HOPKINS vs. KOVALEV
**
In-Depth
Preview and Analysis **
By: Tony Penecale
Bernard
Hopkins has been too old for over a decade now.
During the 6th round of B-Hop’s virtuoso performance against
Felix Trinidad in 2001, HBO analyst George Foreman remarked that the then-36
year old Hopkins was too old to keep his pace and expected the younger man to
fight back and score a knockout. A few
rounds later, it was Hopkins scoring the knockout.
He was supposed to retire at 41 after
upsetting Antonio Tarver.
Yet, he is still
here.
He is no longer “The Executioner,”
but instead christened himself “The Alien” as a tribute to his other-worldly
conditioning and abilities when most other gray-beards are sitting in a
recliner with a sagging belly and creaking body parts. Win this fight, and they might change his name
again to “Ponce De Leon” as he may have successfully discovered the Fountain of
Youth!
Standing
in the way is a feared, seemingly-indestructible punching machine known as
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev. 23 of his 25 victories
have been via KO. He has only gone past
the 6th round a total of three times. His style resembles a tribute to Ivan
Drago. So far, whatever he has hit, he
has destroyed. He now takes on a
difficult stylistic challenge. Hopkins
has been competing on a championship level for over 20 years. Kovalev fought is amateur debut when he was
11 years old, in 1994, only a few months before Hopkins won his first world
title. Helping him in his quest to
defeat his legendary adversary is trainer John David Jackson who lost to
Hopkins in a 1997 title fight and also worked as an assistant trainer for him a
few years ago.
Can
“The Alien” put on another other-worldly performance on his way to the
Hall-of-Fame? Or, will this finally be
the time that Father Time uses the dynamic fists of “The Krusher” to prove that youth can never be defeated?
AGE,
RECORD, AND STATS
Hopkins:
Age: 49 years old
Record: 55-6- (32 Knockouts)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 172
** Weight for last bout (04-19-14)
Reach: 75”
Kovalev:
Age: 31 years old
Record: 25-0-1 (23 Knockouts)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 174
** Weight for last bout (08-02-14)
Reach: 72”
RING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Hopkins:
IBF Middleweight Champion (’95-‘05)
WBC Middleweight Champion (’01-‘05)
WBA Middleweight Champion (’01-’05)
WBC Welterweight Champion (’97-’99, ’00)
WBO Middleweight Champion (’04-’05)
Ring Magazine Middleweight Champion (’01-’05)
IBO Light Heavyweight Champion
(’06-‘08)
Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Champion (’06-‘08)
Ring Magazine #1 Rated Pound-4-Pound Boxer (’02-’05)
Kovalev:
WBO Light
Heavyweight Champion (’13-’Pres)
STYLE
Hopkins:
No longer the fighter who would apply pressure from the opening
bell, winging right hands and left hooks until his
opponent succumbed. That version of Hopkins
evolved several years ago into the patient boxer-puncher seen today. Uses
footwork and works angles well to keep opponents moving and off-balance,
dictating the pace with his jab and opening up opportunities for his sharp
straight right and left hook. Once in close, will attack the body and use rough-house
tactics on the inside, including low blows and elbows. Is also a very tough and
physically strong fighter. While still in top-notch condition, is no longer
able to fight hard for three minutes a round and he compensates by picking his
opportunities.
Kovalev:
Boxing
behind a high guard and applying constant pressure, Kovalev uses his jab as a
range-finder, before unleashing his right hand, either in straight or overhand
fashion. Once in close, Kovalev will
wing left hooks to the head and body, often with devastating results. He fights at his best when moving straight
in. While he doesn’t have great lateral movement, he is able to cut off the
ring, forcing opponents to engage him in confined spaces. Can be robotic in the ring and sometimes gets
too square to his opponent.
STRENGTHS
Hopkins:
*
Student of the Game – There is not a style today
that Hopkins
hasn’t seen. From his early career in Philadelphia
clubs all the way to his PPV main events, Hopkins
has faced and defeated all types of world-class opponents. A master ring strategist, Hopkins has the
ability to adapt his game plan to counter whatever he faces in the ring.
*
Defense – Trying to land a clean punch, much less a
combination, on Hopkins
is like trying to hold water in your hands. Hopkins will block, slip, and parry most
punches that come his way, but his best defensive maneuver is the “shoulder
roll” where he will make his opponent miss by rolling with the punch and then
fire back with a right hand or uppercut at his wide-open adversary.
*
Confidence – Hopkins
believes that he can handle any opponent at any weight. He is fearless in the
ring and will not back down. Often times, his steely demeanor and unrelenting
focus will have opponents unnerved and already beaten when they step into the
ring.
Kovalev:
*
Power – Kovalev is a total wrecking machine with bone-crunching power in both
hands. Kovalev is capable of hurting his
opponent with a single right hand or left hook and his power is equal to both
the head and body.
