if a 49 year old hopkins can go the distance w kovalev a prime hopkins would have won the decision. mad props to hopkins for taking kovalev 12 rounds, something no other fighter has ever been able to do. good win for kovalev being able to beat a crafty veteran. i tip my hat off to both fighters.
Prime Atg Middleweight Bernard Alien Hopkins 160lber vs The Chelyabinsk Machine at 175Lb. Dont be Nasty to poor hopkins hes a legend but thats really unfair.
i think hopkins thought if he could get kovalev into deeper waters he could drown him but it didn't happen, just the fact that a 49 year old man could take that killer 12 rounds was a major achievement.
Hopkins fought to survive. In his perceived 'prime' he would get KTFO, as, presumably, he would be 7-15 lbs lighter, and not as experienced.:yep
How can Hopkins win the decision when he lost 120-106 and got his ears boxed off. :rofl Kovalev dominated in every facet of the game.
Hopkins threw about 7 punches during the fight. He fought only to survive until the 12th round, then he was almost killed when finally fought back in the 12th .
Kovalev would KO a prime Hopkins. He wouldn't just toy with him like he did here. He would put the sleep on him. Can you imagine hopkins not respecting Kovalev in the ring which is what would happen? Lights out. Hopkins is not and never has been in the same class as Kovalev. Hopkins is weak sauce.
In terms of skills BHop would be on another level. But BHop's prime was at 160lbs. Kovalev might even outgrow LHW and go to Cruiserweight. He looked as though he had a good 20lbs on BHop tonight.