The 43-year-old former champ Bernard Hopkins found a fountain of youth tonight in Atlantic City, whipping world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik to win a one-sided decision.It was one of the most impressive showings of Hopkins' brilliant career: He easily defeated one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, dominating the fight from start to finish. For Pavlik, it was an embarrassing showing, a fight that did a great deal to tarnish his reputation.
Hopkins showed class in the ring afterward, giving the 26-year-old Pavlik a pep talk and telling him that he shouldn't let the loss define him. Pavlik will be back, but there's no denying that the biggest fight of his career so far is also the most disappointing.
Hopkins looked in the ring like a man who has several good fights left in him. There's a good chance that he'll have a rematch next year with either Joe Calzaghe or Roy Jones, who fight each other next month.
Pavlik looked like a man who simply can't keep up with the best fighters in the world, but that's probably not fair to him. At age 26 he can still improve, and he'll be a better fighter when he moves back down to 160 pounds, which is his most comfortable weight.
The 26-year-old Pavlik fell to 34-1. The 43-year-old Hopkins improved his record to 49-5-1.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-19-2008 @ 12:32AM
tonyv49 said...
hmmmmmmm hopkins still has what it takes !!!pavlik will come back eventually, just another lesson given from one of the best boxers out there
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10-19-2008 @ 12:36AM
elmo said...
Kelly Pavlik one of the best P-F-P fighters in the world? Ugh. You'd think the folks from Ohio had never won a Super Bowl or something, to be so desperate to able to propagate this utter myth. He's beaten 1 real guy. Who happened to have Hopkins' number.That's deep pre-fight analysis? Or maybe people would've asked for their PPV money back without the shock effect? Whatever...
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10-19-2008 @ 12:41AM
elmo said...
Kelly Pavlik one of the best P-F-P fighters in the world? Ugh. You'd think the folks from Ohio had never won a Super Bowl or something, to be so desperate to able to propagate this utter myth. He's beaten 1 real guy. Who happened to have Hopkins' number.That's deep pre-fight analysis? Or maybe people would've asked for their PPV money back without the shock effect? Whatever...
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10-19-2008 @ 12:42AM
JOE said...
WHAT ARE THE SCORES
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10-19-2008 @ 12:51AM
GREGG said...
GOOD JOB BERNARD... NEXT MO MONEY, MO MONEY, MO MONEY,,
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10-19-2008 @ 12:57AM
Alan said...
I am a big Hopkins fan, but I have to admit that his lsat few fights have beens stinkers. I betted on him to beat Pavlik, but I was not sure. I'm glad he did though I also think JOnes will knock out Calsloppy and finally setup the rematch. I'm not close to being impressed with Joe. Great Job Bernard!
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10-19-2008 @ 9:14AM
Anthony 1 said...
I'm with on that one, Joe doesn't impress me at all; talk about overated!
10-19-2008 @ 11:25AM
Bobby said...
there is not a fighter alive today who can beet Calsloppy
10-19-2008 @ 7:42PM
GQJohnB said...
Bobby thats a pretty bold statement to make about a guy who has only one real credible win against a guy who's not even in his prime.
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10-19-2008 @ 11:51PM
Tuck said...
Hopkins is awesome and after Roy Jones Jr. puts on a clinic against Calzage him and Hopkins will fight again and Roy Jones will show that even though Hopkins is one of the greats that when Roy is on top of his game there is none better past, present, and future.
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10-20-2008 @ 3:52PM
Derrick said...
Roy Jones Jr vs B hop sounds like a good 1 to me.
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10-20-2008 @ 4:24PM
Brayan said...
Bernard is a legend.
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10-22-2008 @ 9:11AM
Wyatt said...
Joe Calzaghe is the best fighter in both his weight classes and the greatest champion most will see in there life time. He is up their with Joe Louis. Kelly Pavlik is a nobody and too much weight was put on his shoulders to early. He had Taylor's ticket, but he didn't school him in fact he was almost beaten. Roy Jones is the only person that can even begin to challenge Joe Calzaghe. Though Calzaghe will probably come out the victor it is clear Bernard is not in step with either of these men. If you remember he has been beaten by both. Calzaghe vs. Jones will be a unanimous decision for Calzaghe in my opinion with Jones trailing slightly in the later rounds. Same as the Bernard fight, but more clear. Reasoning is because Jones doesn't try to hug people to death. This will allow Calzaghe to really open up.
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10-24-2008 @ 12:04PM
budo said...
Calzaghe BARELY, if at all, defeated Hopkins. Many ine the boxing world think exactly the opposite as do I. Calzaghe is a pitty pat defensive runner. Jones could have a field day with him if he is on his game. At almost 40 Jones should still win IMHO. Too much speed and too much power.
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10-24-2008 @ 6:00PM
john said...
go bernard hopkins..title shot knext???or will kelly go running????
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11-14-2008 @ 5:29PM
Jim said...
Kelly Pavlik is a great fighter. All he has done is beat everyone except Hopkins. Hopkins is usually a very boring fighter, much like Cassius Clay was, moving around the ring more than anything else. But Hopkins has the savvy to beat even a great fighter like Pavlik on a given day. I didn't see the fight; maybe I'll look at it. I may actually see Hopkins do some fighting.
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11-14-2008 @ 11:12PM
Jim said...
PS The difference in Hopkins and Pavlik is,-Hopkins is a boxer and Pavlik is a warrior.
Hopkins tries to not get beat and Pavlik tries to win.
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12-13-2008 @ 3:17PM
Geezer Dave said...
Old time boxing fans know that Pavlik and his group bet a lot of money on Hopkins, then took a dive. It reminded me of the Duran vs. Leonard fight. When Duran couldn't fake the fight, he simply quit. "No Mas! No Mas!" Pavlik opted for the ass kicking.
I'll aslo bet that Pavlik won't be fighting at Atlantic City any time soon.
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