Lets be honest, Kovalev Carried Bernard Hopkins

He fought a smart fight if you go all out on Hopkins early and don't get him outta there then you easy pickings late in the fight and Bernard was still landing some sneaky shots every now and then Funny thing is even in the loss and how one sided it was Bernard still kinda showed the blueprint on how to beat Kovalev he was just to old to execute the game plan and I know how crazy this sounds but I think had B Hop been like 45 he would have won that fight

The Agnew fight showed how patient he can be and still be trying to stop you - he came awfully close to doing the same thing here except he was in there with a legendary defender. It almost had to come down to the 12th round before that would have been able to occur. He just fought a perfect fight tonight that's all there is to it. That's not true at all, Kov showed intent from round one in that fight and was far more aggressive, he really wanted to hurt Agnew. The cuts slowed him somewhat and he didn't want to take too much damage but then stepped it up. Against Bhop he threw maybe 3 or 4 combinations with 3+ punches. Other than that he just backed up and allowed Bhop to move, all the while the older fighter offered ZERO offence for some 8 rounds.

Like ld did to povetkin out of respect. Kovalev IMO could have got him out of there. Credit to hopkins, no fouls, no complaining, good interview after. I realy wanted the ref to top the fight, i Hate seeing guys that are done taking punishment. Reminded me a little bit of the Briggs Vitali fight... Hope Hopkins is Ok... well done for both maing it happen... I was just about to post a thread saying Kovalev disappointed me but I think this thread is enough. Kov carried Hops man and I think everyone knew it, every time he hurt the guy he backed off, reset himself and refuse to throw more than 3 punches. If I'd paid for that fight I would have been pissed spending my hard earned money on that crap. Btw those two comparisons are horribly, Wlad didn't carry Pov and Briggs took a hammering, Hops didn't get hit much cos Kov didn't push on until the 12th. If Kovalev had done that in the 4th or 5h, Hops would have gone.

The Agnew fight showed how patient he can be and still be trying to stop you - he came awfully close to doing the same thing here except he was in there with a legendary defender. It almost had to come down to the 12th round before that would have been able to occur. He just fought a perfect fight tonight that's all there is to it. good post.....

The Agnew fight showed how patient he can be and still be trying to stop you - he came awfully close to doing the same thing here except he was in there with a legendary defender. It almost had to come down to the 12th round before that would have been able to occur. He just fought a perfect fight tonight that's all there is to it.

I agree, he's an excellent fighter. His range and patience is amazing. His patience most definitely surprised me, none of B-Hops tricks like the shoving to the canvas phased him though he wasn't anywhere near as dirty as he has been in the past. Mainly due to Kovalevs great ability to control distance.

Hopkins just has one of the ATG chins in boxing. That's the thing about Kovalev, people thought he was just all power. The only reason why people thought he was all power was because he knocks everybody out early and you can't completely see his skill when he's knocking everybody out early.

If he done that a lot earlier he'd of most likely of punched himself out. Kovalev is not some relentless pressure fighter like people think hes a calculated boxer-puncher. I agree, he's an excellent fighter. His range and patience is amazing.

I think the point is, he could have done that a lot earlier. There was nothing to stop him from fighting like that earlier. The difference is he was fighting smart. He was pissed in the last round and fought reckless. I'm ok with the strategy, it was a guaranteed win. If he done that a lot earlier he'd of most likely of punched himself out. Kovalev is not some relentless pressure fighter like people think hes a calculated boxer-puncher.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Nah. Bhop taunted him in the 12th round and pissed kovalev off.

im glad hes ok, i thought bhop was in serious trouble in round 12...

He respected hopkins and he was pacing himself, never having gone past the 8th round before. Great fight, hopkins was gracious in defeat and showed his toughness in this fight. Kovalev is a quality fighter, much more than just a knockout puncher.

Are you for real? He hit him with everything but the kitchen sink. He put everything into that 12th round to try stop him. I think the point is, he could have done that a lot earlier. There was nothing to stop him from fighting like that earlier. The difference is he was fighting smart. He was pissed in the last round and fought reckless. I'm ok with the strategy, it was a guaranteed win.

I think he did. He obviously respect BHop like every boxing fan and hes 49 years old. He probably would've felt guilty seriously hurting a man that old The 12 round he was pissed tho cuz BHop stuck his tongue out at him. He made Bhop look like a bobble head doll that round. After the fight you could tell that he truly respect BHop and says that he could still beat Adonis which I agree

Hopkins didn't really even try to fight for like 8 of the 12 rds. Dude was throwing 10 punches a rd.

Did you guys not see how Kovalev was reacting to B Hop's right hand counters? That's why he was cautious. And he knew going in not to be reckless. He's not going to be dumb like Pascal, and go in charging like a bull.

through the fight, i got the feeling that kova didn't wanna fall for any of hopkins tricks, the fouls and all that, maybe it was that... i don't know

Are you for real? He hit him with everything but the kitchen sink. He put everything into that 12th round to try stop him.

Not sure why, way too much respect