Bernard Hopkins - Kelly Pavlik Preview And Prediction

In this fight there are a few things you can guarantee will happen:

• Hopkins will fight dirty.  It's just part of his game, he clinches and takes dirty shots a lot.
• Pavlik will throw what appears to be pitty-pat punches that are actually powerful.  He is one of the few fighters I have seen known for power, but you can't tell...until he knocks out his opponent.
• Hopkins will cause a stir in the hours leading up to the match.  Hopkins has been known for causing a controversy to get into his opponents head, and build a bigger PPV audience.
• Pavlik will have an innocent, almost timid look on his face the entire time.

That is all you can guarantee will happen.  Pavlik is known somewhat unfairly for not fighting big fights.  With the exception of Gary Lockett, all of his last few fights have been against tough fighters.  In three of his last four fights Pavlik has beaten Jermain Taylor twice, and Edison Miranda.

Hopkins has only been fighting big fights for the most part here lately.  Hopkins has beaten Joppy, De La Hoya, and Tarver. 

Hopkins has also lost to Jermain Taylor twice, on account of him not working in the match.  Hopkins also lost a fight to Joe Calzaghe in which Hopkins seemed to refuse to let his hands go.  Hopkins was again outworked, and even faked a low blow or two in an attempt to either get rest, or a point taken from Calzaghe.  

I am not saying Hopkins faked every low blow in the fight, but I can tell you for sure that the last one was fake.

Hopkins isn't the same fighter he was when he dethroned Trinidad.  I'm not even sure that he is the same fighter that knocked out Oscar.  I do know that he does have it in him to knock Calzaghe on the mat in the first round.  I know Hopkins has it in him to actually fight this time.

Hopkins definitely has the experience to overcome Pavlik's style.  Pavlik has an obvious power advantage over Hopkins.  This should be a great fight, and it is obvious that Hopkins has lost a lot of respect from me for his recent actions.

As long as Hopkins can keep his focus on the fight, and not try to make it a racial issue, or fake low blows.  He very well could be the first to beat Pavlik.

On the other hand I think Hopkins resorted to those tactics, because he may be losing his edge as a fighter, and at 43 definitely losing a step.

I think Pavlik will win this fight by a TKO in the ninth round.