3. Work His Classic First Six Rounds
Photo by Ken Goldfield/New York Daily News
It’s a slow, methodical and yes, even boring (very boring) tactic that Bernard Hopkins uses, but there is method to his madness. While boxing fans groan at the thought that the first half hour is essentially just jabs and dodging, Hopkins does this for precise reasons.
There’s a lot a fighter can learn about his opponent by carefully maneuvering them for six rounds. Flinching from feints, rolling, footwork and everything else are things that “The Executioner” takes in and analyzes, with the purpose of using all the tactics against them in the latter part of the fight.
In Hopkins’ earlier work in the 90’s, the boxer was more prone to end fights in the first few rounds, but we haven’t seen a KO or even TKO from Hopkins since his famous knockout against Oscar De La Hoya in 2004 that made fans remember why they loved him so much. Since then, every single fight he’s been in except one, has ended after a complete 12 rounds. Yeah, we all have mixed feelings on this.
In comparison, Sergey Kovalev seems to be the opposite. The guy has yet to even have a professional fight that lasts longer than eight rounds, the majority ending in KO’s in the first few rounds. On one hand, this is incredibly intimidating and impressive, but on the other hand, boxing critics are starting to wonder how Kovalev would hold up if he did have to go a full 12 rounds. Can he even do it?
If Hopkins can hold off “The Krusher” for the first half, it will be very interesting to see how Kovalev handles himself in the final rounds.
Hopkins needs to remember his age in this fight, and not become riled up in the hype. While “Alien” fans would all love to see the young spring in his step again, I just don’t see it as a good idea if he wants to walk out of the ring with another W.
Hopkins needs to work it slow, and work it smart.
