At some point, Hopkins has to just break. These been breaking the laws of nature for about 5 years...
Sure it is. The LHW main event is better with Hopkins making history (again) if he wins. Moving toward unification with Stevenson next on the list. Plus, the undercard is world's better than last night's TR rip-off. :yep
Neither. It's a well known fact that Hopkins thrives against predictable, somewhat slow plodders. Shum isn't exactly that but is close enough to fit that category. He has always struggled against speed. There is a reason why Hopkins chose to fight Shum. He did cherry pick him. At 49, that's saying a lot about how good Hopkins is but it's still true.
If he wins, Hopkins will then "Cherry-pick" Stevenson, and if he wins that he'll then cherry pick Kovalev. LOL, fools.
If Hopkins beats Shum, I seriously doubt he fights either. They are legit, world class lhws and not like a guy like Shum or Cloud. Guys who were champs but not as well rounded as Stevenson or Kovalev. If he fights one of them, I'll be shocked. Of course, I also thought that he would never fight Dawson because Dawson was all wrong for him. So we'll see.
You talking about the same guy that was thoroughly outboxed and almost stopped by feather fisted Gabriel Campillo? Unless Hopkins aged over night, he will son Shumenov. In my opinion Shumenov is a level above Murat, but a level below Pascal.
And how long ago were those Campillo fights? And it's not like Campillo wasn't any good at that time.atsch
I'm pretty sure he will fight Stevenson and it'll really be a magnificent achievement if he can pull that one off (possibly big enough to overshadow the fact the he won't have actually unified the belts and the hungriest wolf is still circling in the darkness) but Stevenson whilst strong and fast doesn't offer BHop anything fundamentally different than what he's sen before. FWIW BHops is already a living legend and his lifetime achievemnts outshine those of any other active fighter. Beating Shumenov won't add much except for posterity - Shumenov, whilst not terrible, ain't really more than a scratch on the bedpost. Stevenson is essentially a quicker, stronger southpaw Cloud (also riding a career high rather than a drubbing) - Hopkins has the ring savvy to beat him...whether he's physically able to enforce it is the all important question. Well, that's for the future tho, let's see - Hopkins via UD against Shumenov.
Why not? If Hopkins faces Stevenson it's a win/win for him win or lose. According to Hopkins between Stevenson and Kovalev, Kovalev is the easier fight so my order may be wrong.
Hell guys Bernard is 49 yrs old and a GRANDFATHER!! Shumanov should be able to beat him easily. BUT!! he wont I look for yet another Prof Hopkins schooling of a young ambitious fighter in his prime.