Ghostbuster: Bernard Hopkins Looks to Take Down Kelly Pavlik

The theme song to the movie "Ghostbusters" has a line that is repeated several times by singer Ray Parker Jr. "I ain't afraid of no ghost." While that song is likely older than Kelly Pavlik it is safe to say that it will be Bernard Hopkins theme when he enters the ring Saturday night.

When critically thinking about what chances B-Hop has one would have to consider the type of fighter Bernard Hopkins was/is, CRAFTY! In his last three fights Hopkins is 2-1, He beat Tarver, Wright, and dropped a very close fight to Joe "The King of Wales" Calzaghe. However, Hopkins did drop the unbeaten Calzaghe in the first round of that fight.

Had Hopkins been able to build on that knock down he would have walked away with a win that look like the Tarver win. On Saturday Hopkins has a chance to upset Pavlik; of his last three fights Hopkins has put two of his opponents on the canvas (Tarver and Calzaghe), and depending on his strategy Saturday night he could drop Pavlik.

The advantages that Hopkins has heading into Saturday nights match up with Kelly Pavlik is his ability to make a great fighter look good, a good fighter look poor, and a poor fighter look like a midget in a slap boxing contest. In most of Pavlik's fights he has dictated the pace by walking forward putting pressure on his opponents.

In Pavlik's first fight with Jermain Taylor he had the most trouble when Taylor forced him to fight going backwards. Hopkins is a defensive counter-puncher and Kelly's style of shooting three jabs and a right hand helps a fighter like Bernard.

If Pavlik doesn't use that combination he usually mixes in an uppercut or a hook all while moving forward; on Saturday expect to see Hopkins making Pavlik looking awkward.

There are two challenges Bernard Hopkins faces in fighting Kelly Pavlik. The first being that Kelly is younger than Bernard. A trick commonly used in basketball as well as in boxing is to lay on your opponent. If this fight has alot of inside fighting and holding, age becomes a factor.

Hopkins has to slow Pavlik down by making him seem to be the older fighter. When they do tie up B-Hop must trick Pavlik into using up his younger legs. The second challenge Hopkins face is lack of production. He has to force himself to throw at least 65-70 meaningful punches per round. Kelly Pavlik is a punching machine and his punch output is rather consistent rather he is fatigued or not.

Hopkins could keep Pavlik from establishing his rhythm by making Pavlik fight going backwards. Pavlik works off of his jab while moving forward, this forward motion allows for him to dictate the pace and  get into his style of fighting.

Saturday night Bernard Hopkins has to force Pavlik backwards. He also has to make Pavlik reset in the manner that he did on Tarver. If and only if Hopkins can force Pavlik to become undisciplined he may have a chance at pulling off an upset victory.

If Bernard Hopkins is able to use his masterful boxing abilities and keen ability to out think his opponents he will become a true "GhostBuster." However, if he allows Kelly to get settled and drop that bomb that we call a right hand then the buster will become the busted. My prediction is Pavlik by split decision.