Bernard Hopkins: How I beat Kelly Pavlik

"How do you know how great you are without doubters?"

That's the question Bernard Hopkins asked Monday during an extended explanation of how he shocked the boxing world with a unanimous (119-106, 118-108, 117-109) decision over previously unbeaten Kelly Pavlik on Saturday.

"When I was done, I looked out at media row, stared out at the audience and I said, 'I'm tired of proving myself.' I had reached my boiling point. In and out of the ring, there's nothing else I can do."

What the 43-year-old Hopkins proved in his conquest of the 26-year-old middleweight champion from Youngstown, Ohio, is that when experience is teamed with fitness, youth and a powerful right hand stand little chance.

"I'm hearing about a lot of 40-year-olds who saw the fight walking with their chest out ... you have to be skinnin' and grinnin' after seeing that," Hopkins said.

Hopkins said his Saturday night masterpiece -- which he claims surpassed his previous high-profile victories over Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya -- was triggered by homework. In studying Pavlik's victories over Jermain Taylor, Edison Miranda and Gary Lockett, he said he noticed Pavlik continually "jabs and tries to line you up with his right."

"I asked myself, 'Why not go to his left and make him punch across chest?' That's awkward to do. That was his problem.

"I knew you can't beat a great athlete in just one way. I admit sometimes the way I fight is not pretty, but I do what I got to do. I wouldn't let him connect."

Roiled by predictions that he'd suffer his first knockout loss, Hopkins spent the night sticking to his strategy, delivering a steady diet of rarely used jabs and punches that left the favorite bloodied and confused.

"I took a page from the sweet science of boxing: hit and not be hit," Hopkins said. "We got too used in this sport to the Ultimate Fighting, big punch-type of fighting. I was sidestepping and he had to keep churning his legs. He had to adjust and didn't know how. It was all about position, position, position."

Now, Hopkins has a Nov. 8 fight to watch between the man who edged him by decision in April, Joe Calzaghe, and the veteran fighter who could secure a long-awaited date perhaps by the spring, Roy Jones Jr.

"If we can get that fight [with Jones] everyone's been waiting a decade for, in the [Madison Square] Garden, that's a fight you don't want to miss," Hopkins said.

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: Former longtime middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins defeated previously unbeaten Kelly Pavlik by unanimous decision on Oct. 18, 2008, in Atlantic City. Credit: Bebeto Matthews / Associated Press Photo

Comments

[Darius D.Boone Sr.]

I Knew Bernard Hopkins was going to win he is a crafty vet. That knows a lot about the sport. I Knew when the Executioner came out he ment business, I Knew Kelly Pavlik was in for a long one, in round one B-Hop came out very bizzy. Hopkins Vs jones. I have to say Hopkins bar none.

[Glenn Timmons]

Hopkins is a VETERAN Fighter. Discipline in nature.... the definition of the word science means to know.Hops is studious in the art of Boxing, it takes more to know how too Box then to just go into a ring to fight an opponent you must know how to apply the experience you have gained from past experiences and Hops knew what to do in the ring.
Bruce Lee's philosophy is :"knowing is not enough we must apply. Willing is not enough we must do" So all you doubters listen up; you know who you are, all those that wrote him off just fired up the passion of a true champion, do not past judgment, it is best to say the least that way you stay grounded and not be judged yourself and B called a dumb ass... Hopkins will go down as one of the greatest of all boxers to have step between the Ropes!

[Brandon]

I'm from the same neighborhood in Philly as Hopkins, everyone said Pavlik would win but I always had faith in B-Hop, 215 all day baby, the executioner may not be the greatest, but is one of thems, and no doubt the most techical boxer of all time!

[Rey]

I didn't get to see the fight but from what I've read here and from other posts / articles, Hopkins just showed Oscar De La Hoya how to do it vs Manny Pacquiao.

Freddie Roach predicted a Hopkins loss. He also predicted De La Hoya would lose to Pacquiao in December.

That would be a fight to watch for, no doubt -- especially after this Hopkins upset!

[chuck morlan]

if pavlik would of stayed at 160 he surely would have one weight means alot when you dont have enough time to gain it in muscle. it was easier for hopkins because he had to make no changes pavlik should have won

[Teodoro Gonzalez]

I find it quite odd that Pavlik, having fought better, younger and more consistant boxers by constantly pressureing and throwing puches, would HESSISATE in such an obvious deliberate way! I just hope that whatever he felt he would gain by not doing what was in his capabilitlies to do outweigh the loss he put on his fans, boxing and ulitmatley on his conscience!

[Jason Foster]

De La Hoya doesn't need to be "shown" how to beat Manny Pacquiao. He will brutally knock Pac out by size alone. Pacquiao has no chance and the fight should not be happening.

[Peplz]

I agree with Jason Foster. The Pacquiao De La Hoya fight should not be happening at all. I think that if Manny leaves that fight on his feet Oscar should really be ashamed of himself. Not because Manny isn't a good fighter but, because Oscar is just too much bigger than him. And for the amount of size advantage he has over Pacquiao his skill level is enough to where Manny probably doesn't have a chance in this fight. The fact that this fight is even happening doesn't make much sense to me. By the way, I thought that Hopkins was the clear winner in his bout against Calzaghe. But the judges seem to like to give Joe points for his amatuerish kitten slaps, that were'nt even landing in the first place. I believe that compu box was inaccurate for that fight and without that being a factor Hopkins landed the much more effective punches any way. Enzo didn't think that his son was winning that fight!

[Aubrey Husar]

Hopkins was NOT the clear winner against Calzaghe. If he had thrown more than eight punches the whole fight, maybe he would've been the clearcut winner.
Kelly Pavlik needs to step up to the next level and hire a world championship caliber trainer. Loyalty is one thing, but he needs to hear more than,"Double jab, right hand." His cut man did a great job, however.
If you've ever seen the size of Manny's calves or heard him hit the heavy bag in Wildcard, then you wouldn't say that Manny is undersized and doesn't stand a chance. Manny is gonna whoop up on Oscar who should become content with the hundreds of millions of dollars that he has made off of boxing and retire after a "shoulder injury" from sparring Mosley.

[Dana Green]

For anyboldy ou there who doesn't think Bernard can beat Roy Jones Y'all crazy. For years Roy side step Bernard saying he wanted a 60/40 split because he was the champ and the one with the bigger name. If you are the best fighter you fight the best fighters and at that time Roy didn't.

[will]

Roy Jones wanted a 60/40 split not only because he was champ, but because he had already beat Bernard before back in 93' do your homework Dana