BOXING NEWS:BERNARD HOPKINS defied his age to produce one of the outstanding performances of his 20-year career when handing out a lesson to the previously undefeated world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, registering a wide and unanimous points victory.
The 43-year-old Philadelphian, Pavlik's senior by 17 years, dominated from the outset and won with scores of 119-106, 118-108 and 117-109. Pavlik's much-vaunted knock-out power - he has 30 stoppages in his 34 fight record - was never a factor as Hopkins' ringcraft left him bemused, befuddled and frustrated.
This was not Hopkins the survivor, the fighter who had acquired a defensive reputation. He was the aggressor, firing fast combinations as he utilised superior hand speed and movement. At halfway, Pavlik's corner must have realised their man was fighting a losing battle unless the veteran tired in the closing stages.
In his last fight, six months ago when he lost a tight split-decision against Joe Calzaghe, Hopkins had started well but was outworked by the Welshman in the latter stages. This time Pavlik was unable to establish any physical superiority in the later rounds and was found to be technically the inferior man.
Hopkins improved his record to one of 49 wins, with five defeats and a draw, and hinted he would carry on defying the odds. In his last four fights he was an underdog against Antonio Tarver and Ronald "Winky" Wright but went on to win clearly, he was the outsider against Calzaghe and as big as 4-1 to beat Pavlik.
He said: "I have got to speak to Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer (the main men behind Golden Boy, the company that promotes him), but gardening is boring. This was one of the best performances of any of my fights. This was better than Tarver, better than (Felix) Trinidad, better than Oscar, better than 21 defences (of the world middleweight title he held before losing to Jermain Taylor three years ago).
"Kelly Pavlik is a stronger puncher than me and has a long reach, but I got speed, man. I'm not saying I'm Sugar Ray Leonard or Roy Jones, but I think I'm really underrated across the board. A lot of that has to do with people's feelings about me personally. What can I do? I am just trying to prove to you over and over again, don't underestimate Bernard Hopkins."
Badly bruised and cut, Pavlik was taken to hospital for assessment and stitches. Although he remains WBC and WBO middleweight champion, with the Hopkins contest being made at a catchweight 12st 2lb - it seems unlikely Pavlik can be the same force in the ring again after so comprehensive a loss as this.
Guardian Service
