I don't think Pavlik will stop him, but he'll probably beat him up. B-Hop should stick to the no-name journeymen and blown-up welterweights he built his resume on.
Jermain Taylor: Defense is fundamentally flawed. Hopkins: Defense is rock solid. Never been stopped and rarely do you see him getting hit flush. Its therefore VERY realistic to say he won't be stopped. No one stops Hopkins, you hear me? no one :rasta
You think Pavlik's predictable jab right hand combination is enough to KO Bernard? The guy is a defensive master, not to mention having a fantastic chin.
I doubt it. Exactly my thoughts. Pavlik is one of the most predictable fighters I have ever seen. I mean he's good, because he's got big heart, a big punch and a good reach. But the 'ol "One-two" can only get you so far....
pavlik wont stop b-hop...i bet he'll have a hard time hitting him cleanly. but i do expect him to win a close one on the cards just by outworking hopkins in the championship rounds.
Hopkins should retire. He has stayed in the game well past his best by pulling out all the tricks, dirty fights, his slick skills and gameplans for every fighter and staying in excellent shape... but all that isnt enough anymore. He just cant keep up a work rate no matter what. If Hopkins had the energy he did 7 years ago in the Calzaghe fight he would have won easy but he lost because he simply didnt have enough punch output to win the rounds. When he let his hands go he did well but that was only in spurts. Pavlic will win no doubt. I am not sure if it is a knockout or not. Hops will probably hug and foul his way to the finish line but he should retire because he cant keep up the pace anymore.
Kelly has a shot at it. Certainly more than anyone else Hopkins has faced up to this point in time. I'm not sure Hopkins' tired junk balls will keep Pavlik away. .:smoke:smoke
Pavlik really shouldn't have taken this fight. A victory over Hopkins at this point means nothing, but since the fight is going to happen anyway the only thing that Kelly needs to do now is beat Hopkins better than Calzaghe did.
I agree that Pavlik will stop Hopkins; probably inside 10 rounds. The ONLY reason I say that is because of Bernard's stamina issues. He simply cannot keep up with a guy who works 3 minutes of every round from the opening bell, and tends to come on like a frieght train in the middle rounds. The first 4 or 5 rounds will be interesting and competetive, but by the time they get to round 7 or 8 Hopkins will be out of gas. That will allow KP to start landing his best shots from his best range, and that includes the 1-2, and the lead right to the body. At 43 years of age Bernard cannot deal with that kind of pressure and punishment for more than a couple of rounds. His corner will call the fight, or the ref will stop it inside 10 rounds.
That well placed sneaky right will be interesting to see. Love him or hate him Calzaghe has a proven chin, those Kessler uppercuts were pretty damn brutal. Pavlik has a decent chin but he was close to finished in Taylor #1.