The Mountain of Challenge Awaits Bernard Hopkins
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Atlantic City, NJ (October 4th, 2014)– Bernard Hopkins is almost 50 years old. B-Hop, the alien, the executioner, the old master, or whatever he can be called, 55-6-2 with 32 knockouts, will soon face the ultimate challenge of his career. The seemingly impossible mountain blocking his path will be 25-0-1 Sergey Kovalev, age 31, with 23 knockouts in his 25 wins, with one technical draw, and one fatality (Roman Simakov). The WBA, WBO and IBF World Light Heavyweight titles will be at stake. The high stakes main event bout for the BoxRec number one position worldwide will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on November 8, 2014. The winner will try to face WBC world champion Adonis Stevenson, so far elusive.
More than prestige, one question will be addressed in matching Hopkins versus Kovalev. Old Bernard……..is he or isn’t he still a force in the boxing world? A 12 round decision may not prove much one way or the other.
Surprisingly, a 12 round decision, in my professional view, favors a draw or majority decision for Hopkins. The reason is because if Kovalev cannot take Hopkins out by knockout, the bout will amount to a war of boxing styles. Hopkins has to be in better than the best shape of his career. Hopkins has to win a game of the mind. Psychological warfare is the key, and Hopkins can win this bout if he can tag Kovalev with a punch or two and then tie him up. Kovalev will find penetrating the defense of Hopkins easier said than done. However, Kovalev could be busier than Hokins.
Will Bernard open up against Kovalev? Highly unlikely. Is a 12 round bout enough time to find weaknesses in Kovalev’s armor? Maybe yes, Maybe no. Kovalev is a strong starter, Bernard is not. But who knows? Bernardis not likely to fight Kovalev passively. If Bernard can drop him or cut him, such factors could swing the tempo of the fight and the judges in Bernard’s favor.
Like Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2005, TKO 6 Sharmba Mitchell), you have to go back a decade, to 2004, to find the last time Bernard knocked out an opponent (Oscar De La Hoya). All it means is Hopkins is a superior technical fighter, like Floyd. Kovalev is a knockout artist, but he is not a late round fighter. Hopkins knows Kovalev has been past the fifth round only twice, and never pass the seventh round. Hopkins will try to drag Kovalev deep and turn the fight into an ugly inside war. If he can frustrate Kovalev, Hopkins by 12 round decision. If not, Kovalev by 12 round decision in a bout which Kovalev could win on the cards, but look horrible doing it.
Age is just a number. Age is a number. Roses are red, violets are bop. Kovalev by knockout, or a decision for B-Hop. A good war, and the fans want more. Bernard may be old, or Bernard may be gold. Krusher Kovalev is in a rush, for recognition, but he might get krushed. Notice I spelled that word with a ‘k’, Hopkins wouldn’t have it any other way. Bernard has never ducked any opponent. Kovalev is the ultimate challenge. To conquer the ultimate mountain, Bernard will have to take chances. Does Bernard have the power and cleverness to hurt Kovalev in a technical war? Bernard will have to find a way to showcase these attributes in order to win.
The key for Kovalev is to close the show on the old master, but he may be unwilling to take chances against a dangerous opponent of this caliber. This could make the outcome on the cards confusing if the bout goes 12 rounds. Bernard has taken fights into the twelfth round 26 times. Karen Avetisyan (Win 6) and Darnell Boone (Win Split Decision 8) are the only two decisions on Kovalev’s record. Boone won 76-75 on one card. Bernard must present a fighting style Kovalev cannot cope with. Bernard lacks speed, but possesses superior ring generalship.
Bernard will probably take the fight to the inside and keep the fight close. Boardwalk Hall is a larger size ring. Bernard’s defense, if it holds, could keep the fight extremely close if Kovalev cannot land any punches of consequence. Ultimately, if it is not a quick outcome, any result is possible. The longer the bout drags, the more confused Kovalev is likely to become. Bernard must survive the distance if he is to live with himself. A technical stoppage on accidental head butts and cuts is another possibility in this bout.
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