* Killer Instinct – Once
an opponent has been hurt and Kovalev smells blood, the fight is usually
over. Kovalev swarms his wounded prey
and bludgeons them with a two-fisted attack until he finishes the job.
* Intimidation – Kovalev’s
devastating power and steely demeanor often has opponents in complete fear of
him, most of them beaten before the bell even rings. His intimidation factor resembles that of a young
Mike Tyson.
WEAKNESSES
Hopkins:
* Age – It may
only be a number but it is still a fact that Hopkins is only a few months shy
of turning 50 years old. He has defied
Father Time multiple times over the past decade but as his reflexes diminish
just a little bit, he puts him in harm’s way against a dangerous adversary.
*
Controversial – Hopkins is no stranger to
controversy and will often say things that rankles not just opponents, but
promoters, officials, and fans. He also
has a dirty reputation as a fighter, often bending or breaking the rules and
over exaggerating any fouls or retaliation against him.
* Fading Power – Once
known as “The Executioner”, Hopkins changed his nickname to “The Alien” since
he hadn’t executed any opponents inside the distance in over 10 years. He has stunned a few opponents and scored an
occasional knockdown, but every one of his victims since September, 2004 has seen
the final bell.
Kovalev:
*
Inexperience – This is the biggest moment in Kovalev’s career. He is graduating from competing against solid
but unspectacular opponents to going up against one of the craftiest boxers
ever, one that is a master of mind games and a sure 1st ballot
Hall-of-Famer. Kovalev has never gone
past the 8th round as a professional and he is facing a fighter who
is a master of dragging opponents into the deep water and forcing them to
drown.
* Cuts – Kovalev is
usually the one dishing out the punishment but that does not mean he has not
suffered damage. He has sustained cuts
over both eyes. In each occasion, they
were the result of headbutts, a tactic that Hopkins is not shy about initiating.
* Focus – Kovalev is
preparing for this bout while his wife is preparing to give birth to their
first child. He has openly spoken about
wishing he could be there for the birth.
He has also stated that he is not looking to score a knockout and has also
said “win or lose” indicating he may have doubts going in against a legend.
PREVIOUS
BOUT
Hopkins: (04-19-14) Hopkins added another title
belt to his amazing collection by beating the inexperienced but awkward Beibut
Shumenov. Hopkins controlled the action
and boxed well, flooring Shumenov with a perfectly-timed right hand in the 11th
round, en route to a split decision win.
Kovalev: (08-02-14) Kovalev had to rise from a
1st round flash knockdown and did so impressively by destroying
Blake Caparello in the next round.
Kovalev scored a knockdown with a body shot and followed up by pounding
Caparello twice more to the canvas, forcing a referee stoppage.
3 BEST PERFORMANCES
Hopkins:
*
Felix Trinidad (9/29/01) – Hopkins was the IBF and WBC middleweight
champion coming into this unification bout but he was overshadowed by the
Puerto Rican superstar and
a 3-1 underdog going in. While he promised to match Trinidad in a rough and
dirty fight, he shocked everyone, especially Trinidad,
by boxing early and building a commanding lead. Trinidad
was visibly frustrated going into the latter half of the bout and attacked
without abandon. Hopkins took full advantage and
punished Trinidad with a variety of power
punches, wobbling him at the end of the 10th before finishing him in the 12th
to become the unified champion and owner of the Sugar Ray Robinson trophy.
*
Glen Johnson (7/20/97) – At the time, it looked
like this bout was a masterful win over a boxer with an undefeated albeit
padded record. It has become more impressive considering that Johnson has since
won versions of the light heavyweight title and scored a spectacular knockout
over Roy Jones. Johnson came into the bout with an impressive punch, solid
chin, and rugged determination. But it was all Hopkins from the opening bell as he dished
out a frightful beating on the inside. Hopkins
continued the assault each round, forcing the referee to visit Johnson’s corner
several times, before finally halting the contest in the 11th.
*
Antonio Tarver (6/10/06) – This was billed as Hopkin’s retirement bout and he
was stepping up to a big challenge, taking on the naturally larger light
heavyweight champion. Hopkins,
coming off of two decision losses to Jermain Taylor, was an underdog coming in,
with many of the experts predicting a Tarver win, citing that Hopkins looked lethargic in his last several
bouts. The Hopkins that stepped into the
ring against Tarver was a muscular 174 and he looked rejuvenated, outboxing and
outfighting Tarver throughout, scoring a flash knockdown, and dealing out
punishment over the last three rounds, forcing Tarver to hold on to the final
bell, only to see Hopkins seize his title with a one-sided decision.
Kovalev: * Nathan Cleverly (08/19/13) – Kovalev
won the WBO Light Heavyweight title with an impressive destruction over the
undefeated Cleverly in front of his hometown fans. Cleverly had some success early but Kovalev
scored two brutal knockdowns in the 3rd round before finishing the
job early in the 4th round.
