Pascal was a perfect opponent for an old guy: he throws very few punches per round yet still manages to gas. Hopkins could not have drawn up a better opponent if he tried.
This. Hopkins needs very inactive fighters to look good or win. Pascal is a rare fighter who somehow has maintained success through the majority of his career while having awful conditioning.
I dunno man, 2 years ago it woulda been easy work for B-Hop to end the worst championship run in recent memory but right now Clevs workrate might be enough to overwhelm ancient B-Hop despite having zero skills and going onto to beat no one of worth after.
Glad to hear B'Nard is on and on. Of course he beats Cleverly and then gets a rematch fight with Calzaghe.
Pascal is a good counter puncher with movement, speed, power, a chin and a heart. Remember that he clearly beat Dawson
Can't see cleverly getting a stoppage win at all. He may be able to outpoint Hopkins but even at this stage Hopkins will prove very hard to beat. Am glad cleverly has been given the chance to fight a big name,its overdue and lets hope there is no messing about this time and the opponent and the date stay the same.
Cleverly's skill level is such that he would easly beat B Hop at this stage in Hops career. Too much energy. Now, B Hop might be able to trick him and get a KO. If he can play dead untill the later rounds when Cleverly has a tendency to drop his hands, then he might can pull off the upset, and upset it would be, because Hops shouldn't win.:bbb:bbb
Cleverly can't be skillwise and smartwise better than Pascal and Dawson and both played chess with the man so there is no way out but to play with Hopkins and as long as Hopkins can move, loose up his body, block, slip and counter punches, then it really wouldn't matter if it was Cleverly, Tavoris or Shumenov. It's Bernard against father time one more time.
i would actually pic Clev in this one. Its finally his chance to show what he can do and he wont look like the shittier versions in the past. Its a pickem fight i would think even at Hopkins age, but i think Cleverly with throw 2 times the punches , and hopkins will finally tire out and look his age in the 2nd half very interesting fight though