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In case you didn't notice, Hopkins has a way of making fighters suck at what they do best. Taylor was a big punching, athletic badass until he fought Hopkins, who made him look silly when he wanted to.
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Common man, Hopkins is just to old to keep up with Pavlik's constant hard jabs and Power Punching output. B-Hop looked terrible in his fight with Winky and he would constantly throw one punch and clinch. Winky looked even worse in that fight, it seemed like he lost his handspeed overnight and he was telegraphing his punches. After the fight Steward said they were both done and I agree with him. Hopkins and Winky are easy fights for Pavlik compared to Calzaghe or Kessler.Comment
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Well ****, I can't think of anyone who is a harder fight than Joe Calzaghe right now... maybe Mayweather, but I don't know, that is a hard call.
Styles make fights though. Hopkins had too good of control of the ring for Winky to use his defensive matrix and jab all night. Winky had too good of a defensive plan for Hopkins to be able to use that withering right hand all night. If there ever was a fight not to judge two guys on... it is Hopkins-Wright. Search your memory good and hard, can you remember a single person who has looked good against either of those two?
Vargas looked the best against Winky... and a lot of people thought Winky won.
Jones Jr. looked the best against Hopkins... and he won that fight, but he didn't take any round real big, it was a very close fight, but Jones clearly won, if that makes sense.
So... I wouldn't be too quick to count either of those dudes out yet.Comment
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I agree. B-hop simply made Taylor look like what he really was, it was Taylor's first true test.
Pavlik's biggest fears should be fighters with ungodly power at middleweight, not slick nobodies who will go down after 12. Pavlik is the champ now anyways, and that couple with his good boxing skills means he will win most fights from now on if they go to the cards. His defense leaves him somewhat open to KO's though, even Arturo Gatti was damaged enough to go down and stay down after a while.Comment
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He is appealing because he is white (American) and knocks people out. That is also pretty much the appeal of the UFC and why Bob Arum stated that Kelly is a big blow to the UFC. Before Kelly there werent too many white champions knocking people out, so as Kelly gets bigger his fan base will continue to grow especially because he is a legitimate champion unlike others before him like Gatti.Comment
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People like him because he looks like the scrawny little kid that everyone made fun of in high school. He's funny looking and he talks funny.
He represents the guy that you talked to and were friends with, but were embarassed to show your friends.
THAT guy.
And he whoops ass for a living which makes it that much sweeter.
Dude is straight up cool in my books.Comment
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I would give Hopkins more of a chance than Winky because he is a tough junkyard dog that will clinch,rabbit punch,headbutt and so on and yes like you said make great fighters look bad. Hopkins may last 12, but at this point in his career he definately won't win.
Winky on the other hand, is a sitting duck for Pavlik. Winky and Pavlik would go jab for jab with eachother and when Winky covers up Pavlik will have the power to break through his guard and eventually KO him, Winky isn't the same and I don't think he has a chance in this fight.Comment
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good call on the legitimacy...I think being white plays SOME role, although #1 there is no proof that ppv buyrates are up or will be up with Pavlik on top and #2 In this day and age im not so sure that a good, down to earth Black brawler wouldnt get the same love from boxing fans.
However, we have not seen a legitimate white AMERICAN contender like this since shoot, maybe Tommy Morrison(hard to call him legit with all those roids) or maybe further back to Ray mancini or even Marciano.Comment
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dont forget Gerry Cooney guys. he was a bit overrated, but he hit like a truck that man, and had some excellent wins when he was at his best.
and now that i think about it, youre right. Pavlik seems like a guy you could just talk to normally if he was a complete stranger, and even if you knew he was the middleweight champion you wouldnt feel like you would have to watch your mouth or anything hahaha.
although i feel the same about Taylor too.Comment
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