How do you see Hopkins vs. Kovalev going.

Hopkins gives him a ridiculous schooling and more less shuts him out.

 

wow, just wow.

that would be the biggest surprise in decades

 

**** ton of clinching en route to a boring UD for Hopkins

Maybe a knockdown for Kovalev but thats it

 

Many here seem to 'forget' that Campillo outboxed all 3 of B-Hop's latest opponents but got robbed for his trouble. Cloud, Shumenov and Murat aren't very good at all.

 

This fight is so fascinating that I've also rewatched hours of both trying to figure out how this fight might go. Most intriguing matchup in a long time.

 

Hopkins might be able to spoil his way to losing on points but I can actually see him getting stopped here.

 

Referee is the only one who can save Hopkins.
Kovalev stoppage win.

 

I think it can go two ways:

a) Kovalev lands early on, puts Hopkins heavily on the defense and proceeds to slowly beat him down and take him out late.

b) Hopkins neutralizes Kovalev early on with good defense and counter putching, puts on a boxing clinic and takes out Kovalev late.

Either way I see this fight going around 9 rounds.

 

When has hopkins stopped anyone these days. Hes not stopping Kovalev

 

Barely a snowball's chance at Hopkins getting the stoppage. There is the outside chance of Hopkins catching Kovalev off balance for a flash KD but it'd require great timing. A genuine stoppage though ... hell - you do know that Bernard has never stopped anyone in his entire LHW career.

If Hopkins wins it'll be on the cards.

For me... I really don't know. Every time I think about it I come to a different conclusion. I'm leaning towards Kovalev for the win, but I'm 50/50 on the stoppage.

Hopkins job is to continually break up Kovalevs offense, stop him from getting in any kind of rhythm and avoid getting hurt. This is probably best achieved by sticking to Sergei like glue and bringing the fight to the inside at every opportunity.

Kovalevs job is to keep Hopkins at bay, stop him getting inside and try to keep the action at his preferred middle range. And to hit him.. hit him in the body if possible, but if it ain't, hit him anywhere... and keep hitting him as much as possible. One of Hopkins greatest strengths is making his opponent fight his fight. When he has lost it's largely cos he's failed to dictate the pace of the bout.

And Kovalev had better be prepared to roughouse - if he starts to let Hopkins bully him, he's on the way to losing, though OTOH he'll be taking on a master of 'veteran' tactics and has to be careful not to cross the line.

 

Hopkins is a very smart man.

He loses by disqualification in about the 4th round.

Kov will get cut via a head butt.

 

Here it happens again,majority counts out the old man and after the fight we are amazed how grandpa pulled another ace in his sleeve.Hopkins wins by close desicion.i would be genuinely shocked if Kovalev brutalizes Hopkins fast.grandpa knows every trick in the book and couple more.it will be ugly,slow paced fight.with lots of fouling.Kovalev has never been in the ring against anything like grandpa Hopkins.it's so ankward that nobody probably could help Kovalev in sparring.

However Kovalev is the real deal and Hopkins needs to perform very well if he wants to get the win.

I predict Hopkins wins 115-113 something like that.could even be split decision.

Long live the Alien!

 

I hope you're right. I picked Kovalev on points but I will be rooting for BHop.

Kovalev has better footwork than Tito, Tarver and Pavlik which is why I think he'll give Hopkins more problems than most and Hopkins is looking slower and more faded than before which is another reason why I think Kovalev is a step to far at this point in his career.

 

Kovalev steps into the ring and the old man has a heart attack.