2014: Adonis Stevenson - Bernard Hopkins, Who You Got?

All sources are saying the Stevenson-Hopkins unification bout will most likely take place this year in the beautiful city of Quebec.

36 year old WBC LHW Champion Adonis Stevenson is facing 25-2 Andrzel Fonfara next month and must put that fight in the bag before officially announcing his date with exalted master boxer Bernard Hopkins.

Following his win over Shumenov last week in the nation's capital, Bernard Hopkins took a day off for rest and sight seeing and then got busy by getting back to the gym.

Stevenson - Hopkins

Who you got?






(Disclaimer: Be advised.
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My heart with. Hopkins for his age but my Money is with Superman

 

Hopkins by schooling. Stevenson's last few wins are due to vastly overrated opposition tailor made for him rather than he's anything special.

I also think once Hopkins beats Stevenson, despite Network and Promotional conflicts, he will be able to make a fight with Kovalev. I've always seen these as excuses that fighters either, don't want fights to take place, don't care enough, or aren't willing to make the necessary sacrifices rather than they can't be made. I get the impression Hopkins and Kovalev both really want to unify the belts.

 

Love the disclaimer BTW but it's a helluva a tough call. Stevenson is a very good example of what he is as a fighter (a counterpuncher and lefty to boot) but doesn't offer Hopkins anything stylisticly that he hasn't dealt with before.

Stevenson, is quick and strong (very strong), and this in itself poses the question of whether BHop has enough left physically - but if he can close with Stevenson and de-claw him (so to speak) I see this as a potentially winnable fight for Hopkins, though goddamn, it won't be an easy one.

Hopkins knows exactly how to beat a guy with Stevensons style - he just has to pull it off against a guy who's both Stronger and faster than any he's faced in the last few years. Adonis is kinda Cloud 2.0 in the Southpaw edition, but it'd still be incredibly imprssive if BHop could pull it off.

 

Stevenson, but I'm not sure if he stops BHOP... UD.

 

What, you think Stevenson can outbox the HOP?

 

I agree, and have to go with the tried and true Hopkins over Adonis at this point in time.

I may have to modify my position as we get closer to fight time, whenever that is Also, Stevenson's upcoming performance against Fonfara we give us a bit more insight on where Stevenson's boxing skill are.
I've just starting reviewing Fonfara's plast and past fights and he appears to be a bit more advanced than Shumenov in technique.

 

Unfortunately Stevenson. Shame, because the guy ran like a ***** from Kovalev and will probably reap huge benefits by beating an old man in Hopkins.

 

The disclaimer is the best shiznit going today:good

I will take Stevenson based on southpaw and raw power:bbb

BHOP is no doubt a master of the ring but I find him to become more and more inactive with his throwing and Superman will take advantage of that inactivity.

:smoke

 

When Hopkins controls a fight,he controls what can and cant be done by his opponent. Hopkins is simply becoming a better defense orientated counter-fighter.

If Stevenson is to win this fight, he must force mistakes out of Hopkins and the only way to do that is to break him down with a sustained attack and forcing him to exchange in center ring. What do you think?

 

No worries. They are destined to meet one day. :smoke

 

Hmmm...I'm lazy today, but my brain is active enough to believe that BHOP is going to go all out in his next 2 fights. I base this on him yelling he was a 15 round fighter at the DC venue. Meaning, he had plenty of energy left after 12 rds.

Anybody know how many southpaws BHOP has faced besides Tarver and Dawson?

 

To be honest, I really don't know.

That being the case, if I had a fighter in with BHOP I would have the following strategy:

1. So far no one has tried to get a pre-fight psychological edge over Hopkins. It has always been him.
I'd tell my fighter to try and get BHOP angry by talking about his age, or pointing out that he was too old to keep up with him, or something. Try everything until something sticks.

2. It's amazing but none of these younger fighters have tried a sustained body attack on BHOP. Shumenov hardly went down stairs at all. BHOP is almost impossible to hit cleanly in the dome, especially in early rds. Rounds 1-3 just go to the body and take head shots as they open, but stay to the body.

3. Counter BHOP straight right with hook.

I got some more, but I'm getting lazy again.

 

Hopkins dropped the first 4 rounds or to Shumenov, he won't beat Stevenson... Too old and slow. Kovalev and Stevenson would have KO'd Shumenov in the early rounds, maybe even rd 1.....

 

I want to remind everyone that Hopkins prefers fighting Southpaws, and has always been tremendous against them. Stevenson is a guy who Hopkins can definitely force to fight his fight, which is slow and methodical. Stevenson isn't very ring savvy, and although he has great power, he is only truly a great puncher with one hand. Shutting down one punch isn't hard work for Hopkins, he is a great technician. Hopkins isn't likely to ever eat the big shot, Stevenson seems to be in love with his power more each match, he doesn't have the volume that typically gives Hopkins trouble.

I like Hopkins in that match to be honest. Unless he drastically begins to show his age more than he is, he should have this fight. One thing is for sure, Stevenson will not be knocking him out like so many people have proclaimed.