Sergey Kovalev vs. Bernard Hopkins: who wins?

[521Joe]

I Got B Hop in this one. Kovalev is too much of a straight forward fighter, I fully expect Bernard to frustrate him and have him chasing him around the ring. Kovalev will chase and Bernard will stick n move, kovalev chases and bernard pops him with the one two and clinches. I truly believe that will be the story of the fight

[jacksonmann]

Every time I've tipped against Hopkins he's cost me money - Trinidad, Tarver, Pavlik. But I just can't see how anyone at 49 can handle Kovalev's power. Brave man to take him on.

[Rantcatrat]

It's one of two things. Hopkins sees something in Kovalev that he is confident he can exploit or he was forced to make the decision rather than vacate a title to accommodate Haymon. I have to think it's the former. I like Hopkins in this fight on the cards.

[Rantcatrat]

What were the opening odds?

[armin]

Kovalev within nine hop is special but I think kovalev himself is a special fighter n will prove it over time.

[erics44]

It's one of two things. Hopkins sees something in Kovalev that he is confident he can exploit or he was forced to make the decision rather than vacate a title to accommodate Haymon. I have to think it's the former. I like Hopkins in this fight on the cards.

if Hopkins wins this ill be extremely impressed


sounds daft but before his last fight kovalev looked unstoppable, so composed and relaxed, stayed in range very well and wasted virtually nothing


And I know it was over quick last time but for the first time I though he looked beatable


nothing to do with the knock down

[Beanflicker]

Bhop WIDE decision.

[IamInuit]

First you have to stand in awe of this guy even if you hate the way he fights at this point in his career. I've said it before, this guy is a modern day Archie Moore. It just didn't take him 160 fights to get a title shot. If Hop has a role model its probably the Mongoose. I think he's shooting for the mans longevity record. Maybe tie it to the day and retire or break it. Which makes what he is attempting to do here even more incredible. He could easily sit back and defend his titles against others cruising past Moore but he does the opposite. There is something to be said about taking out the toughest guy in the room first. Applied street smarts. Kov is no rinse and repeat Pavlik. His own trainer has said on more then one occasions that at many times it is he who becomes the student.

Here's a 50 year old who already has more legacy then most fighters in history seeking more legacy in an era where most fighters are running away from it. You have to hand it to Bernard as he already got the first mental punch in by agreeing to the fight. There is a good chance that Hopkins could take him out of the fight in the lead up ending with the Vegas lights, crowd and Hopkins coming to the ring last. I think the mental angle is more important then skill sets at this point.

In the end I think this might be gold watch time for Bernard although I'd love to see him pull it out. I have no desire to see this guy sprawled out on the floor surrounded by medics or even soundly beaten by a guy that most likely would not have beaten even 5 years ago. Bernard does not pull the trigger enough and is starting to flinch with his reactions and stiffen up in exchanges. That comes with age and the loss of edge. I'd like to see Hop make it to the final bell and hope he does but I think he has punched that time clock for the last time unless he follows in Roy's footsteps.

[El Kabong]

If B-Hop gets beat I just hope it's 1 punch and lights out rather than battered until the corner throws in the towel.

We saw Ali battered by Holmes, RJJ got both the 1 punch KO AND battered, we saw Tyson take some big beatings, we saw Holyfield take beatings

Boxing doesn't need a legend to go out in a bad way again...I'm not a Hopkins fan, but you can't doubt his greatness.

[El Kabong]

Kovalev will just demolish Hopkins (if he can catch him). Sergey can box as well as slug, he has power to do big damage to B-Hop. Hopkins is cagey as hell but so was Archie Moore, so was Joe Walcott and age catches up to everyone.

If Hopkins just lasts the distance he will have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest of all time. This is a very dangerous fight this is like Apollo Creed vs Ivan Drago...the wily old veteran vs the power punching phenom. Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Gennedy Golovkin wouldn't be this dangerous!


At this point although I'm no fan of Hopkins, I just hope he's safe in the ring. He's fought dangerous punchers before but age erodes skill and talent...does he have enough left?


My prediction Sergey Kovalev by TKO in 6

[denilson200]

Kovalev will just demolish Hopkins (if he can catch him). Sergey can box as well as slug, he has power to do big damage to B-Hop. Hopkins is cagey as hell but so was Archie Moore, so was Joe Walcott and age catches up to everyone.

