Comments Thread For: Hopkins: I Wanted Kovalev, Smart Move To Pick Cleverly

[-Kev-]

Kovalev has given us reason to believe he could have a bright future in this sport, but all of the folks who think he's going to walk through Bernard Hopkins are ignoring the fact that Bernard has made a career of beating fighters who were supposed to beat him. Felix Trinidad was supposed to beat Hopkins. Hopkins was a 3-1 underdog when he fought Antonio Tarver. Kelly Pavlik was a 4-1 favorite over Hopkins. A lot of people believed Tarver and Pavlik would knock Hopkins out.

The Hopkins-Kovalev talk reminds me of the talk before Mayweather-Canelo. Go back through all the posts here. There were tons of posters who believed that Canelo was too big and too strong for Mayweather, and that a poorly-conditioned fighter with a track record of beating up mediocre, undersized opposition would somehow chop down the most skilled and arguably best conditioned boxer in the sport. Even after Canelo was put in his place, you still have fools who think he could beat Mayweather because they were impressed by what Canelo did to Alfredo Angulo, a fighter who, as tough as he is, isn't even in the same class as Mayweather's weakest opponent in the past decade.

A lot of fans simply don't understand that there are levels to this game, and Bernard Hopkins is on another level even as he approaches the age of 50.

Hopkins was underdog against Trinidad, Winky, Tarver, Pavlik, Pascal(both times), Cloud (Lol he was). He was finally favored against Murat.

[sugarsmosley]

Hopkins was underdog against Trinidad, Winky, Tarver, Pavlik, Pascal(both times), Cloud (Lol he was). He was finally favored against Murat.

damn... how was hopkins not favored against pavlik??

[Citizen Koba]

Kovalev has given us reason to believe he could have a bright future in this sport, but all of the folks who think he's going to walk through Bernard Hopkins are ignoring the fact that Bernard has made a career of beating fighters who were supposed to beat him. Felix Trinidad was supposed to beat Hopkins. Hopkins was a 3-1 underdog when he fought Antonio Tarver. Kelly Pavlik was a 4-1 favorite over Hopkins. A lot of people believed Tarver and Pavlik would knock Hopkins out.

The Hopkins-Kovalev talk reminds me of the talk before Mayweather-Canelo. Go back through all the posts here. There were tons of posters who believed that Canelo was too big and too strong for Mayweather, and that a poorly-conditioned fighter with a track record of beating up mediocre, undersized opposition would somehow chop down the most skilled and arguably best conditioned boxer in the sport. Even after Canelo was put in his place, you still have fools who think he could beat Mayweather because they were impressed by what Canelo did to Alfredo Angulo, a fighter who, as tough as he is, isn't even in the same class as Mayweather's weakest opponent in the past decade.

A lot of fans simply don't understand that there are levels to this game, and Bernard Hopkins is on another level even as he approaches the age of 50.

I think very few (if any) are saying that Kovalev walks through Hopkins - this is more about refuting the idea that Hopkins actively wanted the Kovalev fight. Hopkins (anyway, but especially in his dual role as promoter) was never under any obligation to tell the truth and has every right to sell himself and discredit potential rivals - this is the court of public opinion

I'm reluctant to pick Kovalev to beat BHop - which is absurd given his age - but at some point Hopkins will lose if he keeps on fighting and IMO Kovalev is the most likely of the current crop to be up to the task. Only a fool or someone who DKSAB'Hop would claim that any fighter 'walks through him'.

At the end of the day we have fighters like Cloud, Murat and now Shumenov to tell us how much Hopkins' aging has effected him. But that doesn't help much in evaluating a Kovalev - Hopkins bout (the obvious and rather amusing connection aside).

[Hougigo]

What did Showtime say about this fight again?

[Russian Crushin]

Yet showtime declined the fight and Hopkins told him to go fight Cleverly

[jlcelestine]

Im sorry but this is wrong. Hopkins was ordered to face Kurat who was his mandatory, and Kurat had issues with his visa and pulled out of the fight, Kovalev then became the new mandatory to Hopkins title. Hopkins agreed to honor their decision and fight Kovalev but Kurat had his visa issue settled and was renamed the mandatory. BUT Duva had the chance to pursue the Hopkins fight anyway or go fight Cleverly(Which HBO wanted) and they feared if they didnt fight Cleverly that Hopkins would go and sign on to fight him and team Kovalev would be left without a dance partner, so they quickly signed to fight Cleverly since HBO was pushing for Krusher to take his belt and build up a Kovalev-Stevenson fight. This is what happened.. Hopkins didnt "pass up" the fight.

Yep. This is what happened. Duva went the Cleverly fight because she felt it was a sure thing and Hopkins was not. He never said he was going to release his title. And I dont think he ever WOULD have. The IBF is very good about forcing their champions to fight their mandatories, so it was slim to no chance that had Kovalev been the mandatory that the fight would not happen.

[Citizen Koba]

Hopkins was underdog against Trinidad, Winky, Tarver, Pavlik, Pascal(both times), Cloud (Lol he was). He was finally favored against Murat.

LOL - Hopkins should rename himself -'The Overdog', it was absurd against Cloud coming off the Campillo schooling, but I guess many saw Dawson as the end of the line for Ol' Evergreen.

[BoxingFan82]

I think very few (if any) are saying that Kovalev walks through Hopkins

I've seen more than a few people here suggest that Kovalev is going to knock Bernard out.

this is more about refuting the idea that Hopkins actively wanted the Kovalev fight.

I always try to avoid pretending like I know what a fighter wants, and what happens in negotiations. One could come up with quite a few reasons it would be in Kovalev's interest to delay a fight with Hopkins.

Keep in mind that Hopkins has literally destroyed the careers of several men who were favored to beat him. For a fighter like Kovalev, who is just starting to capitalize financially on his success, fighting Hopkins sooner than later is a high-risk proposition.

but at some point Hopkins will lose if he keeps on fighting

Hopkins already has losses on his record and they don't in any way take away from his accomplishments.

Obviously, given his age, everyone is watching to see if age catches up with him and retires him in the ring, but the amazing thing about Bernard is that he takes better care of himself and trains harder than just about everyone, even the fighters half his age.

As a long-time BHop fan, it's sad to see so many people suggest that a fighter so dedicated to his craft and so accomplished is ducking the latest guy to be heralded as the opponent who will force him into retirement. It's silly.

My humble suggestion to anyone who thinks like that: enjoy Bernard while he's fighting because you're not likely to see anyone like him again in your lifetime. He's truly the epitome of a living legend.

[El Angel]

B-Hop is funny.

[Grimmer]

damn... how was hopkins not favored against pavlik??

Hopkins had just had an awkward 12 rounds against Joe Calzaghe and Pavlik was undefeated middleweight champion of the world who was looking good KOing most of his opponents. Most people wanted to see him fight Abraham, or move up to fight Joe Calzaghe, but when Calzaghe turned down that fight to face old Roy Jones, Pavlik and Hopkins decided to fight. And Pavlik was definitely the most fancied fighter, by some margin too.