"Alien" Hopkins vs "Krusher" Kovalev Post fight Discussion thread

[Joe Beamish]

I would really love for Kovalev to knock the stuffing out of Don King's spiritual successor but the more I watch of the two fighters the more I feel that the clash of styles leans in Hopkins' favor.

Kovalev is not a guy who does anything to win. He has a musical style of boxing and slings big clean punches. I don't think he will know how to fight back when Hopkins starts wrestling, headbutting, scoring pittypats and faking fouls.

Agreed. I like his power, but I hate the way Kovalev moves. So clunky and robotic. I feel Hopkins will be able to see everything that's coming at him waaay before it happens.

Then again, I like Kovalev's character. I don't think he will easily get frustrated or mind-effed like Pavlik.

But he moves very badly when you consider he's up against BHOP

[Psylence83]

Kovalev is like the drunk girl walking through the park on her way home all alone. Hopkins is like the seriel rapist. He's got that experience behind him... He'll know when to pounce, when to fight and when to hold off. He knows she will put up a fight but he will know at the time weather to " tie her up " early or just let her fight hard and use up all that energy and then go for the kill.
Finishing her off with a jab, hook right upper****



Lol

[BTL]

Kovalev is like the drunk girl walking through the park on her way home all alone. Hopkins is like the seriel rapist. He's got that experience behind him... He'll know when to pounce, when to fight and when to hold off. He knows she will put up a fight but he will know at the time weather to " tie her up " early or just let her fight hard and use up all that energy and then go for the kill.
Finishing her off with a jab, hook right upper****



Lol

cool story bro

[dan_cov]

Trainer John Scully offers expert analysis for Hopkins-Kovalev



Approaching his 50th birthday, Bernard Hopkins is still defying critics, opponents and age, but Sergey Kovalev aims to end his incredible quest for light heavyweight supremacy Saturday in Atlantic City.

Their showdown is a classic match up of old age and cunning versus youth and strength. Brute force against craft and savvy.

Former light heavy title challenger and trainer “Iceman” John Scully is well acquainted with Hopkins, having trained Chad Dawson for two bouts against The Alien. Scully offered his expert analysis for Behind The Gloves.

For Scully the danger of this bout for Hopkins is real.

“Without a doubt, dangerous is the first word that comes to mind,” Scully said. “This guy (Kovalev) is a very strong and tenacious guy with power in both hands and a real mean streak. Physically, in terms of the potential for bodily damage, this is probably Hopkins’ toughest fight in many years.”

Faced with twelve long rounds and a rugged opponent 18 years his junior, Hopkins will have to dig deep in his bag of tricks to thwart Kovalev’s offense and aggression while avoiding unnecessary brawling. Scully believes brawling won’t be in Hopkins repertoire Saturday night.

“I would have to say no and I also don’t think brawling is even on Bernard’s mind at all,” he said. “Bernard is definitely one of history’s smartest boxers and you don’t remain at world championship level at almost fifty years of age by making ill-advised choices in the ring,” he explained. “Bernard is very aware of the scientific aspects of boxing and, if they will ever be brought into the light for all to see, I would have to assume this fight will be the one he uses to showcase that intelligence. Not that he won’t go ahead and try to lay some real leather on this guy when the opportunities arise, but trading punches willfully and wildly for more than a moment or two? I don’t see that happening at all.”

What Scully does see happening is Hopkins bringing his tough defense into play, which will cause problems for Kovalev and his use of power shots, especially to the body.

“That Philly shell defense will serve him well,” he said. “I also believe Hopkins must be working on subtle, slick side steps and step around maneuvers. He’ll probably steal a page or two out of Ali’s book and tie Kovalev up at every opportunity.”

Hopkins can not afford to linger in Kovalev’s way between exchanges and Scully predicts actions to avoid those dangers.

“Not standing still and flat footed, leaning in and hanging around on the inside would seem to be to be priority number one for this fight. I think some may be surprised at his ability to negate Kovalev to a degree just with slick inside tactics.”

Opposing styles in the ring are an intriguing element in the match between Hopkins and Kovalev. Hopkins brings 494 rounds of boxing expertise to face Kovalev.

“Bernard is Bernard,” Scully said, comparing the two fighter’s styles. “He has attributes and tactics that only in the ring experience can give you. I’m very sure that a great deal of the great things he does, in there are things he was never actually taught one on one by a trainer as much as they are moves and ideas and a mentality he has acquired over the years through being in there with such top notch competition.”

How Hopkins handles his competition is extremely deft, Scully observed.

“He’s going to be the hypnotist and try and lull his man to sleep with the movement and little tricks he does,” he said. “Then, boom! He explodes with something sharp and accurate and out of nowhere. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I really appreciate watching him do his thing time and time again. Even when he lost to Chad in Atlantic City, right after the fight, he showed me enough that I felt he could continue to be successful against top guys who just didn’t have the slickness and physical attributes Chad had.”

The Kovalev style does bear contrast to Hopkins and Scully noted the difference.

