Prime B-Hop vs Kovalev?

[HI-TECH Boxing]

People have always doubted Kovalev, this is no different.
I remember when people were saying that Agnew exposed him and how Hopkins was going to make him look silly; I wonder how that worked out for them .

WAR KOVALEV!!!!

[Butt stuff]

Prime Hopkins was so different than the guy we see now. Quick, bold, and clever without the need to rely so heavily on rule bending as a crutch. I see prime Hopkins leaving Kovalev confused and one step behind. The only advantage Kovalev would have would be strength/size but it wouldn't matter as prime Hopkins was quick enough to evade anyone of Kovalev's speed. I have a hard time imagining anything other than Bhop by decision.

This. I feel like hopkins has all the ring IQ and smarts intact, it's just he's no longer got the physical attributes to implement them. Sidenote; the way he's adapted his style to age is incredible, being able to rewrite decades of muscle memory shows real dedication/willpower.

[BigAlexSand]

Prime Hopkins never met a fighter with such a combination of power, size, technique and ability to control distance as Kovalev. Actually he had only one such opponent throughout his career besides Kovalev - Tarver. But Tarver wasn't so good on his feet, wasn't so good at controlling distance, didn't have such combinations as Kovalev. So we don't know anything how prime Hop dealed with big strong fast lightheavyweights.
Also remember that good big fighter beats good small fighter.

No he didn't because he was a MIDDLEWEIGHT during his prime... The closest when it comes to power, was Pavlik. A younger Hopkins would have TKO'd Pavlik. Kovalev is a great fighter but fact remains he beat a 50 years old Hopkins, and still couldn't take the old man out. Hopkins biggest issue wasn't Power, but speed. Jones beat him because of the obvious speed difference and Taylor beat Hopkins because of his ability to beat Hopkins to the punch. 9 times out of 10 A prime 160 Hopkins who would have made a catch weight with Kolvalev would decisivley beat Kovavlev by a wide Ud and possible tKO 4 times out of those 10.

[BigAlexSand]

This. I feel like hopkins has all the ring IQ and smarts intact, it's just he's no longer got the physical attributes to implement them. Sidenote; the way he's adapted his style to age is incredible, being able to rewrite decades of muscle memory shows real dedication/willpower.

Your side note is on Key... Young kids who see Hopkins now assume that was his fight game for beginning. Hopkins often walked down his opponents using fast straights and explosive combinations. No RJJ but the man in his prime had the perfect set of skills and God given gifts. Hopkins in his prime wouldn't allow the pace to get out of his chosen pace, would have been attacking as often with just as much conviction and accuracy as Kovalev. One thing Hopkins did well in his time, and that was expose huge punchers.

[Shpacman]

No he didn't because he was a MIDDLEWEIGHT during his prime... The closest when it comes to power, was Pavlik. A younger Hopkins would have TKO'd Pavlik. Kovalev is a great fighter but fact remains he beat a 50 years old Hopkins, and still couldn't take the old man out. Hopkins biggest issue wasn't Power, but speed. Jones beat him because of the obvious speed difference and Taylor beat Hopkins because of his ability to beat Hopkins to the punch. 9 times out of 10 A prime 160 Hopkins who would have made a catch weight with Kolvalev would decisivley beat Kovavlev by a wide Ud and possible tKO 4 times out of those 10.

Pavlik is no match to Kovalev. Nor in terms of skills, nor in terms of size, nor in terms of power.
Kovalev main goal in Hopkins fight was to win rounds, not to knock BHop out. Also BHop was almost in survival mode till final round. And in final round he was nearly put down.
Don't forget that Kovalev has not only power but also size and skills. Yes, he doesn't have RJJ and Taylor speed, but he has much more than only power.
Again, we can't say that prime BHop was bothered only by speed, because we siply don't know how he would have dealed with combination od size, power and skills.

[BigAlexSand]

Pavlik is no match to Kovalev. Nor in terms of skills, nor in terms of size, nor in terms of power.
Kovalev main goal in Hopkins fight was to win rounds, not to knock BHop out. Also BHop was almost in survival mode till final round. And in final round he was nearly put down.
Don't forget that Kovalev has not only power but also size and skills. Yes, he doesn't have RJJ and Taylor speed, but he has much more than only power.
Again, we can't say that prime BHop was bothered only by speed, because we siply don't know how he would have dealed with combination od size, power and skills.

Pavlik was a huge middleweight; as Hopkins was a big Middleweight as well. Pavliks 30 of his 34 wins before Hopkins was knockouts. So saying Pavlik didn't have big power is ridiculous. Also in hieght Pavlik is the bigger fighter being 2" taller than Kovalev. Yes height doesn't dictate to much in a fight unless you fight tall which Pavlik did quite successfully for most his career.
Fact is a young Hopkins had the skill, athletism, and ring iq to be dangerous for almost all past greats and current. He also would put a whooping on Kovalev.

[Shpacman]

Pavlik was a huge middleweight;

And Pavlik would be SMALL lightheavyweight with average (for a lightheavyweight) power. And Kovalev is a full-sized hard-hitting lighheavyweight. That's all.

[KnockoutNed]

The Pavlik- Kovalev comparisons are absolutely laughable and quite honestly come off as a little racist. Kovalev is miles above that wino.

[////]

Pavlik and Kovalev are nothing alike.

[Y0@NN]

Pavlik was a huge middleweight; as Hopkins was a big Middleweight as well. Pavliks 30 of his 34 wins before Hopkins was knockouts. So saying Pavlik didn't have big power is ridiculous. Also in hieght Pavlik is the bigger fighter being 2" taller than Kovalev.

And since Martinez also beat the 6'2" Pavlik, that means he would beat Kovalev too because as you imply, they're mirror images...