Maple Leaf
Mentor
I will put up my prediction now.
I know how this fight will be played out. Pavlik is not going to give up his advantages of height and reach to fight Hopkin's dirty inside fight. Pavlik likes to move in with viscious combinations and destroy at short range -like he did Miranda- but he is not going to do that in this fight. Pavlik will stay outside and bomb from long range. He does not need to do anything else, although he can if he choses to. Pavlik is like a smaller version of Vitali Klitschko: he will just stick to what is best for his body size. If the basic jab, half hook, and right cross are enough than why bother with anything else?
If Hopkin's thinks that by fighting at 170 he will have more energy and be less weight drained the same holds true for Pavlik only more so. Pavlik is naturally bigger than Hopkins so less weight to lose will give Pavlik even more energy during the fight. Expect Pavlik to be even busier, at least with his jab.
Taylor beat Hopkins in both of their fights with the jab alone. Pavlik's jab is better than Taylor's as we saw in their two fights. If Taylor can beat Hopkins from the outside with the jab alone, then absolutely Pavlik will do the same. That is not just a prediction -it is the way the fight will transpire.
Pavlik will not be able to dominate Hopkins by backing him up against the ropes because Hopkins is still too crafty, and dirty, and it will not be worth the risk. In his past three fights Pavlik has stayed outside and we can expect the same. Pavlik will easily win a unanimous decision based on accuracy, volume, punching power, and reach advantages. To beat Pavlik one must have a higher punch output, at least match his power, be bigger or out-reach him, or be able to take some of his bombs to land one's own. Hopkins does not possess any of those abilities. I doubt Pavlik will knock out Hopkins. If anything Hopkins will do what is fashionable right now and not come out for one of the late rounds, hence a stoppage. But my official prediction is a Kelly Pavlik unanimous decision.
I know how this fight will be played out. Pavlik is not going to give up his advantages of height and reach to fight Hopkin's dirty inside fight. Pavlik likes to move in with viscious combinations and destroy at short range -like he did Miranda- but he is not going to do that in this fight. Pavlik will stay outside and bomb from long range. He does not need to do anything else, although he can if he choses to. Pavlik is like a smaller version of Vitali Klitschko: he will just stick to what is best for his body size. If the basic jab, half hook, and right cross are enough than why bother with anything else?
If Hopkin's thinks that by fighting at 170 he will have more energy and be less weight drained the same holds true for Pavlik only more so. Pavlik is naturally bigger than Hopkins so less weight to lose will give Pavlik even more energy during the fight. Expect Pavlik to be even busier, at least with his jab.
Taylor beat Hopkins in both of their fights with the jab alone. Pavlik's jab is better than Taylor's as we saw in their two fights. If Taylor can beat Hopkins from the outside with the jab alone, then absolutely Pavlik will do the same. That is not just a prediction -it is the way the fight will transpire.
Pavlik will not be able to dominate Hopkins by backing him up against the ropes because Hopkins is still too crafty, and dirty, and it will not be worth the risk. In his past three fights Pavlik has stayed outside and we can expect the same. Pavlik will easily win a unanimous decision based on accuracy, volume, punching power, and reach advantages. To beat Pavlik one must have a higher punch output, at least match his power, be bigger or out-reach him, or be able to take some of his bombs to land one's own. Hopkins does not possess any of those abilities. I doubt Pavlik will knock out Hopkins. If anything Hopkins will do what is fashionable right now and not come out for one of the late rounds, hence a stoppage. But my official prediction is a Kelly Pavlik unanimous decision.
