Pavlik vs Hopkins: My analysis

Having moved into a new place recently and not being able to watch the fight on Saturday, this analysis comes a little late, but here goes. Pavlik got taken to school and shown what boxing is really about. Sure, the guy can knock out a mule if he wanted to, but boxing is about skills to go with the power, skills Kelly simply does not have. I likle Kelly, he's an exciting fighter and his persona and character during interviews is good for the sport, but he is, was and always will be one dimensional. All Hopkins did was keep moving so Kelly couldn't set his feet and throw his punches. When all you have to do to reduce your opponents output to zero is move, you are clearly not fighting world class opposition. Hopkins did the same thing to Calzaghe, reduced his workrate and made him work very hard for the W. The difference between Joe and Kelly? Joe had the skills to work around Hopkins guard and dirty tactics, Kelly simply did not. Joe Calzaghe vs Kelly Pavlik? Certainly not now, but it begs the question: Could Pavlik have ever lived with Joe? The answer will never be known for sure, but anyone with a brain in their head will take a look at my original prediction (Joe stops Kelly mid to late rounds) and will struggle to find a valid arguement against it. I have always said it, and often received a lot of abuse for doing so, but the fact is, Kelly Pavlik is one dimensional. That being said I agree 100%. All Hopkins did was move to his right to avoid Pavliks right hand. move his head and upper body to avoid his jab and faint him into good stiff counter punches. You say ALL but that was alot of doing so for 12 rounds. Not easy for a 23 yr old much less a 43 year old. Hopkins showed skill guts and crafty moves all night long. I don't think there are too many at 160 that could do so. That all being said if Pavlik truely injured his left elbow that would defintely affect his jab. His jab being the punxh he uses to set up his right hand. That is a BIG DEAL fellas. Having a chect cold and not being able to breath through your nose can't help you too much either. Also being in there with a man that knows how to use things to his advantage held a big part in it all.

i like kelly as well i think hes a good fighter, but he does the basics well and not much else. he can't help the bandwagon that is behind him but i hate these plastic fans that seem to crawl out of the woodwork. overall a good post and your prediction about joe and kely is pretty much sot on, i dont think that joe would KO him but imo it would be lacy-esque schooling. i like kelly though like i said and i hope that he does manage a decent career, he needs a better trainer than jack (use the double jab) Loew. he definently need a conditioner as well especially if he is to move up in weight moving up in weight is not just about being able to eat more. I don't believe for a second that Joe could knock Kelly out cold, or even keep him down for the count, but all it takes a small wobble from Kelly and Joe would be all over him like a rash, leaving him no room to fight back. When that happens, the fight must be stopped, by either the ref or his corner. Joe stops Kelly late with a compassionate call from the ref or his corner.

Having moved into a new place recently and not being able to watch the fight on Saturday, this analysis comes a little late, but here goes. Pavlik got taken to school and shown what boxing is really about. Sure, the guy can knock out a mule if he wanted to, but boxing is about skills to go with the power, skills Kelly simply does not have. I likle Kelly, he's an exciting fighter and his persona and character during interviews is good for the sport, but he is, was and always will be one dimensional. All Hopkins did was keep moving so Kelly couldn't set his feet and throw his punches. When all you have to do to reduce your opponents output to zero is move, you are clearly not fighting world class opposition. Hopkins did the same thing to Calzaghe, reduced his workrate and made him work very hard for the W. The difference between Joe and Kelly? Joe had the skills to work around Hopkins guard and dirty tactics, Kelly simply did not. Joe Calzaghe vs Kelly Pavlik? Certainly not now, but it begs the question: Could Pavlik have ever lived with Joe? The answer will never be known for sure, but anyone with a brain in their head will take a look at my original prediction (Joe stops Kelly mid to late rounds) and will struggle to find a valid arguement against it. I have always said it, and often received a lot of abuse for doing so, but the fact is, Kelly Pavlik is one dimensional. i like kelly as well i think hes a good fighter, but he does the basics well and not much else. he can't help the bandwagon that is behind him but i hate these plastic fans that seem to crawl out of the woodwork. overall a good post and your prediction about joe and kely is pretty much sot on, i dont think that joe would KO him but imo it would be lacy-esque schooling. i like kelly though like i said and i hope that he does manage a decent career, he needs a better trainer than jack (use the double jab) Loew. he definently need a conditioner as well especially if he is to move up in weight moving up in weight is not just about being able to eat more. ________ Og Kush

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/47/l_b4fb6fec2f744d45ac6c1af9063544fb.jpg

Anyone who didn't realise that Pavlik was one-dimension is kidding themselves, the 2nd Taylor fight proved he could be beaten by someone with good boxing skills. I didn't expect B Hop to have enough left at this stage to do it though to be honest, but Kelly was deffinatly taken to school.