November 8 is right around the corner. Finally, all of the talk and build up will be done with and we will finally get to see what “The Alien” has in store for the “Krusher.”
Well, check that, we sort of already know what Bernard Hopkins is going to do. The big question is what will Sergey Kovalev do? Certainly, Hopkins is not going to stand there and let Kovalev mow him down like 23 others have. So how will Kovalev react if he has to push past the first half of the fight against a master technician like Hopkins?
In a chat hosted on ESPN.com earlier today, Hopkins shed a little light on what he plans to do.
“That’s good, his pressure. It’s a good thing. He hasn’t been through four or five rounds. Let’s see if he can go 12 rounds. I don’t think he can go 12 rounds. We’ll see. If he comes forward, I won’t have to move my old legs,” said Hopkins.
Hopkins will try to weather the storm early on and see how Kovalev reacts in the later rounds. This is a good idea especially given the fact that Kovalev has repeatedly stated that he has no real plan.
“My plan is to kick his butt. I have only one plan,” were Kovalev’s exact words in the same ESPN.com chat earlier today.
Lost in translation? Perhaps, but Kovalev has also stated earlier this week that he doesn’t feel the need to study any opponent.
“I don’t study anybody. It is better to go to the gym to do some work for my shape or spend time to cook my breakfast or sleep in my bed. Why I need to spend the time,” said Kovalev.
Hopkins on the other hand has admitted to studying every single detail about Kovalev.
“I’ve been watching this guy, I dug up amateur fights of this guy, and I know how he breathes, I know how he sits down, I know where he sits down, what he thinks, I know everything about him,” said Hopkins earlier this week.
All of this seems to be pointing towards another serious lesson from Professor Hopkins.
For Kovalev’s sake, let’s hope he knows who he’s getting in the ring with. This isn’t Blake Caparello, Gabriel Campillo or Darnell Boone. You can usually pass those tests without studying. But against Hopkins, without the right preparation, you’re bound to fail.
