Can B-Hop put another "Tito" performance to the Ghost?

Kelly's work rate is much lower than that of Joe Calzaghe and he was made to look like an amateur. I don't think Kelly's workrate will be much of a problem for B-hop. If anything, it'll just be his power that MIGHT bother B-hop

 

Tito led with his left hook rather than with the left jab and he was a little shorter and had little less reach compared with Pavlik. But this parallel is interesting, both Tito back then and Kelly now were/are supposed to tear old man Hops apart with their big shots. Hopkins may come with a strategy to avoid Kelly's right cross like he did to Tito's left hook but I doubt that he can keep himself from getting hit like against Trinidad and I very seriously doubt that he can finish big against Pavlik. All to say that the opponents have something to do with ech other - Tito in 2001 and Pavlik in 2008 - but Hopkins 2001 ( 36 years old MW series final) and Hopkins 2008 are two completely different species of animals.

 

Yeah thats true but Tito was faster.

 

Tito was also a one-dimension fighter. DHL exposed that, but didn't capitalize on it.

B-hop is boring, dirty fighter. It will be another ugly, Hopkins fight. B-hop is the John Ruiz of the lower division, with all his holding and hugging, one punch lunge and holding.

B-hop, for the win with ugly boxing. I just hope Kelly could land one of those sweet, straight right hands, Bernard goes night-night if that happens.

 

Exactley.. the question should be can he have another performance like the one against Tarver and the answer is STILL, NO.

 

The power is basically even, Pavlik is bigger and stronger and a bit more active, Trinidad was faster, more accurate, and was slightly more skilled IMO.

Pavlik relies on a good jab and power most of the time, and neither of those things have really ever been effective against Hopkins. He does of course have workrate, which is his only way of winning IMO, but he's not really fast and commits to his punches which allows Hopkins to see them coming. It's certainly possible he could pull off another masterclass performance, and in fact I'm picking him to win, but there's an obvious difference between the 36 year old Hopkins who was in the last two years of his prime and the 43 nearly 44 year old Hopkins, who is clearly past it. H'es obviously not that good anymore.

Prime Hopkins beats Pavlik in almost identical fashion as he did Trinidad, but this Hopkins looks far less impressive (although still wins) IMO.

 

I really dislike Hopkins as fighter, but this was a well said statement. :happy