Prime vs Prime: Hopkins vs Kovalev

[lparm]

Obviously he got shredded in the fight but that was an old hop that had been through a few wars and a couple of beatings like against RJJ and Calzaghe. How does prime Hop do against Kov though?

My opinion he spoils it and wins a decision in an ugly fight like he did to winky.

Thoughts

[MisterPullman]

Kovalev wins again but it will be more competitive for sure. You have to understand Hopkins didn't get 1 single round on any card. After he tasted kovalev's power and got dropped he went straight to survival mode.

[lparm]

Kovalev wins again but it will be more competitive for sure. You have to understand Hopkins didn't get 1 single round on any card. After he tasted kovalev's power and got dropped he went straight to survival mode.

He was also 50 years old and his chin was cracked after punches from Calzaghe, Pascal and Dawson.

Even a 40 year old Hop takes Kov into deep waters and in his prime IMO he wins.

[MisterPullman]

He was also 50 years old and his chin was cracked after punches from Calzaghe, Pascal and Dawson.

Even a 40 year old Hop takes Kov into deep waters and in his prime IMO he wins.

Old Hopkins beat a prime pascal who beat a prime Dawson before Ward did.

Don't even try to compare Hopkins to a random 50 year old. You'll see how great Kovalev really is after Ward. Froch and Calzaghe will envy kovalev's success : \

[////]

If Hopkins chin was cracked it wasn't cracked too bad since he went 12 rds and was still at the top of the division.

I think it was just one of those style matchups, Kovalev is very good at creating distance and keeping power on his shots while moving backwards which deprived Hopkins of his dirty boxing zone.

Some think Ward and Hopkins have similar styles but I think Kovalev-Ward is a tougher fight to call because Ward's footwork is quicker than Hopkins, he gets in and out of his preferred distance more easily.