Bhop telling KP that he needs to fight more black, or however it was stated is way off the mark here. One thing I know from all my years of boxing is that you cannot totally change someones style. This is also true, generally, of people's behavior outside of the ring. People, like boxers are reluctant to change. The thing you can do is play to peoples strengths some and add more diversity to their existing arsenal. I liken Pavlik a lot to Wlad pre-Manny. Pavlik is a tall fighter who fights straight up and has very little diversity in movement, both upper and lower body. His footwork is very predictable as is his style and head movement. Even KP's punch arssenal isnt that diverse. Did you see how in the sam peter fight vitali moved out of range of peter? Kelly should learn some of these tenchniques. Kelly can learn to adapt his current style and become more effective. Some areas he can improve on is lateral movement, providing better angles, fighting taller and concentrating on landing shots to the chest of slick movers. To accomplish this type of change, in my opinion, he needs a more professional trainer. He probably also needs a change in environment to a more professional training facility. He will need a couple more fights from guys who are a good style match up for him, which is straight on and needs to start training with guys who can out move him and out-slick him. Then a competent trainer can start working on his flaws. he still has enough time to adjust.
Pre-Manny Steward Wlad is WAYYYY more skilled the Kelly Pavlik. Any version of Wlad actually has a lights out left hook and much better footwork.
Wlad likely has a worse chin too. Maybe the analogy is not perfect. One for wlad to survive beign tagged hard and the other for KP to adjust to slick boxers.
I didn' t like Hopkins' comment to Pavlik saying that he should fight more slicker like a black fighter. Not at all. First of all wasn't Hopkins defeated in his last fight by a slick boxer in Joe Calzaghe? I didn't realize Joe Calzaghe was black. And while we are at it, some of the slickest boxers in history were white, guys like Benny Leonard, Billy Conn, Gene Tunney, Willie Pep, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Giardello, and Willie Pastrano just to name a few. I am not a racist, many of my boxing heroes are black, but sometimes Hopkins comes off as racist. And it isn't necessary. That is one of the reasons we all love sports, they are a diversion from the **** we all have to deal with in the real world, our escape. Last night two world champions got into the ring and the best man was Hopkins, not because of race, but because he was the better man in the ring. Its that simple.
jack loews advice was worse than bhops..he is an amateur trainer...he has never sparred with anyone like bhop like he claimed...that was obvious
not sure about that wlad has gotten dropped and hurt but is more proved...KP has been hurt a few times himself...he may have more will
Bernards point was that he needs to learn how to really box and be familiar with slickster skills. It was good advice, Pavlik obviously had no answer for Bernards talents, and Bernard was telling him he needs to learn more. What the hell is wrong with that?
All he was telling him was to add some movement to his ability, fighting straight forward like that will only get you certain places till you eventually get beat.
Hopkin's advice was ****ing MILES ahead of Jack Leow. Pavlik looked bewildered and did not have any answers to Hopkins tactics, but he stayed in the fight and kept trying. His corner totally ****ing melted down. It was worse than Kessler's corner for the Calzaghe fight! Cameron Dunkin has been trying to sack Leow from the very beginning. I hope Kelly listens now.
You guys arent following the point I was trying to make. Maybe I wasnt clear. Pavlik has an upright, undiversified style. My point is he will never become a slickster..ever. Fighters cannot change their style that drastically. In fact, I cant think of any fighter who has changed their style dramatically. What can be done is help him diversify his attack some. he needs to remain an upright fighter. But this style has strengths, fighting tall so to speak. Pavlik pushed the action and came to bernard all fight. Had he stayed back utilizied his height and reach and had a mroe diversified attack he would have been more successful. He prob stil would not have won, but it woudl enhance his fighting ability. His current trainer does not have the know how to etach him this.