“Kovalev has some classic boxing skills, and technique. He has the power and he also has the demeanor about him where he seems to exude quiet confidence in himself. If there is one guy who I think might not go for Bernard’s mental tricks, I think it would be this particular guy.”

Mind game and attitude are both weapons that will figure into the battle between Hopkins and Kovalev, in addition to physical strengths. To Scully, Kovalev’s power is major.

“His punching power, number one,” he said. “At Bernard’s age, as great as he is, and as great of condition he is in, you have to pay extra special attention and have a real respect for a guy with this kind of power. Kovalev is a guy who is very calculated and schooled in the game, and his hunger seems to be at a peak right now.” Hopkins he acknowledged, will have his edge in skill. “I think that general experience factor, the mental weight that it carries. The mystique of the Yoda-like warrior being on there with you.”

Kovalev will arrive in the ring Saturday night with trainer John David Jackson, who Hopkins defeated by TKO in 1997, then trained him wins against Antonio Tarver and Kelly Pavlik. What kind of issues will this present for Hopkins? Scully imparted some words of wisdom from Sugar Ray Leonard.

“In cases like this I always recall a situation many years ago when one of Sugar Ray Leonard’s inner circle members had supposedly defected to the camp on an up coming opponent, I think it was Tommy Hearns,” he said. “When they asked Ray is he was worried about having someone who knew him so well in the ear of his upcoming opponent he said something like this. I am paraphrasing but I remember it as something like this; He can have him there and he can tell him everything about me and what I do but it the fighter doesn’t have the tools to counter it and take advantage of the exact moments and situations then it doesn’t matter at all.

“People have seen Bernard for a quarter of a century now and there is a ton of film of him to study. I think in some regards the strategy needed to beat him has already been shown but at the same time you still need someone with the boxing skills and physical skills and abilities and the mentality to carry it out when it needs to be.”

Asked how he sees the fight unfolding, Scully outlined his theory.

“I could see different scenarios here but I think the general theme of the fight isn’t going to be a mystery,” he said. “Bernard will more than likely try to hypnotize Kovalev and confuse him with movement and angles and some rough inside stuff too. I think he will try at some point to fluster and anger Kovalev in order to get him out of that calculated seek and destroy mode and into a more reckless and energy draining mentality.”

During latter rounds, Scully predicts Hopkins finding a definite comfort zone.

“I think, even though he is the old man here, that Bernard will get looser and more accurate and settled the longer the fight goes,” Scully said. “This is the biggest fight of Kovalev’s career, and I am sure Bernard is banking on him exhibiting some over eagerness in the moment he can capitalize on.”

While Hopkins is getting into his own mode, Kovalev won’t be idle, and will try everything he can to take the win.

“I suppose Kovalev will eventually end up trying to bull rush and manhandle Bernard and over power him, and with the punching power he carries I would say it would be a wise tactic” Scully suggested. “The biggest question for me will be can he deal with Bernard’s craftiness, and the fact he may not be hitting him as cleanly as he would like, and Bernard will be slipping in some nice, long counter shots from the outside that will make him look bad and awkward.”

Opinions are varied on this fight outcome. Will Hopkin’s experience and mind over matter emerge the victor in Atlantic City or will Kovalev’s brute force prevail?

“I’m kind of torn on the fight really,” Scully admitted. “Unlike many people, I have actually leaned more towards Bernard on the days since the fight was announced,” he said. “I see how he could pull it off. I see that he has certain abilities that match up extremely well with this guy. A Bernard decision victory wouldn’t surprise me at all but at the end of it all, when push comes to shove, I think Kovalev is going to be in tremendous condition, and will not be as clumsy as some picture him to be. I think his power is ultimately going to carry the fight, and if he doesn’t catch B-Hop clean with a couple titanic shots he will be at least very gritty and focused enough to be physically successful in making it his kind of fight.

“I just kind of feel that he will be able to be successful at tiring Bernard out with his strength in a way that other opponents tried and weren’t successful.”

[Larry the boss]

Lets make some bets...........http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=657743

[Psylence83]

cool story bro

Thanks ****

Forgot you can't make jokes and have a laugh in NSB

[jas]

just watched bhop's workout

he really looks in tremendous shape

looks better than he did against shumenov

you can tell he really trained hard for this one

was on the fence before but was picking bhop because im a huge fan but now i genuinely believe hopkins wins

[jas]

funny bhop workout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWXs1lTDWdc&list=UUZU_OcSkdhKdkWjj_nYjsXA

[yoz]

Agreed. I like his power, but I hate the way Kovalev moves. So clunky and robotic. I feel Hopkins will be able to see everything that's coming at him waaay before it happens.

Then again, I like Kovalev's character. I don't think he will easily get frustrated or mind-effed like Pavlik.

But he moves very badly when you consider he's up against BHOP

His footwork isn't great, but he's deceptively slick. His shot selection from body to head is definitely under-appreciated.

[yoz]

just watched bhop's workout

he really looks in tremendous shape

looks better than he did against shumenov

you can tell he really trained hard for this one

was on the fence before but was picking bhop because im a huge fan but now i genuinely believe hopkins wins