Photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
On Saturday, November 8, 2014, Sergey Kovalev takes on the ageless wonder, Bernard Hopkins in a highly anticipated Light Heavyweight clash.
Many fans and pundits alike are ecstatic about the prospects of this unification bout given the fact that just a few months ago it seemed as if this matchup would never happen.
But quicker than you can say Al Haymon, the promotional and network alignments of boxing changed and now Golden Boy Promotions triumphantly returns to HBO with arguably the most anticipated fight of the year.
It’s noteworthy that Hopkins—at the tender age of 49—is headlining a fight that fans are drooling over. It’s not to say that Hopkins is not a legend or a master of his craft, it’s just that he’s usually in tactful matches that don’t provide much in the form of offensive action.
And make no mistake about it, against a bad ass like the “Krusher,” Hopkins will want to limit the exchanges if he plans on having his hand raised at the end of the night—or still having a pulse for that matter.
What does that mean for spectators? Hopkins’ old-man game has to be on point. We might end up seeing a snoozer filled with holding, hitting after the bell and prolonged low blow breaks.
Photo by Steve Marcus/Reuters
Due in part to the fact that Kovalev’s trainer John David Jackson has worked with Hopkins in the past, the Russian born heavy hitter seems to be ready for whatever Hopkins brings.
“Any way I need to get a victory, dirty fight or clean fight, for me it doesn’t matter. I will fight dirty, if Hopkins will fight dirty. I’m going to fight a clean fight, but who knows what will happen November 8th.” – Sergey Kovalev
During HBO’s 24/7: Hopkins vs. Kovalev, Jackson made it clear that he sees past the whole “Alien” persona. At the end of the day, Jackson knows that Hopkins is just a man and one solid punch from Kovalev can change the whole fight.
Hopkins is known for his mind games, but Jackson and Kovalev are also employing a bit of gamesmanship by not letting out the secret of how they plan to defeat Hopkins.
“What John David Jackson said is that it’s a secret between me and him, he has the keys to my victory. I understand that everybody wants to hear what happened in my training camp with John David Jackson, but everything you will see in November 8th on HBO in Atlantic City.” – Sergey Kovalev
November 8 can’t come soon enough.
Header photo by Hogan Photos
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