My thoughts on Pavlik vs. Hopkins

getup · Oct 19, 2008

compukiller said:

It feels good to be right!!!:yep

ALL Hail St. Bernard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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:happy:happy:happy:happy:happy:happy:happy:happy
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thats 2 co-signs on the same thread..,lol

all hail the KING

twopiece · Oct 19, 2008

compukiller said:

I have been torn about this fight ever since it was announced. I thought it was mostly unnescessary as it wasn't for a title, and really had no huge ramifications.

I wanted Pavlik to fight Winky or Abraham (actually, I wanted him to fight both). I wanted to him to stay at 160 and dominate.

Hopkins, even though I thought he edged Calzaghe, I felt should have retired. He has absolutely nothing to prove, and is an ATG legend. Outside of fighting Jones for revenge, I saw no reason for him to continue.

But the fight is on, and I had to deal with what's in front of me. You see, Hopkins is my favorite fighter. I hate see him lose (whether legit or by robbery) and I was afraid that Pavlik might be a bridge too far for him at this age.

As for Pavlik, there's nothing to not like about the guy. He earned his shot by brutally running through the division, and for me, he has a lifetime pass for Destroying Jermain Taylor. He seems down to earth, trains hard and comes to fight everytime. He is a true champion.

Leading up to now, I was drinking the Kool Aid everyone else was. I was thinking that Pavlik would be too much for the old man and pull out a decisive win. The youth and the power are overwhelming.

But taking a look at the styles, it occurred to me that this fight may be a whole lot closer than people think.

First of all, as much as I like Pavlik, he has some very serious flaws. He is too flat footed, he has a wide legged stance, and he has no real defense to speak of. A person who moves in and out on him and gives him angles can offset alot of his explosive offense which will leave him open to counters.

Also, I wonder if he can fight on the inside. He needs full extention on his punches to have the optimum effect, and I have never really seen him throw too many short punches in his fights. He hasn't really had to do this due to his long reach, but he never really fought any skilled inside fighters.

BHOP has a style than can present many, many problems for a guy with Pavlik's flaws. BHOP is a master at giving odd angles, and he is also a great inside fighter. He can move in an out with the best, and Pavlik will be open for his right hands all night.

The fact that Pavlik bleeds very easily can work against him as well. BHOP will hit him flush and often. Also, the weight. Pavlik has not fought anyone of note above 164 lbs. Pavlik is a big guy, but will his punches be as effective at the higher weight? Can he take a light heavy weight punch?

On BHOP's side, the question is age. He is 43, and is slower than he once was. Also, you have to wonder, even with his crazy training and conditioning, will he get old overnight? If the BHOP that fought Tarver were to fight Pavlik, I would say Hopkins would probably blow him out. But that was 2 + years ago, and Pavlik is a much younger beast.

I am pulling for BHOP to win, but leading up to today, I was very nervous. I really don't think Pavlik can stop him, but it is always a possibility.

But in the last few days, I became less and less nervous. In fact, as of right now, I feel very confident that BHOP will not only win, but will actually win convincingly.

If he does not, or if he falls to Pavlik, there should be no hatred of the man. He has been a great champion, and his competition level over the last several years has been insane. All the people on here who hate on a man like him have no business posting in this forum. He is a legend and should be treated as such.

And if BHOP kicks Pavlik's ass, Pavlik should not be cast aside. He is a true warrior and that status should not be questioned. There would be no shame in losing to BHOP, I don't care how old he is. The hatred of Pavlik on here is truly nuts, especially since everyone loves these come forward, no defense fighters these days.

In closing, I say, let's all get shitfaced and watch two Pound for Pound elites do their thing. :good

BHOP on points.:yep:deal
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You were on point, my man :good

klion22 · Oct 19, 2008

PATSYS said:

Yes Hopkins dominated Pavlik, partly because Pavlik is too slow to load up punches.

But nobody can deny Hopkins style is almost identical to Ruiz. It frustrates any fighters, even Calzaghe albeit winning. I am not talking only about htis fight, but in all of Hopkins' big fights except perhaps back then against Jones. I think if he and Jones fought a rematch, it would have been a different outcome if Hopkins fights like this.

He hops in, throws a punch or 2 then clinch. If an opponent is slow like Pavlik, then he can afford to throw combinations and reduce the amount of holding. But against a fighter like Calzaghe, he turns into a LHW version of Ruiz.

It is no coincidence that in all fight that Hopkins fought in, the fight turns out dull and boring. There is 1 common denominator - Hopkins himself. Same with Ruiz' fights.
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Are you like ******ed because there few holdings initiated by Hopkins in this fight. The Calzaghe fight was an rarity due to Calzaghe's extraordinary foot speed, hand speed, angles, and stamina which forced Hopkins to constantly be on the move because he couldn't predict where Calzaghe would attack from next.

PATSYS · Oct 19, 2008

klion22 said:

Are you like ******ed because there few holdings initiated by Hopkins in this fight. The Calzaghe fight was an rarity due to Calzaghe's extraordinary foot speed, hand speed, angles, and stamina which forced Hopkins to constantly be on the move because he couldn't predict where Calzaghe would attack from next.
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Re-read my post you moron. I say the amount of holding in this fight was reduced because Pavlik was slow.

But that doesn't change the fact that Hopkins resorts to Ruiz-like style in an instant when necessary. That is just his style.

compukiller · Oct 19, 2008

Bumped one more time for emphasis!

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My thoughts on Pavlik vs. Hopkins

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My thoughts on Pavlik vs. Hopkins

getup Say Yeah! Full Member

twopiece Pugilistic Ambassador Full Member

klion22 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

PATSYS Boxing Junkie Full Member

compukiller Boxing Junkie Full Member