Hopkins vs. Cloud

Dunno... Cloud's pretty basic, not too tough to figure out style-wise. Hopkins of 2 or 3 years back schools the f outta Cloud imo. But at his age, you always wonder what he's got left. Ofcourse, the same has been said about Hopkins a dozen times before and he keeps pulling 'em out of his hat. It has to stop sometime though, and he looked pretty bad last time out against Bad Chad.

Still, styles make fights and Cloud is no Dawson. Wouldn't be shocked if ol' Nard pulls it off again.

 

End of the road for B-Hop, based on the Dawson rematch. (and, indirectly, based on Dawson shitting the bed against Ward)

Cloud would've never come within spitting distance of beating Hopkins from even half a decade ago, but Father Time is undefeated.

We might finally see Bernard get hurt.

 

Still, Cloud's style is the polar opposite of that of Dawson, who's style sucked Dan Rafael-ass for him. I'm not saying he'll definitely beat Cloud, but surely the style suits him way better.

 

Damn I was thinking the same thing Cloud will throw bombs.

 

If-IF BHOP is as far gone as I think he is, I think he does his best to befuddle Cloud but ultimately doesn't have the offensive ability to hold him back or outpoint him anymore or the reaction time and punch resistance to avoid everything or stem the tide when he gets clocked by a big puncher. If he has even a 60% of his peak performance left in him, he will take Cloud's title. I don't think he does, but I'm interested to see.

:-( I like Cloud as a fighter, but can you imagine even Pascal's BHOP against Johnson's Cloud? It would be like watching a golden retriever with a Rubik's cube.

Edit: Okay, it's Cloud, so I meant a golden retriever IQ-wise. The temperament doesn't fit. It would be like watching a Doberman with a Rubik's cube. A rabid Doberman.

Secondary edit: A constipated, rabid Doberman.

Tertiary edit: On PCP.

 

Picking Cloud in this one...

 

Hopkins age is the only thing that makes this fight a toss up. Few years ago he wouldn't have had any problems, nowadays Cloud might win this.

 

Not sure but he'll go the distance IMO. He'll be the superior ring general despite his age, so the question is whether he can put forth the offense necessary.

 

I'm going to say Hopkins pulls out another decision.

Cloud is just too simple for a fighter of Hopkins skill level, even though Bhop is 79 nowadays my boxing brain wants to be stubborn and pick Hopkins. And even though Hopkins was thoroughly defeated by Chad last time out, I feel like Dawson was much too different a boxer than Cloud for me to gauge if Hopkins has enough left to beat Tavoris.

We'll see soon enough :bbb

 

Hopkins will humiliate Cloud.

Its going to be brutal

 

It is going to be hard for Hopkins to replicate what Campillo did because Campillo is younger and had the ability to simply let Cloud gas himself out and out slick him.

I have no doubt that in spots B-hop will outslick and outmaneuver Cloud, the problem is going to come when he tries to pick spots and Cloud is right there on his chest banging his body and in-fighting, something B-hop hasn't had to deal with in a long time.

 

Cloud's style is tailor made for Hopkins. But having said that Hopkins will be 48 by the time the fight takes place. This isn't the Hopkins who toyed with Pavlik or who went 12 close rounds with Calzaghe, and definitely nowhere near the fighter who beat Tarver.

Hopkins has been past prime for a long time and in his recent fights he has definitely slowed. His hand speed has slowed and he struggles to throw much more than 30 punches a round.

A few years ago Hopkins would have easily won, now I'm not so sure because who knows how much further he has declined in the last year since he fought Dawson. If he hasn't lost too much then he wins, if he's declined further then he may be in for a rough night. Nobody beats father time, not even Hopkins, he will get you in the end.

 

As limited as Cloud may seem, he's still a dangerous fighter in his prime, something Bhops is not. He's proved us wrong time after time, but if there's anytime to doubt him its now! He's like a defanged cobra now. Maybe he'll find a way to hurt Cloud without power. He literally uses his head and can cut or smother Cloud's eyes shut using the tricks only a wily old coot like him knows how to use by lacing, elbowing, etc. Has nothing to prove shoulda retired after Pascal II, but here we go again!