Quote Originally Posted by Deanrw View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Bomp View Post
Before last night I'd pick Joe by decision, if he turns up as overconfident and sluggish as last nigh he gets KTFO. And I'm as big a fan of Joe as there is on this board.
Your thinking is exactly the same as mine. I would never have given Pavlik a chance before. Joe just seemed to have lost much as his speed and oomph last night. I can see Bernard negating his punch output, but not his speed and reflexes.

Pavlik is 10 years his Junior and although still green, has the same tenacity that Joe has always shown, but with more pop to his punches.

Joe is a southpaw though and I am still wondering how Pavlik will deal with them. We do know that straight right will be launching regardless.

People need to realize that Joe is approaching the age where his reflexes will slow down. I would not give Pavlik a chance in hell against Joe under normal circumstances. To me though, he is starting to show his age.
That's just B-Hop does to you. It's not so much the speed and reflexes that went, it's more a case of B-Hop making you think twice about throwing a combination. The breaking up of your rhythm, which in turn makes you force your own punches. The speed was still there in the single shots, but it's speedy combinations which are Joe's speciality. Obviously Hopkins experience and style make it very hard to land combinations.....regardless of how good or fast you are.