Pavlik vs. Hopkins: High Stakes in Atlantic City

This Saturday night brings the clash of a seasoned veteran and one of boxing's fastest rising stars. 

Bernard Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KO) and Kelly Pavlik (34-0-0, 30 KO) will bring it all to the ring in Atlantic City this weekend. The fight has the potential to be an incredibly exciting stoppage, or a master's class in well-timed clinching, counter punching and defense.

Hopkins would love the latter option, while Pavlik will be looking to push the pace from the start and make Hopkins fight a 26-year-old's fight.

In terms of risk, Kelly Pavlik is putting a lot on the line with this fight even though he is the younger, stronger fighter.  On paper, it would appear that "The Ghost", an undefeated knockout artist who is 17 years Hopkins' junior, wins the fight easily. 

Those who have seen a Bernard Hopkins fight, however, know that Bernard is still in the game at the age of 43 for a reason—he's a slick, crafty, and an intelligent counter -puncher who gives every opponent he faces trouble. 

Hopkins has never been stopped, and four of his five losses (including his most recent loss to undefeated star Joe Calzaghe) have been close decision losses.

If Pavlik loses to Hopkins, the aura and hype that surrounds him will be shattered.  After his destruction of Edison Miranda and comeback stoppage of previously undefeated middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, Pavlik exploded onto the boxing scene with all of the ingredients to become one of the sport's biggest young stars.  A

After defeating Taylor in a highly-contested rematch and disposing easily of top contender Gary Lockett, Pavlik's ever-growing fan following hasn't lost any potency.  He can silence some of the critics who might believe that he is a one-dimensional power puncher, with no real boxing skills by defeating the defensive technician in Bernard Hopkins.

Hopkins's biggest risk in this fight is his own personal health. 

At the age of 43, his legacy does not suffer if he loses to a 26-year-old wrecking machine that has stopped 30 of his 34 opponents.  His health, on the other hand, could suffer badly. 

Considering that Hopkins has thus far shown a great chin, he could be in especially grave danger if his pride disables him from going down after a barrage of power punches. Sustained damage is always worse for a fighter than the damage from a single knockout punch (especially for a 43 year-old fighter.)

Hopkins is expected to be on his way to the Boxing Hall of Fame, while Pavlik is paving a path that will hopefully land him an invitation in the future.  This fight puts a rising star's resume and a boxing legend's well-being on the line in a fight that brings two opposing strategies to the table. 

Hopkins will try to buy time and counter punch while Pavlik will try to tire Hopkins and find a way to land his big shots.  Either Pavlik will remain unstoppable, or Hopkins will add another impressive win to his already magnificent career.