Fight Week: BHop v Kovalev

First topic message reminder :

Intriguing doesn't dot his fight justice. We all know why this fight is extremely interesting to us fans, but who wins and why?

One thing that keeps rattling around my head about Kovalev, and it is the reason I don't think he will be befuddled like so many Hopkins opponents have been of late, is that he is a man with a serious killer instinct. Think of how Eubank was after Watson, reluctant to go for KO finishes. Now think of Kovalev, who has ended a life with his fists (awful for all involved). It is scary how much he seems to love putting people to sleep. Kovalev is really going to try and knock BHop out. Can BHop avoid being stopped and go on to create more history?

Exciting.

Watching some of the previous fights in the build up here, he has been putting guys down and stopping them with jabs to the body, haven't seen that for a while

True; but as Buncey points too...compare the records. Huge difference in them and not just in terms of experience but actual quality faced. When you scan Kovalev's record there really isn't anyone decent on there...

Caparello - Vastly untested...biggest name Green whose best days are way behind him
Campillo - Beaten by the top guys at every turn, and by Murat!
Clev - Possibly Britains worst 'Champion' ever whose chin was always there to be hit.

Now while Kov may have taken out these guys like they never have been the fact is he is a puncher. Against those with lack of defence or world class pedigree you expect him to do that if he's anything approaching decent. B-Hop is an entirely different proposition.

He could well turn up and blast him out of there and if he does then we have a new huge name amongst the elite. I just don't fancy him doing it tbh and think that the wily old fox may be a touch too much for him

All fair points, but I do want kov to do the business tonight, time to pass the torch but Hopkins record and ring craft speaks volumes against any opponent

Boxing in general needs the torch passing but the 'oldies' just don't seem to want to just yet; the best thing for boxing at this moment in time would be for the likes of; Mayweather, Hopkins, Pacman, Cotto, Wlad to all lose. Whilst all are obviously big for the sport in terms of mainstream if they continue boxing is in risk of kind of having a 'missing generation' in terms of marketable/massive superstars (Alvarez aside an he's only big in Mexico really)

The names above are all coming to the end of their careers but there is a few coming through that should be good to watch develop. So ozzy, you have just found a fiver down the back of the sofa, where is it going tonight?

Hopkins split decision...depending on odds may even stick a cheeky 10 quid on him to really roll back the years and knock Kovalev out...

Interesting SD call there, it is 14/1 for Hopkins tko/ko/dq, that would be a good shout but do you really think he could? The odds haven't changed all day, which may indicate what Buncey was saying earlier that everyone has stuck with what they originally thought and no massive swing in bets placed

Hopkins doesn't work enough to win anything clearly so chances are any decision is going to be very close. No one really clinically takes him apart so don't see that happening and certainly not by Kovalev. The question is just how 'sporadic' will the bursts be by Hopkins.

As for the KO, haven't had a cheeky bet for a while and i'm currently laid up after an operation so won't be spending money on going out anytime soon so have some extra cash to dabble with.

This undercard warming up a bit. Certainly cheeky bet there! But I have kov stoppage

Wow, this undercard fight is surprisingly exciting. Soft stoppage in a very competitive round...

He did look hurt but was connecting in the previous rounds, only good towards the end.
Interesting point about Hopkins requesting that kov can't punch the walls to break down the gloves padding!

Got Hopkins 16/1 Ladbrokes! Take a bit of that...also...bet365 have odds up for Frampton vs Quigg 30/12 lol! Think they have that one wrong!

Iam from Belfast so thats a Frampton win all day long! You stick a tenner on that?

Kovalev looks huge in comparison...here we go!

It's pronounced KovalEv, Halling.

Good start for Kov; cut the ring down well there..keeps doing that and he will get to B Hop...that round suggests I may have egg on my face shortly.

Keep us up to date fellas, it's not being shown here.

You almost wonder if B Hop went down just to lul him into a false sense of security...

Kovalev not crowding him, being a patient stalker...

