Bernard Hopkins Vs Kelly Pavlik, The Passing Of The Torch?

This Saturday there will be no title on the line, no real weight classes. The fight between legend Bernard "the Executioner" Hopkins and middleweight champion Kelly "the Ghost" Pavlik is a kind of passing of the torch.  Can the old man suck up one more win? Will the younger champion retire the legend? Lets look at this fight a little closer.

Hopkins is 42 years old and seems to have lost a step. In his last fight you began to see the age, the speed and the reflexes looking slower then normal. I did see the savvy that made him who he was. I did see the calculating thinker, some accurate punching.

Will BHop bring that to the table against the young Pavlik? Will Bernard's great counter punching be a factor? What Hopkins brings to the table are things you don't learn in U.S.A Boxing. He can make fights harder then they should be, by holding and sticking his head against your chin while landing that 6" punch he is famous for.

Roughing fighters up on the inside with right hooks in a conventional stance. Hopkins has to keep the fight on the inside. From time to time he will need to shoot some straight right hands down the pipe but he needs to use timing and keep them to a minimum. Hopkins could not keep up in the exchanges against Calzeghe. 

Maybe that's why we all began to think he was slowing down. I wonder if Kelly Pavlik would look slow versus the Calzeghe hand speed?

Now speaking of Pavlik, a terror in the middleweight division will be moving up 10 pounds. Kelly is young, strong and a very skilled boxer. Pavlik is not just a puncher, this kid can fight. Pavlik brings youth and real skill. Kelly has all the tools to beat Hopkins but how will Pavlik react later in the fight with Hopkins holding and grinding him on the inside?

The Champ has shown he can come back from a nice punch, the one thing Hopkins has not lost. Kelly also brings power to the table and he will try to get the old guy out of there. I for one think Pavlik just needs to win round after round and if it happens then take it.

A few factors that make Kelly the favorite besides youth and power. He punches straight for one thing, he uses his jab very well and has a big stature. Outside of Tarver, Hopkins has not beat anyone of large stature. This is the one factor where Hopkins has had a hard time with.

Pavlik is big, I mean big even for middleweights. Sharp punches, hard punching and size will win this one for Pavlik. I can't see a KO but i do see a ugly win by the young Pavlik.