Hawkins,too big of a leap up for Boytsov?

Boystov is a great looking young HW. A little small but has very fast, hard punching hands.

 

I don't think Hawkins should be too much trouble. He does well against guys where he has a clear physical advantage (size, workrate), and I doubt those will come into play here. He sometimes has trouble engaging, especially against guys with some power, and if Bostyov is able to maintain constant pressure, he should be able to get 8 rounds in (or possibly knock the guy out). Until the Guinn fight though, Hawkins seemed to be on his last legs. Even his win against Guinn was mostly because Guinn has zero motivation and has become a human punching bag. I haven't seen Bostyov, but if he is what he's been hyped to be, and he trains properly, he should be able to win.

 

Hawkins is a tough solid journeyman, nothing more.He doesn't have the power to bother Botysov who will win an easy UD or late stoppage
Its a good step-up at this stage of Boytsov's career

 

Peter, Estrada, Smith, Guinn. Same story either way. Comes forward, tries hard, doesn't have a single plus skill though. He can overwhelm someone who's lazy, but he's like a poor man's short Jameel McCline.

 

Hawkins actually has some momentum going, with two wins over gatekeepers with recognizable names in his last three fights, but ultimately he is old, fat, feather-fisted and overmatched in terms of talent. Though this is a big step up for Boytsov, I'll be very surprised if he doesn't beat Hawkins handily.

 

I agree, Valuev is no slouch. I think he could beat and possibly KO Peter.

 

If Boytsov can't handle Hawkins he can't handle anybody. It's not too early and this is a good step up. Does anyone know if everything is okay with Boytsov health-wise now?

 

Hawkins is a big step up in competition for Boytsov, but I think this fight is exactly what Denis needs. There's the outside chance -- as you point out -- that Hawkins may be able to spoil the inexperienced Boytsov. However I believe that, right now, it will be good for Boytsov to take that chance...to risk losing a fight to a more experienced guy. That will give Denis some seasoning.

Hawkins is not a big puncher, so Boytsov will be able to fight aggressively and take chances. Hawkins definitely can't knock out Boytsov. If Hawkins is winning, Denis will have a full 10 rounds to try to turn things around. This is good for Boytsov.

My guess is that this fight goes ten rounds, Boytsov wins a decision and learns a few tricks in the process.

Another interesting thought is the possibility that Boytsov's management knows something about Hawkins that the public doesn't know. Maybe Hawkins is totally burned out...the Germans would know this because Hawkins was training in their gyms recently. Maybe Hawkins is aging and perhaps he's ready to be knocked off by a young prospect like Denis.

Hawkins was destroyed and knocked out by Virchis recently, so maybe that's a sign that Hawkins is seriously on the downside.

 

Of course Hawkins is shot. I think I've said that a couple times now. From his record, he just doesn't LOOK all that shot because Terry Davis and Dominick Guinn are even more shot than he is (i.e. have no heart left in the game at all).

Beeker beat this guy. Livin Castillo beat this guy. His best win is over a guy who was destroyed by Rob Calloway.

 

No, it was a neccessary step.

Boytsov will beat Hawkins, but I am worried of his heart problem.

 

LOL, Solís would KO him in the first RIGHT NOW. :happy:happy