Hopkins was surprising

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Flexb, Nov 9, 2014.


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  1. Flexb

    Flexb Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I can not believe he didn't make it a dirty fight, at all! He fought straight up, didn't even seem like he was trying to get in Kov's head at all, which I found very strange. I think Hops respected Kov and didn't want to do that to him and really just took the loss like a man.
    I get that Kov has great power but Hops literally let him take the first7-8 rounds, like he was just trying to survive from the opening bell. Hops did look like an weak old man though in there for the first time ever, but amazing reserve nonetheless, its' incredible he was never hurt. That KD in the 1st I don't think hops was hurt in the slightest. He got hit at a weird angle, in a weird position. Mind you in the 12th some of those shots were hurting him.
    Hops did look slower, movement/feints looked slow, pulling his punches, but there were glimpses of HOPKINS in there. I thin Adonis beats him easy, unless Hops does what he has for years, comes back and looks young again.
     
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    #1
  2. Cafe

    Cafe Sitzpinkler Full Member

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    The only instance I recall was when he blatantly pushed Kovalev.
     
    Cafe, Nov 9, 2014
    Cafe, Nov 9, 2014
    #2
  3. Flexb

    Flexb Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yea that's true, I actually laughed out loud when that happened, I thought Hopkins was going to show up then and make it a lowdown dirty fight. I still don't get why he didn't, even if he respected Kov, hops is all business in there unless he's grown a conscience recently and just couldn't bring himself to it. I said from the beginning, hops had to make it dirty, but he fought CLEAN as hell minus that. Didn't even clinch at all!
     
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    #3
  4. prelude

    prelude Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He came with a dirty plan until Kovalev hit him.
     
    prelude, Nov 9, 2014
    prelude, Nov 9, 2014
    #4
  5. Odins beard

    Odins beard Fentanyl is one hell of a drug.... Full Member

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    This.

    Hopkins wouldn't have been able to implement a dirty plan even if he wanted to. Kovalev was too big and powerful. Everytime Hopkins let his hands go he got hurt.
     
    Odins beard, Nov 9, 2014
    Odins beard, Nov 9, 2014
    #5
  6. Flexb

    Flexb Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That is all the more reason to be dirty. Gotta give Hopkins credit even though I don't think it was the smartest route for him.
     
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    #6
  7. cuchulain

    cuchulain Loyal Member Full Member

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    The highlighted part of your post, IMO, might be the answer to your questions and puzzlement.

    I think that KD, coming as it did from an average shot where Kov did not get that much on it, told Bernard that this dude has power well beyond anything he's dealt with before.

    And this in turn made him uber-cautious for the next several rounds.

    By the time he decided to try to 'go for it' it was too late for any kind of points win.

    And a KO was never in the cards for Bernard. Despite the HBO commentary and the posts of some in the RBR thread, Kov was never close to wobbled. He was unbalanced a couple of times but on both occasions he came after Bernard more vigorously when balance was regained.

    So eventually, Bernard had only one goal: Make it to the final bell.

    The ref would have been within his mandate to have stopped the bout in its final seconds (remember SRL Brenitez ?), but I'm glad he didn't.

    Bernard showed awesome chin and fortitude in taking those closing shots, and I hope that in the future, his brain doesn't have to pay the bill his balls ran up last night.

    Memorable evening for both men.

    Bernrd showed guts in taking on all comers.
    Floyd, take note !
     
    cuchulain, Nov 9, 2014
    cuchulain, Nov 9, 2014
    #7
  8. Flexb

    Flexb Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Did you miss how easily Hops threw him down? Hops could have tied Kov up whenever he wanted but didn't. He could have lowblowed, he could have used his head, etc.
     
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    #8
  9. Flexb

    Flexb Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hops was fighting super cautious before that punch landed. And he really didn't look hurt at all, he jumped right back up and legs were fine. He didn't look ok in the 12th mind you.
     
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    #9
  10. jim jim

    jim jim Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Naw he couldn't be dirty with him , kovalev could mess him up if he decided to be dirty back
     
    jim jim, Nov 9, 2014
    jim jim, Nov 9, 2014
    #10
  11. Odins beard

    Odins beard Fentanyl is one hell of a drug.... Full Member

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    He pushed an off balance fighter down no big deal. At the same time when both fighters did tie up it was Kovalev holding Hopkins down.

    As I said if Hopkins tried to fight dirty he would inevitably got hit and throughout the fight the few times he did open up he got hit and hurt hence his survival mode tactics from the second round onwards.
     
    Odins beard, Nov 9, 2014
    Odins beard, Nov 9, 2014
    #11
  12. cuchulain

    cuchulain Loyal Member Full Member

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    It's not that he was devastatingly hurt from the KD.

    But he did feel the power.

    So any earlier plan to draw Kov into an inside, grab-and-foul game got put on hold till Kove faded a bit.

    And Kov never really faded. The eighth round thing was insignificant.


    Without 'hurting' BHop, I think the KD did influence how the fight subsequently unfolded.
     
    cuchulain, Nov 9, 2014
    cuchulain, Nov 9, 2014
    #12
  13. Hercegovac

    Hercegovac Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Kobaleg was off balance when they happened

    Did u miss all of the clinches where Hopkins tried to make it scruffy, and Kovalev would either manhandle him, or put him in a headlock and blast him with punches?

    Also disagree with the op on Bhop never sing hurt, relber him staggering about in the 8th round, where he almost fell but somehow caught himself? Looked like he was ready to go
     
    Hercegovac, Nov 9, 2014
    Hercegovac, Nov 9, 2014
    #13
  14. lepinthehood

    lepinthehood When I'm drinking you leave me well alone banned Full Member

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    :deal dont try that dirty **** with the Krusher, that tongue poke, almost got him ktfo lol
     
    lepinthehood, Nov 9, 2014
    lepinthehood, Nov 9, 2014
    #14
  15. Flexb

    Flexb Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That may be, will never know but I do think Hopkins was going to fight like this the entire fight regardless. From the opening bell he was so tentative and scared to throw a punch. Obviously that KD didn't help, yes. Still expected some of those wily vet tactics and other than the trip and push, lol he didn't seem to go into his bag of tricks at all. I felt as if Hopkins had a conscience for once, and respected the hell out of Kov (beyond his punching power). At the same time I commend him, for not trying to be dirty, not trying to pull up and fake some kind of injury and really trying to fight back in the end. This could have ended really badly for Hopkins, and a part of me also thinks Kov let up a bit at times, and one time actually waited for hopkins to reset after slipping, motioning to him if he was ok. Respect to Kov for that too.
     
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    Flexb, Nov 9, 2014
    #15
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