What Are The Chances That Hopkins Is Underestimating Pavlik's Overall Skill?

Hopkins has never EVER underestimated anyone... he knows very much what advantages Kelly has and he's prepararing himself to do as good as he's capable of at 43...

He himself said that it's completely false to think that Pavlik is just a one-dimensional punching machine... he's capable to do more than throwing a good right hand...

 

I heard both fighters praise each other and that is gonna be a genuine blue-collar fight with top P4Pers. Pavlik feels Calzaghe won on Hopkins' inactivity ( the famous 20 punches per round) but that he's still dangerous and crafty as hell. Hopkins praises Kelly as genuine champion and as a fan but he knows he's getting in there with someone much above his usual below-level opponents with exceptions for Taylor and Miranda of course. Kelly will fight as usual, pressure, pressure on Hops like Calzaghe to cut his way out and he says witha significant power advantage concerning Joe, whereas Hopkins is definitely gonna make him miss, punch short and stumble forward... Hopkins seems as strong as Pavlik by the stare-down pic but we know Pavlik should have a reach advantage. I don't know but I guess it's the old workrate of a youngman against the tricky, slippery, cagey style of a crafty counter puncher.

 

Hopkins over estimating his age. It cathes up to ya it sucks but that's life.
Hopkins is an "All Time Great" but this time, time catches up to him and he gets KO'd by prime Pavlik.

 

I've brought this up before. There was a video clip where Hopkins says NO ONE can throw THAT MANY punches with power. Boo has repeatedly brought up McCarts post fight statement. "It isn't that he throws any one punch hard, it's just that EVERY punch has something on it". This is where Hopkins made his mis judgement.

 

I can't really imagine that BHop would underestimate Kelly in any kind of serious way. However, most opponents do at least slightly underestimate Pavlik's handspeed. If Kelly proves to have faster hands than Bernard expects, BHop can adjust to that in a round or two, so I did not vote for that.

I voted "Hopkins Is Underestimating Pavlik's Ring Intelligence And Ability To Adjust. " Here's why:

Hopkins has made some comments about Kelly's right hand, and how to avoid that. Kelly has stopped people with left hooks to both the head and the body as well as uppercuts. Also, I haven't seen anything where BHop talks about the jab either. The key to beating Pavlik is to take away his jab. I imagine Hopkins knows that. If he hasn't picked up on that, it will lead to real trouble.

Another reason I voted the way I did is based on some things Jack Leow and Kelly have said. Leow said something about Hopkins finding his own nuts in his throat if he goes low. When asked about Hopkins rough house tactics Kelly said "I got elbows and a head too, and I don't mind roughin' a guy up." If BHop gets dirty, he will find that Kelly does have more than one game plan, and if he's not expecting that, it could cause him problems.

All in all I doubt if either guy is undersetimating the other in any serious way.

 

The poll says it all

 

Bernard Hopkin's real analysis of Kelly Pavlik (not what he talks about, but what he actually calculates) is probably accurate and deep to an extent that only another cerebral-Sun Tzu type HoF boxer would be able to appreciate.

Thing is, since Kelly is a potential BH in this regard and retains the advantages of youth, Bernard's laser-accurate analysis, gameplan composition and execution will not save him.

 

I can't think of any moment in Hopkins career where he underestimated somebody so I doubt at age 43 where he has to be even more cautious that he'll underestimate someone as strong as Pavlik now.

 

b-hop is no fool he knows what pavlik brings to the table. he's isn't underestimating kelly at all

 

Hopkins fans may be underrestimating Pavliks overall skill, but Hopkins certainly isn't. Hopkins may be old and way past his prime but the guy is still a frigg'n badass and born fighter. He is taking this fight with the knowledge that he may lose, but he also may win. And the reward of winning is far worth the risk of losing. That all being said, I think he will lose.

 

I think Hopkins is crazy for getting into the ring with Pavlik. I mean the man is a brilliant tactitioner and he is a great fighter, but he has not been in with a puncher in a very long time. It's okay when he fights at 43 aginst the Winky Wrights and the Joe Calzahes, but this kid is a banger. Hopkins' is old and is fighting perhaps one of the hardest hitters in the sport. He has a little to much confidence in his old chin.

 

Underestimating and misunderstanding are two diffrent things entirely.