Sport

Hopkins: Plenty more left in the tank
by Mark Doyle, 13 October 2008

Hopkins: Plenty more left in the tank

Bernard Hopkins has dismissed concerns over his health and claims that he is going to underline his status as a modern-day great by defeating Kelly Pavlik on Saturday night, in a bout which is live on Setanta Sports.

Hopkins’ former trainer, Freddie Roach, recently expressed his belief that The Executioner should have retired after his points defeat to Joe Calzaghe in April. Indeed, Roach claimed that Hopkins walked to the wrong corner on four separate occasions during that bout.

However, Hopkins, 43, believes that Roach’s concerns are unfounded and is adamant that he still has plenty to offer as a top-level fighter.

"I heard the comments [by Roach] but have only seen me do it on one occasion after I was turned around by the referee," he argued. "I went to the wrong corner but that happens. I didn't see myself doing it on any more occasions.

"Freddie Roach to me is a guy who is in the top three trainers, I have mad respect for him. You are dealing with a guy who is concerned about me, a lot of people are and lots of people care about me.

"I will be okay. I'm not a fool and will take the big challenges. I've been down those roads before. People will see an expert at his craft against Pavlik and I will expose things in his make-up.

"Hopefully, he will be able to pick his career up afterwards and I'll be able to root for him from the other side of the ropes.

"On October 18 Bernard Hopkins will show not only am I ready for the fight, but I have a lot left in the tank. I will win this fight, impressively, and show the world I am still one of the greats."

Setanta Sports is the new home of boxing. Click here for details on how to subscribe.

Get Setanta Sports delivered to your desktop

Bookmark with:

Comments

Jayhaych - 16 October 2008 07:43: Spot on TDOG Pavliks skills are very under- rated! HBO Boxing Kelly Pavlik's greatest hits. Check it out everyone Pavlik- TaylorII. He pressures his opponents and has a good defense, catching punches on his gloves. He also counter punches well and isn't scared to trade. Kessler IMO hasn't the same style at all and is a very good European style boxer.; Report this to a moderator

Alfed... - 14 October 2008 09:24: He's not quite 46 yet. I agree that Pavlik is a very basic fighter, arguably one dimensional. Anyone remeber Pavlik-Taylor II? Better peformance on Kellys behalf, one of which you could argue he is not one dimensional, but still, it was the frequent 1-2, 1-2, 1-2. Predictable. Now, although I do not like saying it, Calzaghe WOULD beat Pavlik. I do not like Joe, with his pitty patty slaps which help him thieve rounds throughout the fight. After recently reading his autobiography, I've come to the conclusion that the bloke is a complete delusional knob too. But he would beat Pavlik. I enjoyed his peformance against Kessler, and he'd beat Kelly in a simular way, unless he gets rocked, which is a possibility because as we know, Calzaghe isn't exactly hard to hit.; Report this to a moderator

Guy - 14 October 2008 08:51: Hopkins is getting KO'd i'm sure of it.......; Report this to a moderator

Matt - 13 October 2008 20:13: Come on Alfred get it right! It even says in the article Hopkins is 43 NOT 46 years old!; Report this to a moderator

TDOG - 13 October 2008 18:06: Pavliks boxing skills are seriously underrated,and is more than just a one two fighter. in his 2nd fight with taylor he showed his boxing skills and adapted as the fight went on and get stronger,i feel hopkins will make him look abit awkard to start with but pavlik will work it out and pressure him. B HOP is still a class act but i still think KP wins by a pints decision.; Report this to a moderator

Alfred - GH - 13 October 2008 16:43: Bernard is truly an executioner, am sure when dies, he'll not be burried, they gonna keep his bones in the museum and study his genes and DNA why a 46 year old man would box with such agility and craftiness, he's tacties to win when the going is tough will surely be part of the new chapters of boxings. come the fight night, u'll know what am talking about; Report this to a moderator

Chris Eaton - 13 October 2008 16:40: Spot on Ben!! I can't believe how little recognition Calzaghe gets. He beat Hopkins and people say Hopkins is past it. Then you have all these people claiming Pavlik is world class yet even his fans aknowledge that Hopkins could well beat Pavlik! Looks like the standards change depending on how popular the boxer is!!; Report this to a moderator

Ben - 13 October 2008 15:41: Pavlik fan, if you need more than a 1-2 combo to beat Hopkins...then why do you think that will be enough to beat Calzaghe? Come on mate, didn't you watch the Kessler fight? if Calzaghe can do that to the slightly faster...slightly more powerful Kessler, then what will Pavlik be able to do? I always say this, but Calzaghe only struggled with Hopkins because Hopkins has the best style to beat southpaws in the whole world...except he couldn't beat Calzaghe the only southy to beat him.; Report this to a moderator

Mon Hafeez - 13 October 2008 14:36: Pavlik will not be able to get by Bernards defence and hence will not be able to score the KO. As good as he is i dont see him having much of a plan B, I agree with Pavlik fan though and feel he would do well against Joe.; Report this to a moderator

Guy - 13 October 2008 14:23: Bernard's going to be brutally knocked into retirement this time,he's been kidding everyone for so long he's kidding himself!; Report this to a moderator

Pavlik Fan - 13 October 2008 14:21: This is the wrong fight for Kelly, he is a 1-2 puncher and Hopkins is a master at countering that. His age told against a fitter, quicker Calzaghe but Pavlik is too predicatbale for Hopkins counters , although he would beat Calzaghe he wont get past B-Hop, fact!; Report this to a moderator

Show more comments...

Enter your comments in the panel below:

Name

Setanta readers' comment of the day

“While all big teams (Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool) were busy protecting their best players, Arsenal was in forefront encouraging injury prone Walcott to participate in that useless freindly. Arsenal has a very thin squad and I remember Walcott said it but Wenger didn't take action to add some players. Arsenal players are not made of steel and Wenger should be prepared for such situation. We need Arsenal supporters on the board of Arsenal who can feel the way we feel when the team is losing and they can force Wenger to buy some experience players. Current board members are only interested in profits yet they (profits) don't go into history of the club”

Read all comments