Kathy Duva put her hands up, perhaps in a moment of shock or surprise- Moments earlier Serge Kovalev had just been dropped by a straight left by lightly regarded Caparello. To her left sat Bernard Hopkins. A agreement had been finalized a day earlier that if Kovalev won against the Australian, Kovalev would then face the elder statesmen, Hopkins this November.
While Duva’s reaction was one of shock, Hopkins sat emotionless. Eyes fixed on the ring, perhaps calculating, taking mental notes on what he can expose against Kovalev in less than three months. The knockdown. A mere footnote, while a foot from Caparello may have been a part of the reason why Kovalev hit the canvas, is that knockdown things to come from Kovalev in November?
Kovalev would end up stopping Caparello in the second round with some good body work that was typical from Kovalev. However watching the telecast, the interaction and banter between the “Alien” Hopkins and the “Krusher” felt like Hopkins already has the mental edge. There was nothing specific but the feeling that Hopkins understands the mental game on a different level. His mentality is far more resilient and his boxing technique far superior to that of the knockout artist that is Kovalev.
Max Kellerman asked Kovalev how he would beat Hopkins and Kovalev’s answer was simply to box Hopkins. While that has seemed to work up until this point of his career, Hopkins is not Caparello or Agnew or Cleverly.
This is Bernard Hopkins.
He shocked the boxing world in 2001 when he stopped Felix Trinidad. He repeated that feat when he dominated the heavy handed Kelly Pavlik to a one sided domination in 2008 and now in 2014; Hopkins looks to do it once more.
What makes Kovlev any different? Other than this upcoming fight being at light heavyweight his style is not much different than Pavlik or Trinidad. Oh, you think his power is better? Can anyone recall that last time Hopkins 1. Got hit clean 2. Was knocked down and not a slip. The truth of the matter is Hopkins is crafty. He knows how to neutralize most opponents best assets. His approach is methodical and his tactics are dirty.
Which comes back to how Kovalev is approaching this fight. While he is known as the Krusher and his KOs prove this to be true, Hopkins will not allow Kovalev to dictate the fight. This is where the fight will get interesting.
Will Kovalev be able to adjust to Hopkins tying him up, covering his punches and never allowing him to get enough distance to throw his heavy hands? No.
Hopkins has not succeeded to be 49 and still be able to compete with the best 20 and 30 year olds in the game today by getting his bell rung. It will not change come this November. In order for Kovalev to succeed this fall, he needs to quit giving Hopkins any respect, cut the friendly banter about alien planets or whatever and view Hopkins as his biggest threat. Kovalev needs to pressure and keep the fight at a high pace from the opening bell. Hopkins losses in recent years were to fighters who pushed the pace, never allowing Hopkins to get comfortable. Kovalev needs to replicate that or hurt him and take him out.
Between now and November, Kovalev will run into fans and media who will try and convince him that he will knockout Hopkins. That this is an easy fight. History has a funny way of repeating itself. Hopkins has been here before , the big puncher against the aging veteran. While it’s easy to love the power of Kovalev, it’s also easy to look over that Hopkins has the style to beat Kovalev and based on how Kovalev has reacted, Hopkins already won the mental game.