If Hopkins just lasts the distance he will have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest of all time. This is a very dangerous fight this is like Apollo Creed vs Ivan Drago...the wily old veteran vs the power punching phenom. Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Gennedy Golovkin wouldn't be this dangerous!


At this point although I'm no fan of Hopkins, I just hope he's safe in the ring. He's fought dangerous punchers before but age erodes skill and talent...does he have enough left?


My prediction Sergey Kovalev by TKO in 6

Apollo Creed Vs Ivan Drago (lol)

Gotta love that (I was always partial to Mr T - Clubber Lang -) then again Kovalev is a bit of a 'If he dies...he dies' type character (lol)

He does have that Russian Mafia, killing someoone would not be a big deal for him look about him. But I jest.

[mikeeod]

Kovalev will just demolish Hopkins (if he can catch him). Sergey can box as well as slug, he has power to do big damage to B-Hop. Hopkins is cagey as hell but so was Archie Moore, so was Joe Walcott and age catches up to everyone.

If Hopkins just lasts the distance he will have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest of all time. This is a very dangerous fight this is like Apollo Creed vs Ivan Drago...the wily old veteran vs the power punching phenom. Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Gennedy Golovkin wouldn't be this dangerous!


At this point although I'm no fan of Hopkins, I just hope he's safe in the ring. He's fought dangerous punchers before but age erodes skill and talent...does he have enough left?


My prediction Sergey Kovalev by TKO in 6

Apollo Creed Vs Ivan Drago (lol)

Gotta love that (I was always partial to Mr T - Clubber Lang -) then again Kovalev is a bit of a 'If he dies...he dies' type character (lol)

He does have that Russian Mafia, killing someoone would not be a big deal for him look about him. But I jest.

I feel like even though he has been out of prison for decades and has turned his life around, Hop still has that killer/thug aura going. Kov looks mean in a Russian gangster way and Hop looks mean in a ghetto gangster way. Kind of like DMX. U look at those guys and u can see it in them. Hop lures people in with that and they expect this brawl and he goes out and starts pumping jabs and circling the guy and it just throws them off. They r always waiting for Hop to drop the hammer and before they know it the fight is over. Kov isn't athletic enough or active enough to win this one. Hop believes more than anything in his chin and defense, so he won't become exhausted worrying about taking a clean shot. That and Hops movement and experience will be too much for Kov who isn't athletic n fast like Taylor, Joe C. n Dawson were. All of those guys also came in and just threw punches without landing much of significance, but just high volumes. Two of those guys were lucky to get the wins they got over Hop and Hop could've easily one a couple and tied the other one. I don't see this being a bad style match up for Hop n I think he wins the decision.

[Spicoli]

I am second guessing my initial prediction and at a near coin flip tonight. Simply put I wonder and do believe Kovalev is getting away from boxing focus. When I start seeing "Krusher" t shirts and socks being handed out on live fight cards..it concerns me. Know that's simplistic and yes its hype, but it makes you wonder.

[bradlee180]

Hopkins is the master of neutralizing his opponent's strengths.
Master of analyzing his opponents way in advance, of coming in with the right gameplan, and a backup of his gameplan, and a backup of the backup.

He'll attempt to weather the storm for the 1st half as most of Kovalev's fights end within 4 rds, figuring Kovalev will start to tire after 7 rds.
Early on, Hopkins will grab and hold him, try to rough him up inside with dirty tactics.

Hopkins always starts slow, and gradually increases his pace as the fight wears on, basically the opposite of what happens to most fighters as they slowly tire.

As they grow weaker, he appears to get stronger.

Then after the midway point, Hopkins will step back from holding him and start to box and potshot from long-range.

I think Hopkins stops him on cuts late in the fight, maybe rd 11.
Kovalev's brows will be cut up and bloody, cheekbones swollen and bloody, cuts above the eye, swollen eyes, mostly from Hopkins dirty tactics but also from long-range boxing. When Kovalev retaliates with dirty tactics of his own, you'll see some acting out of Hopkins again.

Never bet against Bernard Hopkins.


Yep...

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

If Kovalev's mind stays on track, then with his overall strength, potency and accuracy, I'd consider this is a stoppage loss for Hopkins.

I'm just not sure how big an 'if' this is.