How I knew Hopkins would beat Kelly Pavlik.

Good post mate. Props to you for the prediciton and the LEGEND that is Hopkins for last night's ASTONISHING performance.

Btw have you read Vivek Wallace's pre-fight analysis and prediction?
It seems as if he wrote that AFTER the fight! Excellent stuff.

 

I think everyone with a brain knew that Hopkins skill could trouble Pavlik.....
.....what those picking Pavlik did'nt know, was whether Hopkins could sustain the workrate needed to keep Pavlik off of him for 12 rounds.

I'll tell you the truth, I believed Hopkins when he said beforehand that he'd take Pavlik's righthand away the way he took Trinidad's left hook away.

.....but I'll tell you the truth, I was'nt convinced that Hopkins could sustain his workrate, till about the 7th round, when I saw Pavlik could not put together or sustain anything offensively, and the old man just was'nt slowing down.

It was just too easy in their the way Hopkins stylistically handled Pavlik......its the reason why Hopkins did'nt tire.....he could have fought another 12 rounds with a fresh Pavlik at the rate of ease Hopkins was fighting.

Always respected, but never been a big Hopkins fan, but I got to say what a joy and pleasure it was to watch a master apply his craft against a young explosive fighter like Pavlik.
I dont believe there's anyone better today at looking at an opponent, studying his strenghths and weaknesses, and then going about implementing a plan to di-fuse him.

Even competing against the likes of Jermaine Taylor and Joe Calzaghe, also skilled, but much faster fighters, is truly remarkable of Hopkins.

From my point of view, Hopkins was bordering on being mentioned with the true elites of all-time......(those are few in my book), but last night sealed it for me.
At least from my perspective, welcome to that club Mr. Hopkins!

 

I agree with your post, but who exactly do you put him in with to prepare him for Hopkins? :think

 

You called it, great post. :good

 

That's a damn good question

 

Exactly!
There just are'nt any fighter around that middleweight weight class the pedigree of Bernard Hopkins.

.....the only fighter I could think of is Winky Wright, who is'nt as dynamic as Bernard Hopkins.

Pavlik with his size and power had a better chance at breaking through that turtle shell defense, than trying to keep up with Hopkins more dynamic moves.

....but because Wright fights more stationary, that still does'nt prepare Pavlik for Hopkins!

.....what Pavlik really needed to do is have faced lesser classed stylist on his way up......from what I understand, he'd mostly faced come foward fighters the same style that he has......Edison Miranda for example.....

I will say one thing I observed beforehand, right before Pavlik was to walk toward the ring......he noted to the HBO camera's that he was looking to not only take the rounds from Hopkins, but to do so impressively!
That just did'nt sit well with me.....

When I heard that, I wondered if Pavlik had truly worked on the nuances necessary and done his homework, to face a true skilled technician like Hopkins.
When Pavlik said that he was looking to take the fight with ease, I mean what kind of mindset did he have from the get go???

When you face a Hopkins, you better go in with the mindset, that this sob is going to turn every trick in the book and try to embarass you.....for Pavlik to say that he was looking to win impressively......that just did'nt sit right!