How Bernard Hopkins Plans to Have the Mental Edge in Sergey Kovalev Showdown

Bernard Hopkins is an ageless wonder, a real alien if you listen to him tell it, but he understands better than anyone the huge earth-bound task facing him on Nov. 8 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Hopkins, 49, and already the oldest man to win a world championship on multiple occasions, will place his share of the light heavyweight crown on the line in a unification showdown with Russian power puncher Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev.

It’s possibly the most dangerous fight of Hopkins’ legendary career—certainly the most physically threatening—and he understands both the risk and the preparations necessary to once again silence the doubters.

“If he [Kovalev] can punch like everybody says he can punch, there might not be no second chances,” Hopkins told an international media conference call on Tuesday afternoon, referring to his ability to take the Russian’s near-mythical power shots.

“I don’t go in there thinking that. I have a game plan. Whatever gun he has, I’m not going to run from the gun, I’m going to disarm him. You have a big punch? I’ll disarm you. Now, you have Plan B. Buckle up because you’re going to get your money’s worth. And now we fight.”

Hopkins is a superb ring general and one of the best—if not the best—in the history of boxing at controlling and manipulating the mental aspects of a fight.

His physical skills are just a part of the total package, and there really isn’t anything particularly flashy about them.

But he makes you think, makes you doubt and places you in unfamiliar situations better than anyone. That’s because he’s always a student, not just of the game, but of people, and every man placed in front of him.

“He [Kovalev] feeds off the energy of the fighters he’s fought in the amateurs and also in the pros,” Hopkins said.

“I know how he breathes, I know how he sits down, I know where he sits down. I know how he thinks. I know everything about him, and that’s what I do with every opponent that I’m getting ready to fight. I want to know my enemy. I want to know how he thinks. I want to know how he sleeps. I want to know what he’s uncomfortable with.”

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Hopkins is a physical marvel, but that’s only a part of his story.

He’s fought long past the point where all other professional prizefighters have called it a career.

His preparations are legendary in their own right, and he’d be the first to tell you that they won’t and aren’t designed to work for everyone.

And it’s not just about the physical aspect.

It’s remarkable that his body has held up the way it has—the product of clean living and commitment—but to stay mentally focused and force your body to endure the rigors of training is an underrated part of the Hopkins story.

He gets out of bed before the sun rises in the morning, jogs for miles, spars countless rounds, all in preparation for a fight against the most dangerous puncher in the division, long after his legacy has been secured.

“What motivates Bernard Hopkins is now to every 40-and-up people out there that’s living, whatever job they have that they’re afraid that this young intern is coming to take it and they can relate to that, then they will root for me, they will be for me and I represent them,” Hopkins said.

“Black, white, Chinese, Muslim, Christian, Jew, it doesn’t make no difference. They will look at the age and they will say rumble, old man, rumble, and I will do that and I will make them proud when I’m done November 8, being the undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world for the second time in my 20-plus-year career going on three decades.”

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In Kovalev, one of boxing’s fastest-rising stars, Hopkins faces a man known for his seek-and-destroy approach inside the ring.

The 31-year-old WBO light heavyweight champion has knocked out his last nine foes and sports a knockout ratio above 88 percent. That places him second among active champions behind Gennady Golovkin and makes up a lot of the reason why most felt Hopkins would never come near this fight.

But not only did he come near it, he ran toward it when other—presumably safer—options were available.

Hopkins and Kovalev came to terms on their showdown over the summer, and it happened at a time when most observers felt Adonis Stevenson would be the next man staring down the Alien and not the Krusher.

It marked a return to HBO for Hopkins, and yet another attempt to do the impossible—take down a younger, stronger foe who many people feel he just can’t beat.

Though, in defense of the media, unlike in previous Hopkins bridge-too-far challenges, we are pretty evenly split on his chances this time around, with Bernard actually having a slight edge.

But Hopkins doesn’t pay any mind to that stuff. He doesn’t care anymore, and he’s spending all his time learning everything there is to know about Kovalev.

“Whatever he has, like I’ve done many, many times, he’s a human, I’m not, I will disarm him and now let’s fight. Let’s see your skills,” Hopkins said.

“Kovalev feeds off what you do and how you react to him. If you’re scared, he’s going to get brave. If you’re not, he’s got to sharpen up and get his stuff together. Some fighters are like that. Your reaction is how he reacts.”

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How many people in boxing today do you hear talk like that?

The number would amount to less than a handful at best, and it serves to reemphasize the unique nature of a fighter who might just be from another world.

Hopkins sure seems to believe that, and the rest of us are beginning to run out of reasonable explanations for his continued dominance and consistency in an era where stars fade almost as quick as they shine.

He’s the definition of a living legend, and he deserves a place at the table when boxing’s all-time greats are discussed. How high he continues to climb up that list remains an open question, but he firmly believes that he isn’t done building yet.

“I believe this will be a bold statement. It was not only a bold statement to make the fight, but it will be even bolder with a grand performance of Bernard Hopkins. Better than [Kelly] Pavlik. Better than Tito [Felix Trinidad].”

“To outdo yourself over and over and over again. It’s going to be exciting. I’m fired up for it, I really am. I’m really ready for this fight. I’m ready to show the people of Atlantic City that Atlantic City ain’t dead and Bernard Hopkins definitely ain’t dead.”

Kevin McRae is a featured boxing columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.