Executioner to Ghostbuster: Bernard Hopkins Beats Kelly Pavlik

Saturday, October 18, 2008, Bernard Hopkins demonstrated how good he really is, or rather, how much he really has left.  Leading up to the fight, most everyone, myself as well, believed that the younger, stronger, Pavlik would beat Hopkins easily. 

We, as often is the case in the Sweet Science, were proved drastically wrong, and on more than one account at that, by a hungry, skilled, fighter with something to prove.

First of all, it was totally reasonable to believe Pavlik would win, and his status as the 4-1 betting favorite was justifiable.  I, like many, believed that Hopkins had the style to beat Pavlik, or at least give him headaches, but that at 43 the Executioner’s axe would be too dull to close the show. 

Hopkins was 2-3 in his last five outings and definitely showed his age against Calzaghe last April.  Hopkins in an act of defiance, or maybe Hopkins in  an act of being Hopkins, proved us all wrong by coming out and fighting and winning pretty handily.  Not only that, but it was a decent fight.  

Not fight of the year, not fight of the month, but a fight worth watching (maybe not paying $50 for, but worth seeing).  Hopkins’ snore fest against Winky Wright last summer had all of us who bought it clamoring for a refund, but on Saturday not only did “B-Hop” clinch less, he forced most of the action, landed the harder punches, and even got in a few Ray Leonard-esque taunts. 

It was a virtuoso performance perfectly capped by the Executioner’s stare-down of Press Row after the final bell.

All praise due to the old warhorse who has earned a place next to Archie Moore and George Foreman as truly ageless, but that is not the focus of this article.  Hopkins upset has changed what can happen in boxing in 2009 as well as cast aspirations on a few upcoming fights. 

The next two pay-per-views for HBO are Calzaghe-Jones and Pacquiao-DeLahoya.  In both of these fights the major reason for picking the younger man is simply that he’s younger and closer or at the peak of his powers. 

Also, the older man in each matchup has turned in less than thrilling performances recently.  Both of these conditions parallel Pavlik-Hopkins perfectly.  After Saturday, Jones’s chances are looking better and DeLahoya might pull ahead as an even bigger favorite. 

I lost $20 betting on Pavlik (a meager sum that tells you how timid I am about betting) so now my plans to win a few sure things and then bet the farm on Pacquiao suddenly seem foolish.  This is only a small example of how Hopkins victory will change the game in the short run.

Also, I find myself looking forward to Calzaghe-Jones.  I still think the Welshman will emerge victorious, but as I said I’m not betting on it, but also I find myself thinking “Hey, this could be a good fight.”  Hopkins’ win is going to draw more buys and center more focus on these two upcoming superfights that have both warranted a 24/7 documentary.

Another thing to look forward to is a potential Hopkins-Jones fight sometime in spring 2009.  I would definitely like to see that, as would the legions of fans who were denied this rematch earlier in the decade because of the posturing and machismo of the two combatants. 

In fact, even if Calzaghe wins, I’d like to see Hopkins-Jones more than I’d want to see Calzaghe-Hopkins II.  Bernard has definitely set himself up for another big payday. 

Finally, this defeat, while not destroying the career of Pavlik, will maybe send him back to 160 to defend his title.  Which, theoretically at least, is what he should be doing anyway.  I also hope that people don’t take this too far and think Pavlik is done or a mirage.  After all, the Ghost is a good, good fighter, and he has proved it. 

What was proved Saturday was my mantra:  styles make fights.  I felt before the fight that Hopkins ten years ago would have beaten Pavlik.  Now I feel that Hopkins ten years ago would have knocked him cold. 

But please, let’s forgive Pavlik.  He was fighting a hall-of-famer with the style to beat him and, most importantly, the gas tank to go 12 rounds.  Pavlik is going to keep going, but hopefully he’ll stay at 160 and try to cement his legacy as a great champion rather than as someone who didn’t defend his title and dallied with the higher weight classes. 

Overall, this is not a terrible thing for the sport.  Yes, we’re going to have to wait a little while longer for the next young gun who will reinvigorate boxing.  And, yes, our darling superstar has a blemish on his record.  But mostly, we can look forward to some good fights, an active middleweight champion, and maybe a few thrilling upsets.