Bernard Hopkins showed why he is still considered one of the best pound for pound boxers despite his overly ripe age of 43 years old. The Executioner turned back the hands of time and made the “The Ghost” look as harmless as Casper. Through the course of 12 rounds, Bernard Hopkins displayed his craft and out boxed, out classed the younger phenom from Youngstown Ohio, Kelly Pavlik.
Dubbed as “The Ghost” Kelly pretty much pulled a disappearing act in front of thousands of his fans at the Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City. Although the fight was not a title fight and Pavlik who is the WBC and WBO middleweight champion, went up 10 pounds for this fight, it was apparent that he still has a long way to go before he can be considered one of the best fighters in the game today.
Hopkins defied logic and time as he made the 4-1 favorite Pavlik look slow and helpless throughout the fight. It was a boxing school if I ever did see one. Pavlik just could not seem to figure out the Philly Shell defense that Hopkins has perfected through time. Hopkins exposed Pavlik’s lack of experience and proved his detractors once again that age doesn’t matter when you’re talking about an elite athlete.
The scores reflected how the fight went with 119-106 coming from judge Alan Rubenstein, 117-109 from Barbara Perez and 118-108 from Steve Weisfeld.
After the fight Hopkins had a few words for his naysayers.
"I could box another two to three years," Hopkins said. "I think this was my best performance, better than Tarver, better than Trinidad, better than Oscar. I am extremely happy tonight. Ninety percent of the media picked Pavlik. I always appreciate naysayers. That is what motivates me- when people are against me. I don't wish I was like that but that's the way it is."
The 43 year old also had a few pointers to share with the 26 year old Pavlik.
"Don't let this fight destroy you. You're a great middleweight champion. You have a great heart. Keep your head up. Keep fighting. You have to learn one thing. You have to learn that slickness that black fighters have and then you'll really be a great champion.” Hopkins told Pavlik when they exchanged sportsmanship gestures after the scores were announced.
With this Hopkins win, the future seems bright still for the grizzly vet. A rematch with Joe Calzaghe is a matter of great interest once again but what most fans have been really asking for is a rematch and a final showdown against his longtime nemesis Roy Jones Jr. Regardless, one fact has been set in stone: The Executioner is here to stay.
