Shumenov is made for Hopkins no matter the age difference

Enzo is top 10-15. looked better than I thought he would against Braehmar, I hear there is talk of a rematch this summer. Looking forward to it, hope Enzo can pull it out!

 

Better than Shumenov...

 

Hopkins style weakness was exposed years ago, regardless of age.
Fast two handed fighters his own size.
Jones, Taylor, Calzaghe, Pascal, Dawson. They all have different styles, but are faster fighters and troubled Hopkins. Sure many will try to point to age, but Hopkins lost to Jones when younger and backed out of a Calzaghe fight when younger also.

As for Shumenov, I expect Hopkins to beat him.
Shumenov apparently decided against a Cleverly unification, but has only had around 15 fights. Hopkins experience should assist him.

Still imagine the sudden hype and threads tomorrow if Shumenov blasts Hopkins out. Shows how good at 49 Hopkins is

 

Anyone that knows anything about boxing should have Hopkins the clear favourite in this fight. Shumenov was cherry picked as an easy opponent, his style is perfect for Hopkins. Slow feet and predictable as long as Hopkins isn't shot and Shumenov doesn't land a huge shot out of nowhere to stop him, Hopkins will win a UD.

If Bailey who is known to be seriously anti-Hopkins is picking him you know this really isn't going to be close.

 

Shumenov isn't a better fighter than Cloud, so I believe Hopkins will pull out a UD. After this fight probably he will fight Stevenson.

Anyway, fighting top LHWs @ his age is a pretty fecking incredible thing. I wouldn't be surprise if Hopkins becomes the WBC, WBA and IBF LHW champion.

 

Shumenov is also a paper champ...hell the only reason Braehmer has a strap (and it ain't the REAL one) is cos the WBA elevated Beibut to super status for the grand achievement of sitting on his ass for 18 months.

That said Shumenov isn't bad, at all - he's just not very good. FWIW I actually agree with both you and the thread starter. Hopkins is remarkable and the fact that he's fighting a guy who whilst not brilliant is probably a top 10 LHW is amazing in itself given BHops age.

OTOH Shumenov has very little in the way of ring IQ, he has decent power and some technique but not much else to offer...given his inactivity and lack of any top flight opposition in 4 years it's kinda hard to take him that seriously. Even Braehmer would give Hopkins more issues stylistically IMO.

 

Never anti any fighter. Big fan of Hopkins also. Not sure where you got that from??

 

Shumenov will win by stoppage, body shot.

Load up for the KO, I think Bernard is more than ripe.

 

I've got a lotta time for Enzo and I like the sound of a rematch - Enzo did better than I expectd too, but my reading of the fight was that Enzo threw everything into the forth and fifth, knowing that he was gonna get pulled if he didn't put Braehmer away, whilst Jurgen was content to ride out the storm knowing that he'd as good as won already, and didn't need to take any risks.

 

At some point it has to say stop for Hopkins. Shumenov seems very strong with somewhat limited movement. Could give BHop trouble with his clinches. A couple of years ago this would be an easy fight, but at some point the power of these young fighters will have to get to him, and I'd say he is way over due at this point. Mad respect to him, but I have to cross my fingers they don't resort to a robbery. If he can't do it right he should retire. Nothing is as boring as survival mode through a whole fight getting rewarded with a UD.
There is no way he will unify any more titles. That is 100%.

 

Hop claims he wanted to go toe to toe with Murat but the reality is Murat gave him a tough fight.

Murat was aslo to lazy to exploit Hops rest peroids. Shumenov won't let him rest like that.
Wouldn't surprise me if he wins tonight and gets robbed.
Murat proved Hop is there for the taking.

 

Hop didn't claim anything of that nature against a much inferior fighter in his 1st World Title bout but he fought a diferent kinda fight, opening up more in the exchanges and since the armenian based in Germany claimed he wanted to retire Hopkins.

Murat was not lazy, he was completely frustrated as most of his punches were hitting thin air in the first 3 rounds when he was mostly aggressive. Shumenov is aggressive but he is not a swarmer or a bully who crowds his opponents and throws series of heymakers like Murat. Not saying that Beibut rests but he will easily fall into a chess match and then you can't expect him to miss, get tagged, lose the control of the fight and not dictating the tempo cause he doesn't know how to against a guy much craftier than he is and put it on the judges.
Murat didn't prove anything but that he didn't belong to that ring, lost by a wide decision, took a solid beating and was not saved by Steve Smoger b'cause at least he was tough enough to get out of trouble digging in some of his own dirty moves.

 

http://cdn.fansided.com/gif/Bernard_Hopkins_and_Beibut_Shumenov.gif

 

He said it after the weigh-in.atsch