Where did Hopkins get all the energy?!

[Bookkeeper]

That was an awesome win by Hopkins. I was pullin for him but I figured he'd lose a close, boring decision.

Boy was I wrong, he boxed circles around Pavlik.

BUT, he sure did look A LOT younger.

I don't belive he took anything, but my Dad is convinced that Hopkins must be taking Human Growth Hormane or something very similar.

Without being dismissing know it all boxing nerds, what do you guys think?

I have to admit Hopkins was more active and looked much fresher than he has in a very long time.

Me and your father are similiar, I thought Bernard was taking steroids when he fought Tito back in 01, but at this point I think he is just a great fighter

[Tysonbruno]

When he fought Calzaghe he looked very dry in this fight he had a nice shine to his skin perhaps he just had a better camp. I think change in trainers will have helped also i think he need trainers who rant at him and keep him motivated in the gym and throughout the fight unlike Freddie Roach who talks in that soft voice between rounds i don't think he helped him at all vs Calzaghe.

[ono]

Sometimes a fighters style is just made for someone. Like Lacy's was perfect for Calzaghe.

Hopkins and Calzaghe kinda cancelled eachother out i thought.

So many improvements in sports science and nutrition nowadays that 43 aint what it used to be. It's a cliche but it's true. B-Hop just has the style and experience to still be very, very effective at his ripe old age.

[SweetPea]

I think Hopkins had more energy because he was able to lower Pavlik's punch output. Against Calzaghe, he made it tough for Calzaghe to land cleanly, but Joe was still throwing flurries and letting his hands go. Hopkins had to use up a lot of energy on defense in that fight and that tired him out. Whereas in this fight, he confused and frustrated Kelly so much that Kelly wasn't letting his hands go, so Bernard didn't have to use much energy avoiding/blocking punches.

[Deanrw]

He maintained his energy with Pavlik because he did not have to work hard with Pavlik. He had everything down against Pavlik and fought a totally relaxed fight, which is much less tiring.

Against Joe, Joe kept him thinking the whole fight and tense even when Joe was not landing anything. Joe kept him on edge and Bernard wore himself out.

What I said above may be mostly BS, but I think it at least contributed some. I also think Hopkins may have trained better for this one, was in better shape etc. It is hard to say.

[RP33]

he definitely seemed to have a bit more energy than in the Calzaghe fight, but i think it was just his gameplan..

in the calzaghe fight he wanted it to be a rough and tough fight and he knew that he wasn't going to match speed and output with joe, so he fought the fight he thought would get him the W..

with pavlik he knew that he couldn't let kelly take shots at him so he had to get off first as much as possible, and then counter when pavlik retalliated..

I also think it had a lot to do with the psychological fact that he knew he was hurting Kelly.. When you hit someone and you see them wobble, it's only instinct to go at them, and your adrenaline increases even more.. He looked tired at the end of every round when he sat in the corner, but he just kept coming, and as long as he was staying effective, that was all he needed to push him to continue doing what he was doing..

i bet if kelly had one big round in the 5th or 6th, where he even caught bernard with two or three big shots that bernard wouldn't have come up so gung-ho afterwards..

[Kev]

When he fought Calzaghe he looked very dry in this fight he had a nice shine to his skin perhaps he just had a better camp. I think change in trainers will have helped also i think he need trainers who rant at him and keep him motivated in the gym and throughout the fight unlike Freddie Roach who talks in that soft voice between rounds i don't think he helped him at all vs Calzaghe.

wtf? I didn't notice but did he have clear eyes and a wet nose as well?

Nice shiny skin