Kovalev could well be the best opponent Hopkins has faced since Pavlik

Yes now I can.

In my defence I did sau Kovalev would win, whilst controlling the distance in conjunction with his highly underrated defence. :yep

 

In fact, one has to start now wondering if Kovalev is the best Hopkins may have faced since Jones I.

Not even kidding...

 

If you'd asked me who the better lightheavyweight is at each of their best, I'd still say its Chad Dawson.

I was impressed with the way Kovalev went about his gameplan to dominate Hopkins, but he's still going to have to show me more than what he did beating a 50 year old who was well removed from being an elite fighter.

 

So the Dawson that beat Hopkins in their rematch is better than Kovalev of right now? Or do you mean a different version of Dawson as 'his best'? (before the loss to Pascal, maybe?)

 

I mentioned this on another thread, cba to type it up again.

Ill just copy/paste. What beat Hopkins was SHOCK. That first round KD shocked Hopkins, it wasnt just the power, it was the fact that Hopkins very quickly found out that Kovalev was not just a slugger, but he could also counter punch and not only that, he was a better, harder hitting counter puncher than Hopkins.

Hopkins realised in that first round, asides from running, he has next to no chance of winning (except a one punch KO).

Kovalev shocked Hopkins by 'out-Hopkins' him. He beat Hopkins at his own game by taking away his key weapon, his counter punch.

 

I think Dawson is more versatile and athletic than Kovalev, and the fact that he's southpaw troubles more styles.

Its a style issue. Head to head, maybe Dawson folds under the power of Kovalev, I dont know, thats a possibility, but then if you ask me who of the two would have a better chance against a true light heavyweight great like Michael Spinks, and I would tell you I'd fancy Dawson's chances at Spinks better than I would Kovalev.
Though for the record, I'd pick Spinks to beat both. :bbb


Time will tell though, lets see how well Kovalev handles quicker more elusive fighters than a 50 year old Hopkins, then we'll get a better gauge at just how good Kovalev really is.

 

I also think that this was an important factor. Roy Jones commented on Kovalev throwing unorthodox right hooks into BHop's counters to make him wary and force him into defensive mode on several occasions during the fight.
This fight probably also proved that Jackson is a legit coach, that he can do it on his own. He developed a very succesful strategy for the fight and gave good advice to Kovalev inbetween rounds.

 

Im surprised Hopkins made no preparations for this, surely you'd be very wary of a fighter whos being trained by a guy who used to be in your camp and probably knows all of your bad habits.

Looking back in hindsight, maybe facing Kovalev was a bad move altogether.

I still believe Hopkins beats most guys out there

 

Of course it is pure speculation but I genuinely think that Hopkins and his camp were convinced that the fight would go similar to the Pavlik fight, this time with Kovalev punching himself out while hitting air.
Plan B went out of the window when Hopkins realized that countering the guy won't be as easy as Kovalev kept being mobile and dangerous with his right hooks as soon as Hopkins came in.

Props to Hopkins though, despite the odds being stacked against him and at nearly 50 years of age, he still went for it in the 12th round.

 

Thats how i see it, it was a minor upset because Hopkins underestimated Kovalev.

That first KD put fear into Hopkins. Hopkins suddenly realised 'Oh ****, what have i got myself in for'.

I myself believed it would be another Pavlik fight.

Great post fight conference, plenty of respect from both sides. A true genuine passing of the torch with no excuses, lets just hope Kovalev takes this momentum forward.

Ive always been a fan of Kovalev, but after watching the 24/7, its
hard not to too for the guy.

 

Kovalev is better than Jones at that time...Jones was a middleweight, Kovalev is a brutal LH.

 

Dawson maybe folds under Kovalev's pressure? :yep

Yes, of course Spinks (probably the modern era GOAT light heavy, or at worst #2 behind Foster) ought to be favored over either, but I'd disagree that Dawson bugs him more or comes any nearer to winning. Especially as Kovalev would be the one to perhaps get and maintain his respect enough to avoid getting Jinxed all night. I don't think anything really evidences Spinks having problems with a carousel southpaw - though he also never really faced one. The closest was probably the underrated Wasajja, but he was more of a body snatcher than a stand-up right jab-smith like Dawson (and while he could move well, his defense was more based on submarine dives inside and push-parries with bothgloves turned out than controlling range with footwork like Dawson.

As for Kovalev facing anyone quick and elusive - Campillo? Agnew? Caparello?

 

Kovalev better than prime RJJ?


...No.

 

p4p we have to say no but size is a concern. The Klits aren't better than Willie Pep but we know how that'd play out. It won't be a wipeout because they aren't vastly different in size but RJJ was not at his best at 160, I don't consider that his prime while Kovalev is a very powerful 175lber with skills. I can certainly see Kovalev catching Jones and stopping him.

 

Well, yeah, p4p is obviously what I meant.

Placed in context, though, we have to be talking about this in p4p terms - because Hopkins was a middleweight himself when he faced Jones, and 175lbs versus Kovalev.

There would be no reason to put the young 160lb Hopkins in the ring with 175lb Kovalev in a fantasy match. That makes no sense. Calling 160lb Jones the the best opponent Hopkins faced is predicated upon that fact. When they fought Hopkins (and what he weighed then) matters.