* Gabriel Campillo
(01/19/13) – Campillo had an impressive showing, losing a disputed decision in
a title bout against power-punching Tavoris Cloud. Kovalev didn’t let Campillo escape the 3rd
round, battering him to the canvas three times and scoring the KO win.
* Darnell Boone (06/01/12)
– Boone had given Kovalev his toughest bout in their first encounter. He took him the full 8 rounds and lost a
close split decision, only by a single point.
The rematch two years later was a different story as Kovalev demolished
Boone in 2 rounds.
QUESTIONS
Hopkins: * Will Father Time finally catch up to
Hopkins?
*
Can Hopkins handle Kovalev’s power?
*
If hurt, will Hopkins look for a way out?
Kovalev: * Is Kovalev awestruck by Hopkins?
* How will Kovalev
react if the fight goes to the late rounds?
* Can Kovalev adapt
to Hopkins frustrating style?
PENECALE PREDICTION
Hopkins
will open the bout on his toes, circling Kovalev, probing with his jab and
pivoting on angles. Kovalev will look to
cut off the ring, moving in behind his jab, trying to find the range on his
right-hand missile. Hopkins will feint
and move and be content to allow the 1st round to be a tepid affair
with Kovalev landing only 7 punches to his 4, none from either man with any consequence.
Kovalev
will come out aggressively to start the 2nd round but find Hopkins
especially elusive. Hopkins will pivot
to his right and fire a lead right hand that will land. He’ll grab Kovalev with his left and spin
behind him while driving a short left into his face. Kovalev will retaliate with a few long range
left-right combinations, but will again find Hopkins out of range.
Throughout
the 3rd through 5th rounds, a pattern will start to
develop with Kovalev not respecting Hopkins offense but again finding his
defense to be his Kryptonite. Kovalev
will rush in with another left-right combination, but Hopkins will duck low and
force a clash of heads with Kovalev getting the worst of it, blood streaming from a
gash over his left eye. As the bell
rings, Hopkins will smile and taunt his opponent.
Inspired
by the sight of his opponent’s blood, Hopkins will become more assertive in the
6th round, looking to land his own right hand and open the gash
wider. After landing a solid punch, the
fighters will tie up in a clinch, with a frustrated Kovalev landing 2 looping
shots behind the head, prompting Hopkins to audibly complain, and then
retaliate with a blow several inches below the belt. Referee David Fields will warn both fighters
for their infractions.
Kovalev
will finally break through with a good right hand in the 7th
round. The punch will cause Hopkins to wobble a bit, and another right hand will knock him back against the
ropes. Kovalev will pursue and Hopkins
will counter with his own right hand off the ropes and grab a clinch, taking a
few moments to say a few words to his opponent.
As the action resumes, Kovalev will try to focus his right hand to the
body, hoping to sap the strength of his geriatric adversary. Hopkins will also change his strategy and
pivot to his left and take the opportunity to rip a left hook over Kovalev’s
low right hand, followed by a short right hand.
With
Kovalev sitting on his stool as the bell is about to ring to start the 8th
round, Hopkins will continue to play mind games, hopping off of his stool and
doing jumping jacks. Kovalev will grab a
few extra deep breaths and move in to continue his attack. He will land another hard right hand, forcing
Hopkins to grab him and shake his head, indicating to the crowd that he is not
affected by those shots.
Seemingly
the fresher fighter, Hopkins will start to follow his double jab with a
chopping right hand. He will knock
Kovalev off balance in the 9th round but not seriously hurt
him. Kovalev will try to land his own
counter punches, but with that tactic not being his strong point, he will only
have limited success.
Hopkins
will continue to box well through the 10th and 11th
rounds, using angles and walking his straight-forward opponent into an endless
array of counter right hands. The cut
over Kovalev’s eye will open up and begin to again leak blood into his left
eye. Unable to see the right hands
coming at him, Kovalev will be caught with several flush shots.
Going
into the final round, Hopkins will announce to himself, his corner, his
opponent, and the crowd that he is going for the knockout. He will land another 2 right hands and a left
hook before being caught with a flush counter right hand the forces him to
clinch and rethink his strategy. Over
the last minute, he will play it more cautious and at the final bell, he will
throw his hands in the air. Kovalev will
also raise his hands but carry the look of defeat in his eyes.
Lawrence
Layton will score 117-111. Clark Sammartino will score 116-112, and Carlos
Ortiz will turn in a curios 114-114 scorecard.
The winner by Majority Decision will be Bernard “The Alien”
Hopkins. The always loquacious Hopkins
will give another classic interview where he talks about the possibility of
dropping down to middleweight to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., fighting until he
is 60 and also the thought of bulking up to heavyweight and wrestling the
heavyweight title from Wladimir Klitschko.
