Pavlik bitching about Hopkins: he isnt even good

[Kirkland Laing]

Pavlik looked like the 43 year old and Hopkins looked like the 26 year old. The bottom line is Pavlik couldn't get near Hopkins, he just plodded round the ring and Hopkins boxed his head off. If your feet can't get you to where you need to be quick enough you've got problems against any boxer, never mind Hopkins. Maybe it was the extra ten pounds, maybe something else but whatever it was Pavlik wasn't the same fighter we've seen before.

[Taeth]

Pavlik looked like the 43 year old and Hopkins looked like the 26 year old. The bottom line is Pavlik couldn't get near Hopkins, he just plodded round the ring and Hopkins boxed his head off. If your feet can't get you to where you need to be quick enough you've got problems against any boxer, never mind Hopkins. Maybe it was the extra ten pounds, maybe something else but whatever it was Pavlik wasn't the same fighter we've seen before.

Even guys with quicker feet then Hopkins have had troubles with him like Calzaghe. Some guys like him or Barrera or JMM just seem to know how to use footwork to make life difficult for opponents. I tend to see prodominently guys who used to be aggressive fighters having the best footwork as they get older because they aren't worried if they have to come forward, they also know what the guy coming forward is thinking/trying to do because they have done it so often. I think guys like Ray Leonard also had excellent footwork, but he moved a lot more then he needed to in some cases, while guys like Guillermo Rigondeaux have actually mastered the ability to move and punch at the same time, lead with either hand, etc ,etc. I think Hopkins really mastered the ability to negate opponents output, but also he had great timing and he sets everything up so well without even throwing a punch.

[intoccabile]

Pavliks father already said retirement is the next step if he doesn't get his head back in the game after this loss. We may see the end of pavlik folks