Did Krusher "Hold Back" from KOing Hopkins?

Kov was very conservative because he hadn't been past 12 before and he wasn't about to risk against Hop that has used that strategy in the past.
He tried to take him out and was very close in a couple of rounds but the bell rang just as Hop had his bell rung
Very surprised by the lack of offense from Hop, but those feints kept him very worried and offguard

 

Krusher had no intention of KOing Hopkins from the beginning. His only plan was to outbox Hopkins and control the fight and he did that. He was never looking for the stoppage, other than the final round.