Thread: could tarver hopkins be a slugfest? i doubt it....

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Scoop: Tarver-Hopkins Could Be A Slugfest
By Scoop Malinowski

Most ring observers expect a scientific chess match on June 10th between master tacticians Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver. Generally, these two wise old warriors are known as patient and precise counterpunchers who fight off the back foot. Very rarely will you see Tarver or Hopkins throw caution to the wind and go for broke, like Hagler against Hearns, Ward and Gatti or Foreman and Lyle.

But there seems to be hints in the recent comments from The Magic Man that the contrary may be in store in Atlantic City for the Hopkins Farewell Fight.

"Styles make fights and I think this will be a different fight than most are expecting," said Tarver in a Boxingtalk.com chat session. "He's a slow starter and I'm patient - but only when it calls for it. With Roy Jones Jr. who was witty and quick, you have to be patient."

Tarver may have decided that he has ample power and strength advantages over Hopkins so that he can just blitzkreig The Executioner from the outset. "Styles make fights and I want to put pressure on him early. I want to hurt him early to the body and get him out of there before six."

Tarver even had a veiled threat for his next adversary, warning, "The slow starter might have an early night on June 10. Slow start equals early night for Bernard Hopkins."

If the bigger and stronger Tarver does decide to turn the heat on Hopkins from the getgo, Bernard may have no choice but to stand his ground. And brawl.

It is reasonable to believe that when Tarver and Hopkins clash on June 10th, it could much more resemble a Hagler-Hearns type dramatic slugfest rather than a Byrd-Williamson fiasco.

i see no reason why hopkins cant start slowly as usual, make tarver expend energy trying to hit him and then turn it on from round 7 and take advantage of tarvers stamina issues....

im telling you, b hop could very well finish on a high....

Tarver appears to prefer fighting from outside at an easy pace and seems quite cautious until he lands a big left

I think it could go both ways. I hope Hopkins pushes it, because Tarver don't handle pressure IMO. But, Roy pressured him in their 2nd fight, and got KOd. I think B-HOP's "D" is better than Roy's, so he probably won't get caught the same way.

But honestly, that's wishful thinking. B-HOP is most likely to work his way in, over 5 rounds, then try to take advantage as someone has already stated.