Hopkins easy. If there's anybody that clearly knows how to nullify punchers, it's Hopkins...he's proven it time and time again.
Agreed, styles make fights I'd imagine Hopkins would be too savvy for Kovalev. That said, I don't see Hopkins taking this fight.
Kovalev would beat the current version of Hopkins rather easily. Calling Kovalev a puncher is misleading a bit. Kovalev is a high volume puncher, the worst possible style matchup for a defensive minded fighter with limited offensive output. The best scenario for Hopkins would be to simply get outworked by the busier fighter who hits mostly air but still gets more punches in. In the worst case scenario, if Kovalev manages to sneak some hands in pretty early in the fight, he would end up like Cleverly But Bernard will not be stupid enough to fight him, he doesn't need to either, he is nearly 50 years old for ****'s sake.
yeah.....okay..... Hopkins can't take Kovalev's punches. Hopkins would get hurt badly and KTFO by Kovalev! Hopkins would be biting off way more than he can chew if he fights Kovalev. I don't think Hopkins will take the fight, he knows he would get hurt.
Kovalev would win but fight will not happen any time soon. Kovalev's manager said he has a new contract with HBO, so Hopkins is off the table for now.
None of those guys have the devastating knockout power of Kovalev. Tarver was in the worst shape of his career after filming the Rocky Balboa movie when he fought Hopkins. De La Hoya was moving up in weight to face Hopkins, and that was not anywhere near the best version of DLH. Hopkins got lucky getting those two on an off night. (not an excuse, just an obvious observation) Trinidad did have power, but not the sort of KO power Kovalev is showing. Palvik showed power in Taylor I, but he was never the tactical relaxed fluid motion KO machine that Kovalev is. Hopkins had all sorts of problems with Pascal, hit the canvas multiple times vs him and hit the canvas and needed five minutes 3 times vs a 41 year old RJJ in 2010. Cloud didn't even try to hit Hopkins hard, it was a sparring session. Hopkins could get seriously hurt if he fought Kovalev. Hopkins would not be able to take the punches that Cleverly took today.
I'm going to confidently say that this fight never happens, and that Kovalev would win. I also picked Cloud over Hopkins, for full discretion.
Kovalev probably wide UD with Hopkins holding on for dear life more than once Just a wrong style matchup for Hopkins at this stage of his career, nothing Hopkins does will really stop Kovalev from punching, Kovalev is actually good technically the guy will go far