You really have to fault Pavlik's whole management team for this loss. I was shocked when they took this fight. The only saving grace for me was that I was able to win some easy money taking Hopkins at 6-1 by decision. Sadly, Bernard almost knocked him out. Kelly is a great fighter who proved again tonight that he has a great chin, but there is no reason he should be fighting above middleweight, other than his management team and he both got greedy.
Don't be embarassed. Nobody expected THIS to happen and it sure doesn't mean Kelly is all of a sudden a useless fighter. As Bernard said, styles make fights AND the way Hop fought tonight, NOONE would be able beat him. This was even greater than beating Tito, apart from the KO part. Remember Kelly fought a LEGEND tonight, who fights at LIGHT-HEAVY. And again, as Bernard said, don't think there are any guys who can beat him at 160, where he is champion. Only Abraham could give him a challenge at that weight.
Nothing but love for Bernard. He put on a legendary performance. But man, you still have to question why Kelly was in this fight to begin with.
c'mon man, you act like this is the end of kelly pavlik, hopkins lost his PRO DEBUT which is far worse than loosing like pavlik, c'mon, pavlik will most definitely return at 160, just like bhop told him.
arty I'm not a Hopkins fan and generally dislike him, but... STOP! :hammertime Vcash time! Plus, Hopkins just boosted Calzaghe's legacy, and I'm nothing if not grateful.
Pavlik's career is hardly "wrecked." The man is still middleweight champion of the world, and the fact that he was beaten at light heavyweight by an old guy, while embarrassing, does not change that fact, nor does it mean that there is any middleweight out there likely to beat him at this stage.
Popkins looked good tonight for sure, but don't forget who stepped up 10 pounds above his weight class to put his undefeated record on the line. Pavlik lost on paper, but that doesn't damage his stocks at Middleweight. Hats off to Hopkins, but I'd like to see him fight somebody that hasn't come from a weight class below him next.