The very second I heard Hopkins V Pavlik was made I immediately, with zero hesitation predicted that Hopkins would win comfortably. I don't know why but I started thinking about this fight today and I remember that as the fight got closer all the talk from the Pavlik camp was about being the first man to stop Hopkins. Victory was assumed, it was more about how Pavlik was going to win. I know Taylor fought them both, but since moving up in weight Hopkins had not lost, so what caused this overwhelming confidence / arrogance in the Pavlik camp. Was their way of thinking, "If Slappy Joe can get a SD over Ol Popkins then this fight is a walk in the park"?
It's more likely that Pavlik and Loew were thinking, we beat Taylor twice who beat Hopkins twice, Hopkins is not what he was and won't be able to live with Kelly. Kelly hit's like a mule at 160 so naturally he's gonna have more power at 170 and he will destroy old man Hopkins. Big Mistake, What they didn't count on was Hopkins being able to perform the way he did, they were probably thinking Hopkins is gonna run and spoil and finally run out of steam, **** he only fights in 1/3 of any fight so we'll get him late. well they got Executed big style.
didnt anyone tell them hopkins wasn't gonna freeze like a deer in headlights and just take his asswhoopin and leave?
This is extremely convoluted logic. Joe Calzaghe spent 6 or 7 months calling Pavlik out. Kelly said yes multiple times. Calzaghe ultimately hid behind a version of Roy Jones that Shaun George would beat. That started the mad scramble for a fall opponent. Top Rank tried to make the following fights. Rubio: HBO would not buy the fight. Abraham: Had a mandatory. Mora: Not enough money to pay Sergio AND pay step-aside money to Forrest. Wright: Priced himself out. Williams: Priced himself out. Hopkins called, and Pavlik said yes. There is nothing unusual about a kid with a 90% KO ratio speculating on being the first to stop BHop. But ultimately Pavlik suffered from a left elbow injury and a severe case of bronchitis. Jack Leow, Mike Pavlik SR, and Miguel Diaz all tried to get KP to post pone the fight, but he would not here of it. His reasoning was that he was not going to disappoint all the people who already bought fight tickets, plane tickets, paid for hotel rooms, et. Stupid move on Pavlik's part. Pavlik fought the best version of Hopkins we've seen in YEARS, and he did it while sick and injured. We all saw the results. Arrogance had nothing to do with anything.
You know a lot more than me about the background and circumstances. But I do think that Loew in particular went a bit over the top with the stoppage talk. This build up to this fight reminded me a lot of the Calzaghe fight, both of Hopkins opponents big favourites to beat the old man and then as fight time approaches and the last Press Conferences and weigh in takes place you got the feeling that Hopkins had been badly underestimated.
It's ok, I'm sure Boo agrees. Just don't let it happen again, or you will be reprimanded with a vengence and furious anger that may cause you to just not even come back to ESB.:deal
Can't argue with that, I'm sure I've seen footage of Calzaghe saying he wanted Pavlik. I wonder how Pavlik would have fared against the RJJ that Calzaghe fought?
