Dear Hopkins

[Gandalf]

Hopkins fought an exceptional fight. He made Pavlik look like an amateur in there. But lets not forget a few things about Hopkins recent performances.

Since his move up to light heavyweight he has had 4 fights. For me the Tarver fight is his only significant win at the weight. Tarver was a genuine LHW and Hopkins breezed past him. Great win. Calzaghe actually beat Hopkins quite clearly. Winky was way out of his weight class though. And here we have Pavlik, though a big guy, he really is just a middleweight at this point.

Hopkins schooled Pavlik, and it was a great performance, but there is so much calculation in how Hopkins goes about matchmaking. I really dont think he really expected Calzaghe could be so good, and Im sure he's still in denial about it today. It was a good win, but lets not forget the realities of the situation.

Hopkins is creating the illusion of making "great" wins by asking fighters to step almost 2 weight classes outside what they normally fight at. It seems to be a Golden Boy art these days with Oscar leading the way. I know that sounds cynical but its the way it is.

[brucelee]

Miles, bro, let's not rob Hopkins of the win he deservedly got today. It was an excellent show of technical skill. Taylor was unable to do it against Pavlik.

[intoccabile]

Ive always told people that Kelly was only a 1-2 puncher and the moment he fought someone with good movement he would look silly, he doesnt cover enough angles with his punches. I thought BHOP would be the guy to expose that, but didn't think he'd win because he wouldn't have the workrate.

Not only did bhop expose it, but he suprised me by keeping it up for 12 rounds, something i DID NOT expect. Atleast my prediction on kelly's weakness was correct. Go bhop

[CGM]

Ive always told people that Kelly was only a 1-2 puncher and the moment he fought someone with good movement he would look silly, he doesnt cover enough angles with his punches. I thought BHOP would be the guy to expose that, but didn't think he'd win because he wouldn't have the workrate.

Not only did bhop expose it, but he suprised me by keeping it up for 12 rounds, something i DID NOT expect. Atleast my prediction on kelly's weakness was correct. Go bhop

excellent post, bang on the money. Somebody rep this guy I don't have enough posts yet. ( or maybe I can rep )

[Trainer Monkey]

Never count out a Germantown boy

[Gandalf]

Miles, bro, let's not rob Hopkins of the win he deservedly got today. It was an excellent show of technical skill. Taylor was unable to do it against Pavlik.

Im not robbing anybody. I said Hopkins schooled Pavlik and said it was an exceptional performance. He is 43, it is remarkable.

But I think my arguments stand up. And its only right that constructive criticism plays a part in the aftermath. There is always room for questioning.

[brucelee]

Miles, bro, let's not rob Hopkins of the win he deservedly got today. It was an excellent show of technical skill. Taylor was unable to do it against Pavlik.

Im not robbing anybody. I said Hopkins schooled Pavlik and said it was an exceptional performance. He is 43, it is remarkable.

But I think my arguments stand up. And its only right that constructive criticism plays a part in the aftermath. There is always room for questioning.

Nice sig though. " Hopkins. Unbelievable."

[The PocketRocket]

I think everyone accepts that Hopkins was awesome tonight. I thought Pavlik's workrate would see him through but Hopkins fought an exceptional fight and this victory is just another example of how great he truly is.

[mexirican]

I wanna be the first to congrat Bhop from youngstown. He gave a clinic

[intoccabile]

I think everyone accepts that Hopkins was awesome tonight. I thought Pavlik's workrate would see him through but Hopkins fought an exceptional fight and this victory is just another example of how great he truly is.

The one fight Pav fought outside of 160 was in JT 2 at 166 and he didn't have the same workrate. He's a work horse at 160.. but i think alot of people who studied his performance in the second JT fight saw he couldn't work hard above 160

[mexirican]

Didn't look like Kelly in there he never found the right distance to land any power right hands. Hopkins established his jab early and Kelly didn't. All credit to B-hop Pavlik couldn't get off. Were shell shocked here.

[The PocketRocket]

I think everyone accepts that Hopkins was awesome tonight. I thought Pavlik's workrate would see him through but Hopkins fought an exceptional fight and this victory is just another example of how great he truly is.

The one fight Pav fought outside of 160 was in JT 2 at 166 and he didn't have the same workrate. He's a work horse at 160.. but i think alot of people who studied his performance in the second JT fight saw he couldn't work hard above 160

Yeah but he didn't throw nearly enough punches - Pavlik's trainer was being interviewed earlier this week saying that Kelly will be averaging 96 punches a round so the gameplan was definitely to go in there and outwork Hopkins but Pavlik seemed to go into his shell.

[intoccabile]

I think everyone accepts that Hopkins was awesome tonight. I thought Pavlik's workrate would see him through but Hopkins fought an exceptional fight and this victory is just another example of how great he truly is.

The one fight Pav fought outside of 160 was in JT 2 at 166 and he didn't have the same workrate. He's a work horse at 160.. but i think alot of people who studied his performance in the second JT fight saw he couldn't work hard above 160

Yeah but he didn't throw nearly enough punches - Pavlik's trainer was being interviewed earlier this week saying that Kelly will be averaging 96 punches a round so the gameplan was definitely to go in there and outwork Hopkins but Pavlik seemed to go into his shell.

Gotcha. Defending is a must too though. Hopkins had the perfect plan. Kelly only punches at what is infront of him and when he has his feet planted. Hopkins never standing infront of him meant kelly wouldn't be able to throw punches. Kelly should really get some hooks in his arsenal.

Whenever bhop DID stop moving around him, he was throwing punches. So he kept kelly either defensive or confused - perfect execution.