To put the longevity of Bernard Hopkins into perspective, consider that most of the big name opponents over the course of his incredible 26-year career are long retired, or ceased to be relevant years ago: Simon Brown. Felix Trinidad. Oscar De La Hoya. Winky Wright. Antonio Tarver, Joe Calzaghe. Kelly Pavlik, Roy Jones Jr., Chad Dawson.
Jermain Taylor, the comparatively young kid who finally wrested the middleweight title from Hopkins in 2005 ? just completed an unlikely comeback after being written off as washed-up.
How Hopkins can still compete at the elite level two months shy of 50 years old is incomprehensible. Still, the end always lurks near. This time, it’s the younger (by 18 years), bigger, stronger knockout specialist Sergey Kovalev who threatens to finally destroy this fighter for the ages (and the aged) as they meet to unify the WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight titles at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (8:45 p.m., today, HBO).
ALIEN VS. KRUSHER
Hopkins, 55-6-2 (32 knockouts), perhaps the greatest fighter to ever come out of Philadelphia (and that’s saying a mouthful), has been around so long he’s acquired three different nicknames for different portions of his career. For his early career and much of his historic middleweight title reign, Hopkins was known as the brooding “Executioner.” He landed the most high-profile fight of his career in 2004 against De La Hoya, and became the more jovial, fan-friendly “B-Hop.” But then, late in his career, as he began rolling guys years younger ? guys like Jean Pascal, Tavoris Cloud and Beibut Shumenov ? he became known simply as “The Alien.”
His accomplishments over the last six years have simply been otherwordly.
In 2008, Kelly Pavlik was 34-0, a reigning middleweight king, and a budding mega-star. And that was no aberration. The 26-year-old Pavlik was the goods. Somehow, he was let in the ring with Hopkins ? who ruined him. Despite Pavlik’s impressive boxing skills and power, it was over early. His one-dimensional, flat-footed style was exposed by Hopkins’ defensive mastery.
Enter Kovalev, 25-0-1 (23 KO’s).
The “Krusher,” a native of Russia who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is arguably the hardest puncher in boxing. And he can do it with either hand, up top ? or down low. People began to take notice in 2013, when he destroyed veteran Gabriel Campillo in the third round. Seven months later, he did the same to Nathan Cleverly (TKO 4). His last three fights: he massacred Ismayl Sillah (KO 2), Cedric Agnew (KO 7) and Blake Caparello (TKO 2).
He does have good technical skills for a huge puncher. Good jab, good technique. Even so, he is not even Pavlik. And look what Hopkins did to him. AND THE WINNER IS .
Simply, guys like Sillah, Agnew and Caparello are not proper preparation for a guy who may well be among the top 10 greatest fighters to ever walk the planet. Kovalev’s only chance is to use his power and come out bombing. But don’t think Hopkins isn’t expecting that. And don’t think he didn’t purposely pass on Adonis Stevenson to fight Kovalev. In his mind ? this is the easier fight of the two. And the reason is obvious: Kovalev is predictable, plodding, one-dimensional and lacking in savvy.
Kovalev will come out firing away ? and will run out of ideas after round three. From there, Hopkins will take him to unchartered waters, and the rout will be on.
Hopkins by unanimous decision.
Matthew Aguilar may be reached at [email protected]
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