I’m thinking to myself, “Is this f*cking guy really here courtesy of a UFO?” Hopkins, seen here at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, is set to once again attempt the impossible this Saturday night on HBO against Sergey Kovalev.
Forget the fact that Bernard Hopkins had me spilling orange juice on my shirt a few months ago when I saw his nude shot for ESPN and their Body Edition. He actually had the balls to do this (I would’ve died if I saw those) and still maintain street credibility at half a century, but then again, that’s classic Hopkins. He doesn’t merely upset the apple cart – he pushes it all the way down the damn hill.
Type “A” personality that he is, B-Hop got bored and decided to he wanted to try a monster in Sergei Kovalev of all people. He gets an improbable deal done in no time, and gets him to sign papers to fight him right before his bout against Blake Caparello. Hopkins essentially tried to freeze Kovalev.
Round 1: 10-9, Hopkins
Savvy veteran that he is- it put instant pressure on Kovalev; who as relative novice to these things, came out cold under lights Hopkins had made red hot. He not only got a personal ringside scouting report on Kovalev, but he got a free surge in initial publicity for this fight with his lascivious tactics, and froze Kovalev again when Max Kellerman got the two of them in front of the camera for the first time.
Round 2: 10-9, Hopkins
Kovalev’s limited English with his shaky interpreter was no match for “The Alien” and his other-worldly mouth full of sardonic wit. Another bizarre (but true) twist to this fight is, Bernard actually beat up his trainer John David Jackson 17 years ago. Certainly Kovalev knows this, probably courtesy of a gift wrapped video Bernard sent him in the mail, along with a picture of him and his toothy smile. Talk about losing psychological warfare.
Round 3: 10-9, Hopkins
I guess the fair question to ask is, just wtf is he supposed to learn from Jackson about how to beat Hopkins? But anyway…
Assuming Hopkins gets past the first three rounds (and its a good assumption he does) this coming Saturday night, can he actually put the majority of the other ones in his pocket? Or better yet, can he survive to the distance at all against the feared Russian product?
I’ll be damned if he isn’t an actual “alien” if he does.
