Round by Round Coverage; Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Rick Reeno - Later tonight at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (34-0 30KOs) takes a big career risk by meeting Bernard Hopkins (48-5-1 32KOs) at the contracted weight of 170-pounds. Pavlik jumps up by nearly two-weight divisions. The fight with Hopkins, even with Bernard almost pushing on 44 years of age, should tell us how well Pavlik performs at the higher weight. Most expect him to end up at super middleweight by next year and eventually make a move to light heavyweight in the next two years.

"I want to fight the best. People talk and ask about why I am fighting Bernard Hopkins. You’ve got a legend right here. I don’t know about Calzaghe – I guess I would have to shoot him in the foot to get him to stop running from me. All I can tell you is that I will train as hard as I can to get in the best shape that I can be in," Pavlik said. [details]

[GameBullDawg]

Pavlik to KO Hopkins

Go knock him out flat on his back and OUT KELLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arcticfalconer

[Cesar A Loyola]

The one who will be flat on his back will be Hopkins!!! Hopkin will simply never be able to keep up with Pavlik hunger, punching rate and accuracy.

[ListenUpWell]

Hopkins = LEGEND

I don't believe it, what a performance. Hopkins just took Pavlik to school! UD 12. Legend.

[myau1]

Unbelievable!

Pavlik just got outworked and embarrassed by a 43 year old man. Hopkins is a fantastic fighter even at 43 but for a 26 year old to be schooled like that shows how basic of a fighter Pavlik really is. I think Kelly has lost more than a fight tonight.

Did anyone else see that look on Pavlik's face after the last bell? He looked scared, beat, tired, and like someone had stomped his heart on the floor. I don't know that Pavlik will ever be the same again.

Congratulations to Hopkins for a fantastic performance, especially for a man his age.

[wkings]

BHop forever

AS a major fan of BHop's it's amazing how he continues to turn back the clock and win. I have gone to see Bernard fight twice in Vegas, and as a fan of 10 years I am honest to admit I did not think he could win this fight. I felt his inability to put punches together is what cost him against Calzaghe.
He just doesn't let his hands go enough! To see what he did tonight, is mind boggling! I beleive one factor that helped BHop in this fight is the fact he fought only 6 months ago. BHop's last great performance was against Tarver, and that was a fight in which he only had a 6 month intermission. If he is to be successful in the future, he must fight 6 to 7 months apart. The 10-14 month layoffs are not good for him, especially at his age. BHop's career, is a carrer in which he fought on average 3 times a year, which doesn't allow for rust to set in. I guess this goes to show the appreciation, he deserves, because he beat the lineal Middleweight king, and a fighter 17 years his junior. He completed dominated Pavlik, and gave him a lesson. If Bernard let's his hands go, he is unbeatable, because his defense can't be penetrated with constant punches, He never gets caught with more than one punch. There'a a reason Pavlik didn't look good tonight! That reason is BHop!