Come on kov! I would have Teddy Atlas commentating on every fight if I had my way

10-8 followed by 10-9 Kovalev....sense Hop will just try to stay in it until the 6th/7th. To be fair...everyone raves about Mayweather and his defence. This guy is 50 and got out of the way of almost everything in that last round.

Another Kovalev round....Hopkins having some minor success though...first bit of the fight so far..

So wish I had Teddy doing the commentary!

Kovalev was beating him up towards the end of that one, not looking good for B-Hop, amazing he can take shots like this really

Was it a flash knockdown?

He really isn't taking that much massively clean though, always manages to just ride it or catch most of it on the arms and shoulders. How will Kov respond if he is still there in couple more rounds thats the question..

Top of the head while Hopkins was lunging forwards, got up immediately, yeah.

If Hopkins has a pan right now it's to hope Sergey gets tired because he's doing nothing to win these rounds

*plan

And another in the bag; Kovalev looks so much bigger. Strangely enought Hops two best moments have come when he's actually stood his ground and thrown with him.

Richarson's pink hat is cute.

Hopkins hasn't won a round

This will be a pedestrian walk to the finish for Kovalev you feel. Not expending much energy...Hopkins not looking capable of doing anything and now to far down. Barring KO he's out of this tbh. Kovalev closed down space well, got into range well and his size has kept Bernard from out hustling him on the inside.

Well Well....best round for Hopkins. Some of Kov's punches looking lazy...is tiredness creeping in. Intriguing if nothing else..

Probably fatigue from the nervy nature of the bout than actual physical effort.

Hopkins speed beats him up close, but it's a risky strategy.

Nope lol! Kovalev reasserts dominance very next round.

Big right hand left Hopkins seeing double there. Can't believe he stayed up! Alien.

Hopkins ordered by Naz to go and get in his face!

Kovalev is very patient. Stands on the brink of immortalising himself but refuses to get gung ho.

Ha its been pretty entertaining tbf; Hop has his critics...but jesus...nearly 50...landing shots like that and taking some of the ones he's taking! I'd be happy to be able to mow my lawn without getting tired at 49!!

118-109 my call at start of 12

Had the last round a 10-8, Kovalev could have done that ages ago.

120-106 Kovalev. Won every round, book ended the fight with 10-8's.

My god how did Hopkins stay up there...what a ledgend! Pretty good fight....Krusher the clear winner! Time to retire Mr.Hopkins nothing else to prove!

FUC**N HELL!! How the hell Hopkins stayed on his feet then!! Massive props and actually glad they didn't stop that.

Great performance from Kovalev...patient, good ring smarts, excellent closing of distance and wasted little. There is a question mark over that chin...legs stiffened on three occasions by a 49 year old who was much smaller than him and hasn't stopped anyone in a decade.

Whilst neither are as big as the following it's a travesty if Stevenson vs Kovalev doesn't get made!

Your right there john

Interesting fight that told a lot really. Kovalev is HUGE and Hopkins couldn't cope with the sheer size. One thing I dod notice....Hopkins landed with a couple of big shots in round 7/11/12 that wobbled/stiffened kovalev. If that was Stevenson....does he have a bad chin or was he just tired?? Saying that, to be nearly 50 and to go the full 12 with a banger, land a fee cracking shots yourself.... Credit where its due.

I think it was more that he was too relaxed if anything and the shots were loaded up and came from nowhere.

I don't think Stevenson has the chin, nous or speed to beat Kovalev. Sergey looks less comfortable backed up, reckon Ward would get it right should he risk it.

So apparently GGG curb stomped this beast in sparring...just saying...

But GGG is just a hype job that ducks everybody

Class from Hopkins. Very respectful.

Wouldn't be surprised if Hopkins fights Stevenson, but hope he calls it a day.

Ward barely risks having a shave let alone fighting someone. Don't think he goes near the likes of Kovalev or GGG.

Kovalev, for me, destroys Stevenson

As you say, too quick and powerful compared to Superman.... Who appears slow in comparison and a single shot fighter.

Hopkins would take stevenson.