ATLANTIC CITY – I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bernard Hopkins show as much respect for an opponent as he has for Kelly Pavlik. Normally, Hopkins treats an upcoming foe with utter contempt, downgrading their talent, threatening them with bodily harm and constantly staring at them as if he was going to pull their liver out through their throat.
He threw down the Puerto Rican flag during a promotion in Puerto Rico for his fight against Felix Trinidad; told Jermain Taylor to kiss his family one last time because he might never see them again; shoved Winky Wright in the face at the weigh-in before their bout and taunted Joe Calzaghe by saying “I’ll never let a white boy beat me.” The Executioner has always tried to live up to his threatening moniker.
Yet, he has been downright civil toward Pavlik in the lead-up to tomorrow night’s pay-per-view ($49.95) bout at Boardwalk Hall. He shook Pavlik’s hand during their initial press conference in August and last week affirmed: “I respect Kelly Pavlik.”
Some suggest Hopkins is implementing a different kind of psychological warfare, smothering Pavlik with kindness so the reigning middleweight champion won’t come into the ring with a vengeance. But clearly the kinder, gentler Hopkins is out of character and when athletes act out of character it usually spells trouble. That’s part of the reason why I like Pavlik via stoppage in the late rounds.
Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs) has never been hurt in the ring and has never been knocked out. He hasn’t been a decisive loser since Roy Jones beat him by unanimous decision in 1993. But Hopkins is 43 years old and 20 years removed from his first pro fight in Atlantic City, and his sources for motivation seem to have dwindled. Interestingly, the man who has always fought to make history or enhance his legacy, admitted he took this fight at 170 pounds for money or “back pay” as he called it.
While he will be the most accomplished opponent Pavlik, 26, has faced, Hopkins hasn’t fought anyone like The Ghost. Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) will be much more active than Taylor, who beat Hopkins on two close decisions, and he’s a more powerful puncher than Calzaghe, who earned a split decision over Hopkins last April. Hopkins has a great chin and his defensive skills and counterpunching ability are impeccable. But while Hopkins seems to throw fewer and fewer punches with each fight, Pavlik has a non-stop motor that should carry him through the early rounds where he’ll spend much of his time trying to solve Hopkins’ craftiness.
By the eighth round, the young lion will start to devour his older prey, who showed signs of age in his fight with Calzaghe. In that battle, Freddie Roach, then Hopkins’ trainer, said Hopkins started to the wrong corner on four separate occasions, prompting Roach to suggest Hopkins should retire.
Hopkins said he won’t quit until someone proves to him he’s done. “If I’m not the same person that I was in 2001, then I want someone to prove that by putting me on my (rear end) and making me look like I shouldn’t be in the ring,” he said.
Be careful what you wish for.
Prediction: Pavlik by TKO within 10.
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Tickets remain available for Wednesday’s Broadway Boxing Card at B.B. Kings. Edgar Santana of Spanish Harlem meets Luis Rodriquez of Mexico in the main event. Randall Bailey and DeMarcus Corely also meet in a battle of former world champions. Call 212-947-2577 for tickets.
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NABF junior welterweight champ Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa of The Bronx has been added to the Nov. 8 fight between Roy Jones and Joe Calzaghe at the Garden. Figueroa will fight Gavin Reese.