Kelly Pavlik is the best middleweight boxer in the world and has a record of 34-0 with 30 knockouts. But his opponent on Saturday night, Bernard Hopkins, doesn't find those 34 wins very impressive.On Countdown to Pavlik-Hopkins, the show that follows both fighters as they get ready for the fight, Hopkins dismissed Pavlik's record as one built on beating cupcakes.
"If I look at his record, I see three names, out of 34 fights, that I know of," Hopkins said.
Looking at Pavlik's record, I would guess the three names Hopkins has heard of are Pavlik's last three opponents: Edison Miranda, Jermain Taylor and Gary Lockett. And if Hopkins is saying that he's fought a lot more big-name opponents than Pavlik has, he's obviously right: Hopkins has fought Joe Calzaghe, Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver, Oscar De La Hoya, William Joppy, Felix Trinidad, Glen Johnson and Roy Jones.
Of course, Hopkins also fought Taylor, and while Pavlik beat Taylor twice, Hopkins lost to Taylor twice. That's the fundamental reason that almost everyone is picking Pavlik to earn another win over a big-name opponent when he beats Hopkins on Saturday night.
We'll be live blogging Pavlik-Hopkins here at FanHouse.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-15-2008 @ 2:16PM
Unsilent Majority said...
I'd say there's a far greater chance that the third name (after Taylor and Miranda) is Bronco McKart.
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10-16-2008 @ 4:39PM
MannyPacManJones said...
From watching the show, I think the point he was making is that it might be easy to dismiss Pavlik based on the names (or lack thereof) on his record, but he is not making that mistake. Instead, he is judging Pavlik on what he sees when he watches him fight, and he sees that Pavlik has a lot of talent and especially a big right hand.
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10-18-2008 @ 9:44PM
Bob A said...
The Ghost is the shizzle. Talent and guts like his come along once a generation. Look for a KO within 5 rounds. The executioner will be going bye, bye.
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