Pavlik Vs Hopkins Poll

[p4pking]

I went with Hopkins by decision, I think he'll be able to frustrate Pavlik enough with movement and win an ugly fight. To me, stylistically this a great matchup for Hopkins. Someone mentioned in this thread that if he had to take a breather against Calzaghe and still tired how will he stand up to Pavliks pressure, but I just don't see any comparison between Pavlik and Calzaghe other than they are both pressure fighters somewhat. Calzaghe is much much faster though, I think Hopkins will have an easier time slipping Pavliks shots and countering. Whether he would get the decision in such an event, I don't know, but Pavlik has never fought anyone with footwork and ring craft like Hopkins. Hop doesn't throw much, Pavlik could grind out a decision based on that I guess but I Can't for the life of me see how people actually think Pavlik is going to stop Hopkins at 175 pounds, where he has never fought. This isn't Miranda or Taylor, Hopkins isn't chinny, he doesn't have bad habits, and he is just to cagey to be stopped by anyone out there currently imo. Of course there's always the chance Hopkins has lost everything since fighting Calzaghe... But to me, you'd have to bank on that in order to actually think Pavlik will get the stoppage. Hopkins has never been hurt by a punch in his career, how can you be remotely confident picking Pavlik to STOP him. Like Hopkins is going to back straight up into a corner with his hands low if he get's rocked? And to me, even that is a big IF.

[Rantcatrat]

I went with Hopkins by decision, I think he'll be able to frustrate Pavlik enough with movement and win an ugly fight. To me, stylistically this a great matchup for Hopkins. Someone mentioned in this thread that if he had to take a breather against Calzaghe and still tired how will he stand up to Pavliks pressure, but I just don't see any comparison between Pavlik and Calzaghe other than they are both pressure fighters somewhat. Calzaghe is much much faster though, I think Hopkins will have an easier time slipping Pavliks shots and countering. Whether he would get the decision in such an event, I don't know, but Pavlik has never fought anyone with footwork and ring craft like Hopkins. Hop doesn't throw much, Pavlik could grind out a decision based on that I guess but I Can't for the life of me see how people actually think Pavlik is going to stop Hopkins at 175 pounds, where he has never fought. This isn't Miranda or Taylor, Hopkins isn't chinny, he doesn't have bad habits, and he is just to cagey to be stopped by anyone out there currently imo. Of course there's always the chance Hopkins has lost everything since fighting Calzaghe... But to me, you'd have to bank on that in order to actually think Pavlik will get the stoppage. Hopkins has never been hurt by a punch in his career, how can you be remotely confident picking Pavlik to STOP him. Like Hopkins is going to back straight up into a corner with his hands low if he get's rocked? And to me, even that is a big IF.

Not a bad post. I think it is entirely possible that Hopkins could win a close decision. Don't sleep on Pavlik's punching power, but I agree NO ONE knocks out Bernard. He has chin for days. Compared to Pavlik, Calzaghe is faster and throws a lot of punches, but there is nothing on them. Pavlik throws a lot of punches and the punches sting. Pavlik hsa a chin too, he shook off Jermain's biggest punches and came back to knock him out. I agree that Hopkins will slip a lot of the punches and test Pavlik's chin with a couple of counters, but at the end of the day Pavlik will win on a UD.

Again, if Pavlik does knock Bernard out, will that convince you he is the real deal? Or just that Bernard was too old?