Comments Thread For: Kovalev: I'm Going To Kick Bernard Hopkins' Ass!

[-Kev-]

Yea, the Maidana attitude could work. I liked the advice of Hopkins' former trainer, who said to hit him in the arms, shoulders, body and anywhere else. If Kovalev's power is the real thing, a well-placed hard punch anywhere might be enough to get things going.

Then again, Pavlik and Cloud were hard punchers and they couldn't even get close enough to do shit.

Reminds me of Gatti's gameplan vs Floyd. He couldn't even do that, because Floyd wasn't even there to be hit at all, and when he was there and Gatti tried anything, he'd get countered. When you throw at a counterpunchers arms and shoulders, you leave your head wide open for counter shots.

Kovalev will not only have to chase in this fight, if he does manage to get B-Hop up close, Hopkins will throw sneaky 1-2's and tie him up. Move away from his right hand, jab, 2-3 punch combo, tie up. I can already see a discouraged Kovalev in the 9th round not being able to let his shots off cause Hopkins won't be there to be hit like he and his fans think is going to happen.

It'll be chalked up to "Just a bad night" or "Kovalev wasn't that good to begin with" by the media and fans, anything to not give Hopkins full credit, when in reality it was just a great fighter vs a good fighter situation.

[PittyPat]

I can already see a discouraged Kovalev in the 9th round not being able to let his shots off

I sensed a lot of frustration from Kovalev in the Agnew fight, the longer it dragged on. It wasn't so much "Oh no, Kovalev is ready to blow! This guy is just making him madder!", but more like... Kovalev looked genuinely out of ideas until that body shot, as if he was just going through the motions by punching away and hoping something would hurt. Sure, he found that body shot eventually, but Hopkins won't just open up and offer his stomach like that. No fuckin' way.

Kovalev's only chance is to go full-on Maidana, charge in, not get caught with something ****** (eg. Caparello) and hit everything available - legal and illegal. No boxing from the outside, no trying to be cute and time the old man. He has to be that nasty Russian brute everyone makes him out to be. It worked as well as it could for Maidana, so...

[arraamis]

WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (25-0-1, 23KOs) has promised to take no prisoners on November 8th, when he faces 49-year-old veteran and WBA/IBF champion, Bernard Hopkins (55-6-2, 32KOs). The HBO televised fight takes place on November 8th from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Hopkins has derailed several undefeated, young fighters - most notably Kelly Pavlik and Felix Trinidad. Kovalev is looking to end the incredible run of Hopkins once and for all.
[Click Here To Read More]

Kovalev will go down in history, if he gets the upset. And really I don't think the tables are that much in B-Hops favor for it to be an upset -- But it will be historic.

[arraamis]

Reminds me of Gatti's gameplan vs Floyd. He couldn't even do that, because Floyd wasn't even there to be hit at all, and when he was there and Gatti tried anything, he'd get countered. When you throw at a counterpunchers arms and shoulders, you leave your head wide open for counter shots.

Kovalev will not only have to chase in this fight, if he does manage to get B-Hop up close, Hopkins will throw sneaky 1-2's and tie him up. Move away from his right hand, jab, 2-3 punch combo, tie up. I can already see a discouraged Kovalev in the 9th round not being able to let his shots off cause Hopkins won't be there to be hit like he and his fans think is going to happen.

It'll be chalked up to "Just a bad night" or "Kovalev wasn't that good to begin with" by the media and fans, anything to not give Hopkins full credit, when in reality it was just a great fighter vs a good fighter situation.

Good points .... I also see B-Hop doing several WWE moves, taking Kovalev to the mat at least twice.

[PRchamp]

Hopkins is a all-time great but let's be serious he's going to KO'ed. Hopkins will try to sneak his way out of this fight via DQ watch.

[Da Machine]

I truly can't believe Hopkins has this many people fooled....

Dude hasnt beat anyone in years.

[ShoulderRoll]

Kovalev can't go into this fight with a "I'm fighting Bernard Hopkins" attitude.

He needs to go in with a "I'm fighting a 50 year old man and I'm going to wreck him" attitude.

You show Hopkins respect, and he finds a way to snatch the fight from you.

I agree. The guy is a senior citizen, force him to look the part.

[kafkod]

Kovalev is a much better boxer than many people believe. He places his punches carefully and thinks about what he is doing all the time. I don't see him being mugged out of this fight by Hopkins' mind games and spoiling tricks, he's too clever for that. He seems to cut easily though, and I think that is the only weakness that Bhop could exploit. I wouldn't be surprised if he uses his head on Kovalev in the clinches, and I'm not talking about "thinking" here.
If he doesn't get cut, Kovalev will win this fight. His power will be too much for Hopkins.

[ChestRockwell]

Nothing but respect for Bhop. The man will be a legend and is in the same boat as the old greats. I loved how he went outside his box in the Murat fight and beat on him. Looked 20 years younger. I just don't see him getting past Kovalev. Kovalev is the real deal. He's the new old school. I will happily eat my words if I'm wrong and even kind of hope I'm wrong but Kovalev's power is real and he will land it on Hopkins at some point. Kovalev is a killer. Plain and simple.

[lefthook2daliva]

Kovalev can't go into this fight with a "I'm fighting Bernard Hopkins" attitude.

He needs to go in with a "I'm fighting a 50 year old man and I'm going to wreck him" attitude.

You show Hopkins respect, and he finds a way to snatch the fight from you.

Beat me to it. That's what I think exactly.

Kovalev seems focused.

What will Hops do to disrupt him and get that respect that gives him the fight?

I'm guessing he'll figure it out, but I'll be very interested to see what the Alien comes up with to this end.