Vindication is sweet.

[amat]

I was choked when Hopkins began crying, that was a special moment.

I wasn't choked, actually in a way I was but not with tears or anything haha

But it was BADASS when he stared down press row. DAYAM, that shit was awesome. Sorry, I hate to do the hindsight deal, but how many were calling this a pointless fight even when it was signed? No one expected this and to be honest either but it was obviously a possibility and I believed Hopkins would have tremendous success just wasn't sure if it was going to account for 5 rounds or 7 with about 6 of the 12 close.

[JT Rock]

I was choked when Hopkins began crying, that was a special moment.

I wasn't choked, actually in a way I was but not with tears or anything haha

But it was BADASS when he stared down press row. DAYAM, that shit was awesome. Sorry, I hate to do the hindsight deal, but how many were calling this a pointless fight even when it was signed? No one expected this and to be honest either but it was obviously a possibility and I believed Hopkins would have tremendous success just wasn't sure if it was going to account for 5 rounds or 7 with about 6 of the 12 close.

I admit, I thought it was a pointless fight, but not one person can say they could have ever dreamed that a 43 year old Hopkins was eager to let his hands go like he did.. Most level headed fans predicted based on hopkins recent history.. Nard tucking his chin and winging a right, clinching headbutting and throwing rabbit punches. Wash, rinse and repeat!!! Thats how he fought Tarver, Wright and Calzaghe.. I was a fan of Hopkins all along but became a detractor as he cheated his way against Wright and was tasteless about the whole whiteboy thing with Calzaghe and was utilizing a real tiresome style, then he pulls this out letting his hands go and opening up with power shots, I mean the guy looked fantastic.. I mean that was a history making fight, the guy is ageless and is really making a run at being the best fighter of the last 25 years.

[JT Rock]

Im not devaluing what Hopkins did by anymeans, but most of Nards defining victories have been fighting guys that were out of the natural weight class.

Trinidad
Delahoya
Wright
Pavlik

I no one held a gun to the guys heads when they signed the contract but I wouldnt dash kelly to pieces over this seeing he jumped 10 pounds and is still the #1 middle in the world.. I feel that destructive aura might lose some luster like Cotto and guys will fight him differently, but I wouldnt say Kelly was exposed seeing that isint even his weight class.. lets see Nard get down to 160 again and then have a rematch, I feel the outcome would be a bit different.

Kudos to Nard regardless of the weight he has some great names on his resume and could very well make an argument for best fighter of this generation

[Kev]

Im not devaluing what Hopkins did by anymeans, but most of Nards defining victories have been fighting guys that were out of the natural weight class.

Trinidad
Delahoya
Wright
Pavlik

I no one held a gun to the guys heads when they signed the contract but I wouldnt dash kelly to pieces over this seeing he jumped 10 pounds and is still the #1 middle in the world.. I feel that destructive aura might lose some luster like Cotto and guys will fight him differently, but I wouldnt say Kelly was exposed seeing that isint even his weight class.. lets see Nard get down to 160 again and then have a rematch, I feel the outcome would be a bit different.

Kudos to Nard regardless of the weight he has some great names on his resume and could very well make an argument for best fighter of this generation

You can't really criticise Bernard for Kelly being too small when it was clear in the ring that Pavlik was actually the bigger man. He made Hopkins look small in there. Both are huge middleweights.

[JT Rock]

Im not devaluing what Hopkins did by anymeans, but most of Nards defining victories have been fighting guys that were out of the natural weight class.

Trinidad
Delahoya
Wright
Pavlik

I no one held a gun to the guys heads when they signed the contract but I wouldnt dash kelly to pieces over this seeing he jumped 10 pounds and is still the #1 middle in the world.. I feel that destructive aura might lose some luster like Cotto and guys will fight him differently, but I wouldnt say Kelly was exposed seeing that isint even his weight class.. lets see Nard get down to 160 again and then have a rematch, I feel the outcome would be a bit different.

