Buncey said last night that Cleverly's next fight will be in America and alluded to it being Hopkins.
Clev will ship shots but not enough to lose the fight on a decision. He isn't getting dropped, all he has to do is fight at a demon pace, maximum output and Hopkins simply can't win. Countering one punch to every six Clev throws won't be enough, simply put, this fight is a guaranteed win for Clev.
Well I hope you're right and I'm completely talking bollocks but I've a feeling Hopkins will slow Clev right down with feints, rushing in with that lead right/headbutt combo and just being very slick and awkward. Clev will be missing all night and being made to pay for it. Another thing to mention is Clev is no Calzaghe despite the hand speed/stamina simularities. He's not as smart with his angles and is far more predictable and easy to hit.
Sometimes things really are that simple, it'll be tough, gritty & ugly (it always is against B-Hop) but Clev wins this regardless.
4 years ago and id agree with you. But the sad fact is Hop cant/wont pull the trigger anymore. He wont take advantage of those mistakes Clev will make. He'll just grab/spoil with most of those openings. Points win for Clev, maybe even waived off late on. Kinda hope im wrong aswell tho. Better for the division if Clev wins, but nothing better than an ol' boy turning the clock back.
Hopkins still has fast hands and good timing, and it's possible he would get outworked by Clev for a while before timing a perfect counter to drop and possibly stopping him. Clev may have a decent chin, but he looks so open at times and gets hit by people way slower than BHop, I can't help feeling Clev's limitations are just there to be exposed. Hopkins would frustrate Clev into making bad mistakes, especially with his dad in the corner...
As I said, I hope I've read this one completely wrong. Clev rightly gets a lot of stick on here for the abysmal level of opponent he's faced but this is a genuinely risk/opportunity.
Well he's got a great engine so frankly I think he'd be favourite against every fighter in every weightclass ever