Interesting fight. Valdez was tough as nails and he could punch like hell, but he was somewhat limited and one-dimensional in his attack. I think Hopkins could move, hold, and generally smart his way to a decision.
Hm, this is very close. Valdez was a very good mw with huge power and some skills. Hopkins is the craftier fighter and has the edge in footwork. If he uses his feet and clinches in close I think he may take a decision but I can see Valdez dropping B-Hop to decide the fight. Close decision either way.
As quality a fighter as Valdez was, if Hopkins was at his apex, then Ted Spoon can see no route other than Bernard negating the Columbians fury for a decision.
If Bernard employs the same strategy against Valdez that he did against Trinidad ie using lots of lateral movement and sticking to the jab he should win this fight clearly. I like Rodrigo much more than Hopkins but this is a bad style matchup for him, Hopkins on points for me.
Hopkins could definately bore us to a decision in this fight because Valdez is a guy who comes to fight .... I hate to say it but i'd back Hop to clinch and hold to a decision, it would be ugly like every fight in Hopkins's career, lets see Hopkins try dealing with Monzon, i'd love to see Carlos beat Bernard up over 15, that would be beautiful .....
You haven´t seen much of Hopkins' career haven´t you? He had so many highly entertaining fights before he got really old and started to use this ugly but efficient style.
They recently posted his fight vs Glen Johnson on Youtube. That was a beautiful boxing exhibition. His recent efforts are painful to watch after seeing what he once was.
Yeah, he's not a patch of the fighter he was now. It's a testament to his greatness that he can still mix it with the best competitively.
Rodrigo just wouldn't get much though. Bad Benny was coming on in their last fight when he found,,,Valdez right hand on his jaw, but I don't think Benard would be open for this. Benard, frustrating Rodrigo, by a clear decision.
