Bernard Hopkins Shows That 43 is the New 23 - "The Executioner's" Youth Clinic
By Danny Serratelli at ringside for DoghouseBoxing (Oct 20, 2008) Doghouse Boxing
Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, 48-5-1, 32 KO's put on a clinic in an inspirational victory over previously undefeated middleweight champion of the world Kelly Pavlik, 34-1, 30 KO's Saturday night. Hopkins entered the bout as a 5-1 betting underdog, but once again shut the mouths of the masses who claimed that he was taking the fight for a final pay day and that he would fight to survive. Hopkins, who often seems to fight to the level of his opposition out hustled Pavlik who was 6 years old when Hopkins made his professional debut back in 1988. He showed again that styles make fights.
Hopkins is at his best with fighters who come right at him like Pavlik and Felix Trinidad.

Hopkins put on a boxing clinic from beginning to end, and he claims that he knew he would all along. Hopkins studied the tapes, did the work and he mapped out and executed his game plan to perfection. Pavlik was game, but he admittedly could not get his punches off and couldn't find any sort of rhythm against Hopkins. Pavlik's trainer said they had no excuses, but that they would be returning to 160 after this encounter at 170. Hopkins would later say he knew he had to back Pavlik up, be patient, persistent, and not deviate from the plan. He planned to and did fight like a poor man, but one who is rich in spirit.

Hopkins performance was perfect. It was a night where people were proud to be boxing fans. Pavlik showed grit in lasting the distance, but was never able to mount any offensive attack. It appeared that Hopkins hurt Pavlik early in the fight and Hopkins appeared to take more and more chances as the fight went on, apparently seeing that Pavlik was unable to catch him flush. Hopkins was cracking Kelly with very impressive lead right hands and doing good body work while Kelly was unable to make any adjustments to overcome the ageless wonder. Hopkins closed the show in brilliant fashion looking for a knockout that wasn't to be. In the end the Doghoseboxing / Brickcityboxing card read 118-108. The judges saw it 119-106, 118-108 and 117-109. Pavlik had lost a point for holding and Pavlik for hitting behind the head.

Hopkins was very motivated and he expressed his feelings during a long post fight press conference after the fight. "I wanted to make the naysayers bow down, people here boldly disrespectfully spoke out against me…you all have something special and you aint gonna realize it until I'm gone, that's the way it is in any sport." Love me or hate me, enjoy me while I'm here because, who else you gonna get a better sound bite from then Bernard Hopkins.

Hopkins wants to fight Roy Jones; he said he wants that fight by January or February if Jones can get by Joe Calzaghe. In the alternative, Hopkins said he would go to Wales and fight a rematch with Calzaghe. Hopkins said really wants to fight to fight Roy again before he dies, but he wants to do it before they both have walkers. Hopkins emphasized that time would be of the essence, he said you can't keep starting this 1965 car back up, he is confident he can return to the ring in January or February and put on a similar performance.

UNDERCARD:

WBO World Featherweight Title- 12 Rounds

Steven Luevano, 36-1-1, 15 KO's won a unanimous decision over Billy Dib, 21-1, 11 KO's (117-111, 116-112, and 115-113)

WBC Middleweight Title Eliminator- 12 Rounds

Marco A. Rubio, 43-4-1, 37 KO's won a unanimous decision over Enrique Ornelas, 28-5, 18 KO's. (115-113, 116-112 Rubio and 115-113 for Ornelas)

Junior Middleweights- 10 rounds- Yuri Foreman, 26-0, 8 KO's won a unanimous decision over Vinroy Barrett, 22-7, 11 KO's. (100-90, 100-90, and 100-90)

Super Middleweights- 6 rounds- Daniel Jacobs, 11-0, 10 KO's scored a 1st round knockout over Saul Gutierrez, 5-12-2, 1 KO. (2:29)

Welterweights- 6 rounds- Danny Garcia, 8-0, 7 KO's won by TKO 3 over Deon Nash, 5-6, 1 KO. (2:14)

Junior Bantamweights- 4 rounds- Qa'id Muhammad won by TKO 3 over Samuel Gutierrez, 3-4.

For more from Danny visit: BrickCityBoxing.com/



© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2008