win?