What Does Froch Have That Could Give Hopkins Problems?

I wouldn't take this fight if I was Froch as it is a lose/lose situation.

If Hopkins hasn't aged badly then he will be too clever for him and if he has aged badly the man on the street will just look at Hopkins age.

My own view is that Hopkins does have one more fight left and will steal most rounds against a guy who was outclassed by Jermain Taylor for 10 of the 12 rounds they fought...

 

Well he is bigger than Pavlik, a lot of people overlook Pavlik jumping two divisions to fight Hopkins.

He has a better jab than Pavlik too, Pavlik's is really a range finder for the jab-right hand one-two.

Froch doesn't HAVE to fight going forwards either, he can move in and out, he can try to make Bernard lead and counter him, and throw his uppercut when Hopkins moves to the inside or leans on.

Froch also adjusted to Pascal and Taylor to a degree, he has shown some ring intelligence in those fights.


Not quite the impossible task people make it out to be, Pavlik was tailor made for Hopkins (in hindsight), he had no variety and is a very simple come forward fighter. I think Bernard is getting a wee bit too much credit for that win. He looked an old fighter against Joe.

 

Nothing.

He's slower than Pavlik, and that was one of the key elements that Bernard Hopkins was so much quicker of hand and foot. "Put pressure on the old man" sounds a real simple and logical gameplan, but its not that simple if you are caught between going forward and back because you keep getting stung by right/lead rights. Calzaghe had to use all his experience, footwork and shortern his punches to have any luck.

That speed difference also means Froch's attacks are going to be very simple for Hopkins to defend.

And Froch's open style is fodder for a precision puncher.

 

As said above this is a bad fight for Carl and one which will yoeld very little credit even if he wins. The things he has in abundance are heart and his ability to apply more and more pressure and strength in the second half of the fight. May potentially be a similar result to Taylor IF Bernard has finally lost his battle with father time

 

Blind hope that B-Hop's advanced age will suddenly catch up with him.

In every other way possible, Froch is an inferior fighter.

 

Not at all... he hits harder, I would suggest he's physically stronger, every chance he has better stamina and durability at this stage...

Of course he has to have the nous to bring those factors into play but Hopkins isn't superman.

It's easy to focus on Hopkins in the Pavlik fight, think of the Calzaghe and Taylor fights and it's a different kettle of fish.

 

i dont actually believe froch would be stronger, b hop would put a lot of weight on after the weigh in

 

Agreed. He weighed 187 pounds after the weigh-in against Pavlik apparently.