Hopkins vs Kovalev - who wins?

[mikeeod]

Tony bellew picks hopkins and Nathan picks Kovalev.

I'm saying Kovalev on points which seems against the grain as logic says its Hopkins points or Kov Ko. The reason I think Kovalev takes a distance fight is because Hopkins is too good to get sparked. Pascal hit him with some big shots in both fights and Hopkins proved his chin. He was dropped twice though and I think it's those same surprise shots he doesn't see that will cost him against Kov. I don't think Kovalev finishes him off though. He will win the rounds on activity & aggression but its so hard to nail the old man clean.

I can see Hopkins begin to frustrate Kov late on but it will be too late to rescue it. The weigh in will be fascinating cuz Hopkins always starts the mind games but how do you intimidate a russian beast like Kovalev. Nathan tried that and look what happend. Winner of this vs Adonis Stevenson next time. Another great fight

I can see your point on the Pascal scenario, but I just feel that Pascal was VERY athletic and fast (always referred to as a lesser version/poor man's Roy Jones Jr.) and Kov is very methodical. I don't see Hop being surprised or caught with similar shots, but I may be wrong. DEFINITELY NOT saying that you are completely wrong and that there is no way your are right, just more talking it out with someone of a different opinion. The factors that push it over for Hop in my opinion are:
1) Style match up
2) Kov hasn't ever fought anyone close to Hop and has fought less than elite opposition
3) If you watch Kov's fights, when he corners the other fighter and is setting up his big punch, he tends to react to feints significantly and hold his hands in anticipation of the counter. I can see Hop using lateral movement and then feinting and potshotting his way out of corners/areas of danger.

Anyways, guess we will find out this Saturday. Think it is a GREAT fight and that whoever wins beats Stevenson easier, if Adonis even gets in the ring with them.

[Master]

I hope Hopkins wins points. Amazing the old man is going against a monster puncher like this.

[Primo Carnera]

Who's the ref? I think that'll be key to who wins. If the ref allows Hopkins to hold, he wins. If not, he could be in trouble. Kovalev has the power to KO any LHW in the World, let alone a guy who's nearly 50! Props to Hopkins for even taking the fight.

[Tam Seddon]

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/bern...83#more-267383

[Rantcatrat]

I think Bernard will win on points. Kov isn't busy or fast enough, fights in straight lines and is predictable. Hop will start out tentative and as the fight progresses he will take over to win a decision. Kov has that big punch and is used to fighting scared guys who aren't elite. Hop lives for guys like that, still has his chin n tight defense n likes to fight at a predictable, measured pace. Hop by decision.

I tend to agree with @mikeeod - we haven't seen Hopkins lose to this style of fighter ever. In recent times, we've seen him have difficulty with faster guys (Taylor, Calzaghe & Dawson) or unorthodox guys (Pascal) but never with come-forward, offensive big punchers (Cloud & Pavlik).

Here's the only thing that's making me think twice because otherwise I'd bet the house on Hopkins. Hopkins struggled a bit with Murat. Yes, he won the fight convincingly, but as Doug Fischer said in his mail bag this week, after six rounds all three ring-side observers had the fight even. Regardless of how you scored it though, there were moments where Murat got the better of him. Murat was stopped by Cleverly. Hopkins also been dropped a few times over the last couple of years, which is bound to happen, when you're facing the best of the best, of course, but it makes you think, because none of the guys who put him down punch as hard as Kovalev.

At the end of the day, I still go with Hopkins. I think he studied Kovalev and knew what he was doing when he decided to face him. I like Hopkins by disputed decision.

Credit to both guys though for taking the fight. I'd have favored both over Stevenson and yet they decided to fight each other rather than Stevenson. Even though Stevenson holds the lineal belt, this is the best versus the best at 175.