This week, Kelly Pavlik squares off against Bernard Hopkins at 170 pounds. It was among the worst possible matchups for Pavlik; it's almost impossible to look good against Hopkins, losing is a very real possibility, and he won't get that much credit for winning, given that Hopkins is 43 and coming off of a loss. The only way he enhances his career is if he really beats Hopkins down, but that just doesn't seem likely. ESPN.com's Eric Raskin sums up the essential question of the fight thusly:
Can Hopkins make it as ugly as he needs to and frustrate Pavlik into making fight-altering mistakes? Can Pavlik pump out a steady stream of punches and put rounds in the bank without opening himself up to counters?I'm guessing the latter will scenario will win out, but Pavlik's lack of lateral movement and predictable offense is tailor-made for Hopkins' counters, so I expect some tough moments early on for Youngstown's favorite son. However, I think Hopkins is going to have to throw combinations to keep Pavlik off of him, and he just hasn't shown an ability to throw more than a punch or two at a time in years. As in the Calzaghe-Hopkins bout, down the stretch punch output will be the difference. The fight will probably be a stinker, although if anyone can force Hopkins to fight three minutes of every round, it'll be Pavlik.
No undercard bouts really grab my attention, with the exception of the Laguna's own Marco Antonio Rubio against Enrique Ornelas in a middleweight eliminator bout. This will be like two old pick-up trucks driving into each other at full speed time after time. It should be fun while it lasts. I like Rubio. ¡Arriba Laguneros!
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