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On Saturday, November 8, 2014, Bernard Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KOs) takes on Sergey Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs) in a highly-anticipated Light Heavyweight bout.
The fight, dubbed “Alien vs. Krusher”, is a 12-round unification bout for the IBF, WBA and WBO world titles and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events.
At 49 years of age, Hopkins is taking on the most feared puncher in his division and possibly all of boxing. The storylines are endless, and if Hopkins is able to defeat the undefeated Krusher, he will add to an already storied legacy.
Just a few months ago, it seemed as though Kovalev was on the outside looking in with matchups against Hopkins and WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, Adonis Stevenson, seeming unattainable because of network and promotional beefs.
But now, Kovalev has a chance to show that he is the best Light Heavyweight in the world and possibly be the first man to knock out the all-time great, Hopkins.
Before Saturday nights matchup goes down, Round By Round Boxing’s Sr. Analyst, Gabe Rivas, and Sr. Writer, Lou Catalano, go head to head and break down two keys to victory for each man.
Let us know who you think will win, Alien vs. Krusher!
Key #1 for Sergey Kovalev
Attack. Attack. Then Attack Some More
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YhrNf5K0lo
By Lou Catalano
Sergey Kovalev has gotten this far by throwing wicked power shots and pasting the hell out of his opponents. They’re usually so overwhelmed and frightened that by the second round they’re basically waiting to get drilled.
Bernard Hopkins won’t acquiesce so easily. In fact, Hopkins is going to immediately try to impose his will.
If Kovalev allows BHop to control the tempo of the fight, he’s going to get embarrassed by the old fella. Kovalev needs to stay busy throughout each round, not allowing Hopkins to rest at all.
Not only will it give him a better chance of landing a bomb, but it will force Hopkins to exert more energy. Alien or not, Hopkins isn’t going to make it if Kovalev brings the pain all night.
Key #1 for Bernard Hopkins
Use Your Legs
By Gabe Rivas
An analysis of what a fighter such as Bernard Hopkins should do will inevitably be repetitive. Why? Because it’s the same story all over again.
We saw it with Felix Trinidad, we saw it with Antonio Tarver and we saw it with Kelly Pavlik.
People love seeing the same story over and over again, especially one as old as the ever-present conflict between age and youth.
The old saying goes, “If youth knew, and age only could.”
Well, Hopkins both knows and can–and my job is to repeat what he has already known and has already done.
As we saw with Pavlik and Trinidad, Hopkins will move his legs and continually keep Kovalev off balance.
Kovalev will have to reset often before he thinks he can land a punch.
Hopkins will be looking for holes in Kovalev’s offense the entire time.
Key #2 for Sergey Kovalev
Forget The Gameplan
http://youtu.be/_HkLS_U7qjs?t=10m35s
By Lou Catalano
Bernard Hopkins doesn’t possess elite speed or power. What he does have, is a boxing mind light years ahead of anybody else in the game today.
He’s made fools of fighters who’ve come into the ring with a plan of attack. Sergey Kovalev’s plan should be to have no plan. He needs to treat Hopkins like every other opponent he’s been in with, as a punching bag ready to be gutted.
Kovalev holds every advantage over BHop except for boxing I.Q. If Hopkins has “The Krusher” thinking in there, Sergey is in big trouble.
Kovalev’s best assets are his fists. They should be firing off all night in Atlantic City on November 8. If not, the Hopkins legend will continue to grow while Kovalev is rendered another notch in the 49 year old’s storied career.
Key #2 for Bernard Hopkins
The Right Hand
By Gabe Rivas
Besides looking for holes, Bernard Hopkins will measure Sergey Kovalev’s power.
Felix Trinidad, Antonio Tarver and Kelly Pavlik were power punchers, but a fighter doesn’t know how he will react to power punches until he steps into the ring.
As even Naazim Richardson noted at a recent press conference, Hopkins won’t know until he feels the first few punches as he begins to time Kovalev.
Hopkins will show respect, but just enough to land his signature right hand.
I can see Hopkins taking fewer risks in this fight, but if he feels Kovalev is too slow to catch him, he will begin to let his right hand go.
I, perhaps like fellow writer Lou Catalano, am torn in my pick for Saturday’s unification bout. It really depends on how Hopkins reacts to Kovalev’s power and how Kovalev reacts to Hopkins’ skills.
I think that Hopkins has at least earned the benefit of the doubt going into this fight. Pavlik, Tarver and Trinidad were all favorites before being either stopped or completely outboxed.
