Bernard Hopkins will stare his boxing immortality in the eyes on Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, when he puts his WBA and IBF light heavyweight belts up for grabs against Sergey Kovalev.
The showdown between Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KOs) and Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs) has all the normal sports narratives.
The two most likely circumstances are Hopkins proving that he is an alien, and outclassing Kovalev, or Sergey blowing the doors off Hopkins in a performance that shepherds in a new era.
At some point Hopkins age has to catch up to him. Kovalev is 18-years younger, and that could be the defining factor in the fight.
Kovalev is a knockout machine, with his percentage only being matched by Gennady Golovkin. He is one of the most dangerous punchers in the sport, a patient and methodical fighter with a deep amateur background, who can end a fight with any punch.
If Hopkins is able to avoid taking punishment or that one powerful shot from Kovalev, it will mark one of his greatest performances win or lose.
Hopkins is a boxing magician, someone who can control a fight and tempo with subtle movements and tactics.
Conditioning won’t be an issue for Hopkins, but it will be tested by Kovalev who is a patient, methodical slugger that will wait for the right opportunity to attack.
Kovalev is trained by John David Jackson, a former Hopkins opponent and a guy who worked under Hopkins’ trainer, Naazim Richardson, when Jackson retired from the sport.
http://youtu.be/7YhrNf5K0lo
Hopkin’s dismisses Jackson as someone who can’t help Sergey, because he couldn’t figure Bernard out himself.
Hopkins hasn’t knocked out anybody since Oscar De La Hoya in 2004, so his stragtegy will likely entail frustrating and tying up Kovalev, all while avoiding the big shot. Hopkins has to control the distance and angles, while let his hands go when he has an opportunity.
He has the reach advantage as well, but will likely need to mix up and make the fight ugly at times as well.
Hopkins is a great defensive fighter and he’ll need to be on his A+ game defensively to avoid the Bombs Kovalev will throw.
Kovalev has to remain cool during those moments where Hopkins will no doubt try to anger and frustrate him.
If Kovalev remains patient and avoids the ugly clinching, he should be able to methodically impose his power and will on Hopkins.
