Well -- I wasn't thinking about Joe, I was just thinking about names that have been mentoned since Joe made the RJJ fight. One of the things I really like about this fight is the opportunity to learn that it gives Pavlik. BHop, at 43, is still a big challenge. You can spar, watch tape, et, until your ass falls off, and it will not do for you what a real fight with a world class opponent will do. Now humor me for a moment. What if Pavlik does stop Hopkins, and look good doing it? A: It solidifies his rep, and his place on the p4p top 10 list. B: Nothing; all he did was beat up an old man. C: something in between.
Simple...the answer is A. Tho I am sure some idiots will try and press answer B on us all. Now flip that question. What if Bernard outclasses Kelly? What does that do for his legacy?
If Bernard can pull if a win, it most certainly says that he is still one of the worlds beat active fighters. as for legacy, I think that depends somewhat on what Pavlik did afterward. Hypothetically, if Pavlik dropped back down to 160, and beat Abraham, that would be HUGE for Hopkins' legacy.
I am very unsure about this fight. Just a few days ago I predicted Kelly to win clearly, but thinking about it..I dunno. I have mistakenly underrated the hell out of Hopkins
Joe C is no Pavlik at this point. Pavlik can bring pressure that is MUCH more whithering than Joe C can at this point in his career.
After this fight, Hopkins will have to look his mother in the eye and admit that he was beaten by two white boys and knocked the F out by one of them. And it don't get more white than Pavlik.
he looked very tense, his neck was all strained.... I think Kelly throws better, more technical and crisper punches than Calzaghe does...
I just rewatched the Cal/Bhop fight. Cal was having trouble until he did one of his famous 'adjustments'. That adjustment? He shortened up his punches. Well, Pavlik already does that so he is ahead of what Calzaghe did by about 3 rounds. People REALLY underestimate fundamentals when it comes to Pavlik.
His fans remind me of one of my friends. He always bragged about his son knowing his ABC's and counting to 10. I said George "Lots of 13 year olds can do that...."
Ridiculous post. Who says shorter punches will be the tactic to beat hopkins this time around? Hopkins may change his style slightly and then what will pavlik do? we don't know because we've never seen him use a different style (he hasnt needed to). But the way you belittle Calzaghe's ability to adjust mid fight is REALLY ridiculous. The ability to adapt/change style mid fight is a great quality in a fighter that could in the end, change an L to a W