^ Does not surprise me at all. If Hopkins does get old in the ring, it will be in his ability to "take it" so to speak. The durability of his frame will eventually give. In that realm... Time and age are not forgiving. Hopkins is not a reflex fighter so age has had little stylistic effect on the tactician. But, think of the shoulder injury vs Dawson. That was not a big fall... It is important now to remind the boxing fan that Kovalev has killed a man in the ring... If anyone can crack Hopkins it will be Kovalev's power. If Bernard starts "feeling" his age in the ring against a fighter with Kovalev's scary power, Hopkins' career could be in jeopardy. Now... We have not seen Hopkins age in the ring yet... In that he truly is "Alien". But... The question on everyone's tongue right now is if he is about to get his age beaten into him... We will all soon know the answer.
Wow, I'm kind of surprised to see Kovalev's KO of Hopkins so high. This would be Hopkins first real KO barring his very earliest pro fights. Hopkins defense is his best asset and I don't see it failing him. The most likely outcomes would go the distance for both fighters. I also think Kovalev is more likely to be KO'd than Hopkins due to the latter's better knowledge of the fight game. Although I do realize that Kovalev is probably the hardest puncher Hopkins has ever faced, and thats saying a lot.
^ Does not surprise me at all. If Hopkins does get old in the ring, it will be in his ability to "take it" so to speak. The durability of his frame will eventually give. In that realm... Time and age are not forgiving. Hopkins is not a reflex fighter so age has had little stylistic effect on the tactician. But, think of the shoulder injury vs Dawson. That was not a big fall... It is important now to remind the boxing fan that Kovalev has killed a man in the ring... If anyone can crack Hopkins it will be Kovalev's power. If Bernard starts "feeling" his age in the ring against a fighter with Kovalev's scary power, Hopkins' career could be in jeopardy. Now... We have not seen Hopkins age in the ring yet... In that he truly is "Alien". But... The question on everyone's tongue right now is if he is about to get his age beaten into him... We will all soon know the answer.
Wow, I'm kind of surprised to see Kovalev's KO of Hopkins so high. This would be Hopkins first real KO barring his very earliest pro fights. Hopkins defense is his best asset and I don't see it failing him. The most likely outcomes would go the distance for both fighters. I also think Kovalev is more likely to be KO'd than Hopkins due to the latter's better knowledge of the fight game. Although I do realize that Kovalev is probably the hardest puncher Hopkins has ever faced, and thats saying a lot.