By Mark Vester

Freddie Roach, who trained Bernard Hopkins for his bout with Joe Calzaghe, says the two-division champion should retire instead of fighting a dangerous opponent like WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik on October 18 in Atlantic City. Roach advised Hopkins to retire after the decision loss to Calzaghe.

Pavlik will move up to catch-weight of 170-pounds to meet Hopkins, but Roach tells writer Ron Borges that weight will not an issue for the undefeated middleweight because he went up to super middleweight a few months ago to beat Jermain Taylor in their rematch. He refuses to train Hopkins for the fight, fearing that his former fighter will get seriously hurt.

“I’m a little bit worried about that fight," Roach said. “Bernard is my friend. I asked him to retire after the last fight. I saw some things I didn’t like and I told him that. "Four times in that fight [with Calzaghe] he walked to the wrong corner after the end of the round. One time they showed it on TV and made a joke about him looking for the ring card girls but it happened four times. Why do you go to the wrong corner four times? Something’s not right because Calzaghe hadn’t buzzed him. Calzaghe couldn’t hurt Bernard but Kelly is a big puncher. He’s a different cat. He’s a young, strong, hungry guy. Timing-wise this is not right."

Roach doesn't believe that Hopkins will not present a threat to Pavlik because he won't be able to keep the younger fighter off. He tells Borges that he doesn't agree with the critics who say that Hopkins can lure him into a slow-paced fight. He believes that Pavlik will keep the maintain the same pace he's shown in prior bouts.

"Of course, Pavlik is moving up in weight so we don’t know how that will affect him but he’s a dangerous puncher," Roach said. "So why fight him? Bernard had a great career. I don’t think he needs the money. But boxing is hard to give up. I know. Is Pavlik in any danger in this fight? No. People say if Bernard can lull him into a slow pace he can out box him but that’s not going to happen. Pavlik’s not like that."

"Bernard is crafty enough to box him but not the way he looked his last two fights. Kelly Pavlik is an up and coming guy. He’s strong. He’s busy. He’s aggressive. He backs people up so well. I picked (Edison) Miranda to beat him but Pavlik was too strong for him. He backed up that animal with ease. If he puts that pressure on Bernard…......’’

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