Comments Thread For: Kovalev-Hopkins A Smash Hit With Home Viewers

[STEELHEAD]

so this is what its come to. i guess for some it doesnt take much to get excited.

am i the only one that thought this was a boring ass fight.
kovalev took it easy on old man hop.
hope hop retires.
the crew i hang with don't want to see another boring hop fight where we watch him just trying to survive.

[Mr.Daddy]

I just re-watched the 12th round, it was insane! Kellerman, Lampley & RJ were speechless during the final minute probably coz they couldn't register seeing Hopkins in deep trouble for the first time in his career. He took a barrage of punishment with his head snapping back multiple times. I think the commentators were hoping that BHOP was playing possum because when the punishment started, they were saying how dangerous it was for Kovalev to fight so aggressively. Yet, Kovalev was landing big shots non-stop and BHOP didn't answer once. Another 30 seconds, the fight could've been stopped. Watching the last two minutes with the sound off, I was thinking should they stop this?? It was starting to look like Dela Hoya-Pacquiao.

Major props to BHOP for taking this fight. He landed 2 or 3 good punches, but he never had a chance. I don't even see a different outcome if Bernard was 10 or 15 yrs younger. Great career for a legendary Hall of Famer!! This fight was the passing of the torch.

Yes, they were speechless, and I am quite thankful for that. And as has been noted, that 12th round may well be voted as round of the year.

[Hougigo]

That's not as good as you'd hope for such a big fight. Kind of worrisome that this is the best boxing can do this year.

I thought so too... especially since Kova was doing in or around a million on his own and Hopkins has brought in huge ratings in the past against guys who weren't as dangerous.

Only good thing is it cost less than the A side of the most viewed card this year

[FloydvsPac]

Yes, they were speechless, and I am quite thankful for that. And as has been noted, that 12th round may well be voted as round of the year.

Even when the fight ended, the HBO trio were kinda making excuses for BHOP, which made zero sense to me. Lamps even said, Kova & his trainer will look back at that round and think "it wasn't the smartest round they fought". What??? I would agree if Bernard was throwing punches back, but he wasn't. He lost every round and it was the last minute of the fight where he badly needed a knockout. Bernard not answering in that moment meant he was hurt BAD!! Bravo for Kova for being smart enough to open up at the right time and throw effective combinations!! That's what they should've said.

[dook27]

I just re-watched the 12th round, it was insane! Kellerman, Lampley & RJ were speechless during the final minute probably coz they couldn't register seeing Hopkins in deep trouble for the first time in his career. He took a barrage of punishment with his head snapping back multiple times. I think the commentators were hoping that BHOP was playing possum because when the punishment started, they were saying how dangerous it was for Kovalev to fight so aggressively. Yet, Kovalev was landing big shots non-stop and BHOP didn't answer once. Another 30 seconds, the fight could've been stopped. Watching the last two minutes with the sound off, I was thinking should they stop this?? It was starting to look like Dela Hoya-Pacquiao.

Major props to BHOP for taking this fight. He landed 2 or 3 good punches, but he never had a chance. I don't even see a different outcome if Bernard was 10 or 15 yrs younger. Great career for a legendary Hall of Famer!! This fight was the passing of the torch.

So what are you trying to say? Kovalev would beat a prime Hopkins?

[SeekDaGreat]

That's usually what happens when the best are fighting the best. People actually tune in.

In this case the best is a lot better presently than the guy he was in the ring with, who is also one of the best in the division.

[FloydvsPac]

So what are you trying to say? Kovalev would beat a prime Hopkins?

Hypothetically, yes. Only because BHOP lost every round decisively. So to claim he would've dominated Kovalev in his prime would really be a stretch. Kova's gameplan was perfect. The only argument would be that Bernard got old overnight, but I don't see that he did. He fought the way he has always fought.

Most of all, Bernard was truly humbled for the first time. He didn't even try to say "if was younger....." and he's always the first to justifiably play the age card. His analysis was strictly based on Kovalev's size, skills and gameplan. In his prime, I believe BHOP would've won rounds, but still lost. Bernard would still have trouble getting inside.

[ИATAS]

u mean for this year that's good but honestly I expected at least 1.5m. Ratings have really dropped I remember when he fought Pascal it was 1.8m

[crazed_z06]

ESPN article said HBO has the top 13 highest rated fights this year...

Remember when people said showtime and haymon were about to kill hbo boxing? Pepperidge farm remembers

Lulz.

[DoktorSleepless]

Yeah, this is actually pretty disappointing when you consider Hopkins-Pascal did 1.8m and Hopkins-Dawson II did 1.6m. This was the best "megafight" of sorts HBO had access to, and that's all it could muster. Pretty depressing IMO.