Hopkins also in a lose/lose situation?

Agreed. I think pavlik decided to fight Hopkins because he still has a high proflie in the sport, plus he wants to make a statement to Calzaghe by beating him more decisively than Joe did.

 

Good.

 

It is what it is! Joe said no. Winky said no. Mora said no. Two world champions, and a future hall of fame fighter all said no, but BHop said, "Bring it!"

The fighting weight of 170 pounds means little or nothing. Pavlik is over 6'2" tall, he's fought at 170 before, and something like 12 or 13 of his 34 fights took place above 160. That is more than one third of his career. Add in the fact that the kid is strong as an ox, and I have to conclude that the weight is no big deal. If Bernard pulls out a win, it won't be because of the weight.

If BHop loses, the fact remains that at 43 years of age he was willing to fight when others were not.

Pavlik on the other hand won't get any real credit for a win unless he puts a serious beating on Bernard. And how many fighters have put a beating on Hopkins?

If Bhop loses a competetive fight, at 43 he lost to a young p4p fighter in his prime. If Hops gets beat up, at 43 he got beat up by a monster. If he wins, he can take a cab straight to Conastoga, and hang up his gloves!

 

I'll do you one better: if he beats Pavlik, it will be THE best win of Hopkins' career. No question marks about smaller men moving up, or fighting someone else past his best, or both.

Frankly, I'm liking the competition he's fighting since he left middleweight more than what he faced while he was actually there. Yeah it would've been nice for the Winky fight to happen earlier at a lower weight, or for him to fight Calzaghe at 168 earlier on...but even taking that into account , facing Winky, Calzaghe, Tarver, and now Pavlik is a stretch of fights that clearly beats any other 4 fight stretch of his career, even if they weren't taking place at the optimal times.

 

It's all about the money now.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

It was simply the best available since AA was tied up with a mandatory. He almost ended up 'sitting out' until that fight.

JC's fans will HAVE too. :deal

 

And a champ in Paul Williams, who is as tall as Pavlik, that WANTED PAVLIK. Until Arum gave in to his money demands. Then suddenly.. just ..... faded........ away...................

 

I did not mention Wlliam's because I think Kelly may have had as much to do with shutting that fight down as anyone else. His reaction was like; What the ****, are you kiddin' me? Obviously that's not a direct quote, but it isn't far off. In any event I am REALLY glad that fight is not happening.

 

Yes. And with RJJ about to lose to the KING, Joe Calzaghe, Borenard will have little choice but to rematch Tito.