Hopkins vs Kovalev - who wins?

[GAME]

Who you guys got in this fight? I'm struggling to pick a winner. I've always sided with Kovalev on points but now fight week is here I'm begining to question it

If Hopkins wins you can make a case for him being the best of the modern era. If kovalev does something nobody else has ever done and knocks out Hopkins he will become an instant star

So how's it gonna unfold? ......

[Memphis]

If Hopkins wins its almost certainly going to be a stinker of a fight. If Kovalev wins I think Hop is getting stopped.


I cant see Kovalev letting it become a snoozer, I cant see Hopkins getting stopped either. In conclusion.....


The two scenarios I see playing out are both as unlikely as one another.

[IamInuit]

Unless Kovalev goes full on Neanderthal under the big lights, the event and mentally implodes then I think we see a changing of the guard. I just don't see Hop getting away with trying to stink this last fight out. I think he's punched his last time clock. Oh I know people have been saying that since Tito but this is different. Fitting though cause he started as a light heavyweight.

[mikeeod]

I think Bernard will win on points. Kov isn't busy or fast enough, fights in straight lines and is predictable. Hop will start out tentative and as the fight progresses he will take over to win a decision. Kov has that big punch and is used to fighting scared guys who aren't elite. Hop lives for guys like that, still has his chin n tight defense n likes to fight at a predictable, measured pace. Hop by decision.

[Dia bando]

Unless Kovalev goes full on Neanderthal under the big lights, the event and mentally implodes then I think we see a changing of the guard. I just don't see Hop getting away with trying to stink this last fight out. I think he's punched his last time clock. Oh I know people have been saying that since Tito but this is different. Fitting though cause he started as a light heavyweight.

My Son feels Hopkins will old man him, on points I think Kovalev may well spark him, I can't stand
him Be HOP just does nothing for me in his fighting style.

[GAME]

Tony bellew picks hopkins and Nathan picks Kovalev.

I'm saying Kovalev on points which seems against the grain as logic says its Hopkins points or Kov Ko. The reason I think Kovalev takes a distance fight is because Hopkins is too good to get sparked. Pascal hit him with some big shots in both fights and Hopkins proved his chin. He was dropped twice though and I think it's those same surprise shots he doesn't see that will cost him against Kov. I don't think Kovalev finishes him off though. He will win the rounds on activity & aggression but its so hard to nail the old man clean.

I can see Hopkins begin to frustrate Kov late on but it will be too late to rescue it. The weigh in will be fascinating cuz Hopkins always starts the mind games but how do you intimidate a russian beast like Kovalev. Nathan tried that and look what happend. Winner of this vs Adonis Stevenson next time. Another great fight

[El Kabong]

Kovalev hurts and finishes BHop as the ref is forced to step in late in the fight 9-10th round.

[mikeeod]

Tony bellew picks hopkins and Nathan picks Kovalev.

I'm saying Kovalev on points which seems against the grain as logic says its Hopkins points or Kov Ko. The reason I think Kovalev takes a distance fight is because Hopkins is too good to get sparked. Pascal hit him with some big shots in both fights and Hopkins proved his chin. He was dropped twice though and I think it's those same surprise shots he doesn't see that will cost him against Kov. I don't think Kovalev finishes him off though. He will win the rounds on activity & aggression but its so hard to nail the old man clean.

I can see Hopkins begin to frustrate Kov late on but it will be too late to rescue it. The weigh in will be fascinating cuz Hopkins always starts the mind games but how do you intimidate a russian beast like Kovalev. Nathan tried that and look what happend. Winner of this vs Adonis Stevenson next time. Another great fight

I can see your point on the Pascal scenario, but I just feel that Pascal was VERY athletic and fast (always referred to as a lesser version/poor man's Roy Jones Jr.) and Kov is very methodical. I don't see Hop being surprised or caught with similar shots, but I may be wrong. DEFINITELY NOT saying that you are completely wrong and that there is no way your are right, just more talking it out with someone of a different opinion. The factors that push it over for Hop in my opinion are:
1) Style match up
2) Kov hasn't ever fought anyone close to Hop and has fought less than elite opposition
3) If you watch Kov's fights, when he corners the other fighter and is setting up his big punch, he tends to react to feints significantly and hold his hands in anticipation of the counter. I can see Hop using lateral movement and then feinting and potshotting his way out of corners/areas of danger.

Anyways, guess we will find out this Saturday. Think it is a GREAT fight and that whoever wins beats Stevenson easier, if Adonis even gets in the ring with them.

[TitoFan]

Tony bellew picks hopkins and Nathan picks Kovalev.

I'm saying Kovalev on points which seems against the grain as logic says its Hopkins points or Kov Ko. The reason I think Kovalev takes a distance fight is because Hopkins is too good to get sparked. Pascal hit him with some big shots in both fights and Hopkins proved his chin. He was dropped twice though and I think it's those same surprise shots he doesn't see that will cost him against Kov. I don't think Kovalev finishes him off though. He will win the rounds on activity & aggression but its so hard to nail the old man clean.

I can see Hopkins begin to frustrate Kov late on but it will be too late to rescue it. The weigh in will be fascinating cuz Hopkins always starts the mind games but how do you intimidate a russian beast like Kovalev. Nathan tried that and look what happend. Winner of this vs Adonis Stevenson next time. Another great fight

This.

Hopkins will do whatever it takes to survive, and he won't risk a KO by fighting clean.