Kudos to Nard regardless of the weight he has some great names on his resume and could very well make an argument for best fighter of this generation

You can't really criticise Bernard for Kelly being too small when it was clear in the ring that Pavlik was actually the bigger man. He made Hopkins look small in there. Both are huge middleweights.

I agree to an extent but being physically bigger and effective and comfortable at the weight are different things

[Kev]

Im not devaluing what Hopkins did by anymeans, but most of Nards defining victories have been fighting guys that were out of the natural weight class.

Trinidad
Delahoya
Wright
Pavlik

I no one held a gun to the guys heads when they signed the contract but I wouldnt dash kelly to pieces over this seeing he jumped 10 pounds and is still the #1 middle in the world.. I feel that destructive aura might lose some luster like Cotto and guys will fight him differently, but I wouldnt say Kelly was exposed seeing that isint even his weight class.. lets see Nard get down to 160 again and then have a rematch, I feel the outcome would be a bit different.

Kudos to Nard regardless of the weight he has some great names on his resume and could very well make an argument for best fighter of this generation

You can't really criticise Bernard for Kelly being too small when it was clear in the ring that Pavlik was actually the bigger man. He made Hopkins look small in there. Both are huge middleweights.

I agree to an extent but being physically bigger and effective and comfortable at the weight are different things

Yeah Bernard is smart he was always going to bring Kelly up to him rather than go down there. But this is nothing like Oscar and Tito imo who are naturally smaller guys. Naturally Kelly is bigger than B Hop.

Besides when you are giving up 17 years in age you can hardly be accused of having an advantage becuase of the fight being fought at a higher weight.

B Hop's win over Pavlik was immense possibly the greatest performance of his whole career.

To my knowledge no other fighter in the history of boxing has done what he did last night, win every round against the universally recognised champ, at over 40 years of age.

It's one of the greatest ever boxing acomplishments.

[JT Rock]

You can't really criticise Bernard for Kelly being too small when it was clear in the ring that Pavlik was actually the bigger man. He made Hopkins look small in there. Both are huge middleweights.

I agree to an extent but being physically bigger and effective and comfortable at the weight are different things

Yeah Bernard is smart he was always going to bring Kelly up to him rather than go down there. But this is nothing like Oscar and Tito imo who are naturally smaller guys. Naturally Kelly is bigger than B Hop.

Besides when you are giving up 17 years in age you can hardly be accused of having an advantage becuase of the fight being fought at a higher weight.

B Hop's win over Pavlik was immense possibly the greatest performance of his whole career.

To my knowledge no other fighter in the history of boxing has done what he did last night, win every round against the universally recognised champ, at over 40 years of age.

It's one of the greatest ever boxing acomplishments.

Like I stated it was fantastic.. Im a fan of Pavlik but wouldnt say im a fanatic of his like I am with mayweather/ lacy/ holyfield but I agree it was an outstanding acheivment. but Im not throwing dirt on pavlik because I feel like he is a 160lb fighter and is more effective at that weight

[Taeth]

Im not devaluing what Hopkins did by anymeans, but most of Nards defining victories have been fighting guys that were out of the natural weight class.

Trinidad
Delahoya
Wright
Pavlik

I no one held a gun to the guys heads when they signed the contract but I wouldnt dash kelly to pieces over this seeing he jumped 10 pounds and is still the #1 middle in the world.. I feel that destructive aura might lose some luster like Cotto and guys will fight him differently, but I wouldnt say Kelly was exposed seeing that isint even his weight class.. lets see Nard get down to 160 again and then have a rematch, I feel the outcome would be a bit different.

Kudos to Nard regardless of the weight he has some great names on his resume and could very well make an argument for best fighter of this generation

Did Bernard screw up when he went up to LHW? He seemed fine with a 15 pound transition at 41 years old. Roy didn't have trouble moving up from SMW to LHW which is 7 pounds difference. If you a skilled fighter, fighting a guy like Bernard Hopkins who doesn't impose his strength on you, then you have no excuses with weight, especially considering Pavlik tried to stay as similar to his middleweight self as possible.