EXCELLENT EXECUTION
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Many boxing pundits, including myself, thought Bernard ?The Executioner? Hopkins showed his real age in his ugly loss against Joe Calzaghe. I also thought Kelly ?The Ghost? Pavlik had the perfect opportunity to beat an old but still credible future Hall of Famer.
Once again, Hopkins revelled in the chance to shock the boxing world. He is 43 years old fighting someone who is incredibly 17 years his junior. But the encyclopedia of boxing knowledge stored in his brain managed to discredit conventional wisdom.
Hopkins (49-5-2 with 32 KO?s), former linear and undisputed middleweight and light heavyweight champion fought like a reigning titlist. After his usual probing first round, he took Pavlik to school and landed with impunity.
Hopkins showed what being a Philadelphia fighter was all about. Pavlik, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, got painful lessons in how to slip punches, how to counter and how to launch offensive combinations from a defensive position. It was reminiscent of Hopkins? one sided beating of Antonio Tarver two years ago.
Midway into the fight it became quite obvious ? a grown man was beating up a young boy. Pavlik, coming into the fight with a record of 34 W-0 L with 30 KO?s, needed to score a knockdown or do something drastic to change the course of the fight. But he and his cornermen came into this fight without a Plan B.
The official scorecards read: 117-109, 118-108 and 119-106. This being a non-title bout means Pavlik is still middleweight champion but will have to endure a tarnished reputation.
We have also seen similar scenarios before. Hopkins beating up on boxing?s established superstars who earned more money - Felix Trinidad and Oscar dela Hoya. My favourite Hopkins? highlight is the left hook to the body that left dela Hoya writhing in pain on the canvas in 2004. A certain Filipino boxer will be looking to duplicate that punch come December.
Whether he really wants to fight again, only Hopkins knows. His skill as a fighter was rivalled by his clashes with the boxing establishment. He is more maverick than John McCain and he delivers his punches with the same silky eloquence of a Barrack Obama campaign stump speech. Very few boxers really deserve to be called ?Legend?. Bernard Hopkins once again showed that in his case it goes without saying.
Top photo: Former Two-Division World Champion Bernard Hopkins has his hand raised in victory following his unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Kelly Pavlik on October 18, 2008 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025
Thu, 04 Dec 2025Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Dec 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET
Thu, 04 Dec 2025MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18
Thu, 04 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai
Wed, 03 Dec 2025