Quote Originally Posted by p4pking View Post
He obviously wasn't that stiff, you can't take the kind of punches he did and stay upright without some snap in the legs. Considering he was moving laterally the entire fight and still slipping most punches, I'd say he looked about as good as anyone could have expected. Kovalev is a damn good boxer and didn't do any of the things people thought Hopkins might be able to exploit, didn't tire out whatsoever, hardly wasted a single punch all night, it's just what it is. I'm still confident Hopkins could beat Stevenson.
Kovalev wisely kept the perfect fighting distance, a good pace, and hurt Hopkins early to make him gun shy.

I was really expecting more from B-Hop, but my God was he tough and courageous!

He didn't foul or DQ his way out as some critical fans said he would.

He took his medicine and went the distance with a very good opponent.

Unfortunately, I do not have as optimistic view about him beating Stevenson now. It is possible but he will have to take far more risks in the ring than he did last night or he will lose again.