In October of 2008, living legend Bernard ?The Executioner? Hopkins found himself a huge underdog heading into his bout with then-middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Hopkins was coming off of a close split-decision loss to super talented southpaw Joe Calzaghe six months prior while Pavilk had yet to taste defeat in his career while also having endeared himself to the boxing world with his come-from-behind knockout over Jermain Taylor one year prior.
Pavlik?s cautiously-aggressive style mixed with the potent power in his two fists figured to be remedying enough to give Hopkins a long and painful battle, according to most insiders, but the cagey vet had a few tricks up his sleeve on that night. For the better part of twelve rounds Hopkins dominated Pavlik with pure boxing and fluid combinations that had the Youngstown, Ohio fighter baffled as he scored a unanimous decision in a near whitewash performance.
It was another virtuoso showcase for Hopkins but for Pavlik it still serves as a loss that he has yet to fully recover from. Since that defeat Pavlik has gone 3-1 and has made the headlines more so because of his ability to find ways of pulling out of big fights, most recently having withdrawn from Saturday?s date against Detroit southapw Darryl Cunningham, a fight would have led to a showdown with IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute later this year if he was successful.
In speaking to the media, Pavlik has remained adamant that his withdrawal was because of the lack of money he would be receiving for his assignments against Cunningham ($50,000) and Bute ($1.35 million) but it?s obvious that much more is going on behind the scenes for the 29-year old. Pavlik has battled with alcoholism in his recent past and his latest actions have left his promoter Bob Arum upset and concerned about Kelly?s future.
Trainer Naazim Richardson helped to come up with a strategy that Hopkins could utilize against Pavlik on that night in New Jersey and has been taken back by Pavlik?s antics these days. Despite looking at him as an opponent at one point in his life, Richardson showed serious concern when asked about Pavlik?s recent troubles.
?Listen, I don?t want to wish troubles on anybody,? Richardson told me during our conversation on Tuesday night. ?I have my own outside of the ring and we all have our own burdens we have to bear, so to speak. Nobody of any real moral structure wishes ill will on any human being. You?d like to see this man be able to sit there and be comfortable with his family and enjoy some of the fruits of his labor.?
