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Hopkins: “Kovalev is a Dangerous Puncher”

For Bernard Hopkins, defying the odds against a dangerous puncher is nothing new.

HopkinsPhillyWorkout4Kovalev_Hoganphotos3 Photo by Hogan Photos

For Bernard Hopkins, defying the odds against a dangerous puncher is nothing new.

When he steps in the ring with Sergey Kovalev on November 8 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, however, the odds will be stacked even higher against him.

Hopkins will fight in a division 15 pounds north of the division he unified over 10 years ago and at the astounding age of 49.

Hopkins will be one step closer to unifying the Light Heavyweight division on this HBO-televised card, but realizes who stands before him.

“He has an over 90 percent knockout rate and anyone who fights this guy has the opportunity to not be the same once he exits the ring,” said Hopkins at a recent media workout.

Many fighters have left the ring a different man after facing a serious puncher, and at 49, Hopkins knows he is no exception.

“We won’t take anything away from this guy because he’s real,” said Hopkins.

Indeed, preparing for a fight requires a mix of psychological and physical preparation. Hopkins chooses to worry about what he can do in the ring and not about what he can change.

“I believe the difference comes in the execution. If you think about it too much beforehand it will keep you up at night. You can’t worry about things you can’t change,” said Hopkins.

Hopkins’ age, Kovalev’s power, and the concern his power brings to opponents before they enter the ring are all things he cannot change.

“We don’t know how hard he can punch, but we’ve fought some guys who could punch. We saw with Pavlik, Tarver and Trinidad, those guys had power,” said Nazim Richardson, Hopkins’ trainer.

Will Kovalev go the way of Pavlik in a near-perfect boxing exhibition?

Or will age finally catch up to the self-proclaimed Alien?

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