Boxing Mad Magazine November 1st issue | Página 38

x xxv kovav 038 NOVEMBER 2014 issue #14 @p4pposte Age is only a number, nobody personifies that more than Bernard ‘The Alien’ ge is only Nov 8th, at 49 Hopkins and on a number, nobody personifies that to than years old, he attemptsmore con- Bernard ‘The father time and and tinue to defy Alien’ Hopkins on Nov 8th, at he takes on break more records as 49 years old, he attempts to continue to to Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev defy fa ther time and break try and unify their Light Heavyweight world titles. more records as he takes on Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev to try and unify their Light Heavyweight world Hopkins has had an extraordinary career so far, titles. arguably the greatest of this ‘era’, he has been in or Hopkins title bouts for around 20 yearscareer around has had an extraordinary so far, arguably the greatest of this ‘era’, he now: he was the longest reigning middleweight has of all in or around title bouts for around champion been time (he held his middleweight 20 1995 to 2005), was the longest reigning titles fromyears now: he he made a record 20 middleweight champion of all to Jermain consecutive defences before losing time (he held his middleweight titles broke George ForeTaylor. In 2011 Hopkinsfrom 1995 to 2005), he made record 20 consecutive oldest before man’s a record to become thedefenceschampi-losing to Jermain Taylor.his 2011to Chad Dawson on ever, but then lost In title Hopkins broke George Foreman’s and then went onrecord to the odds in the oldest to upset become 2013, champion ever, the highly rated Tavoris beating and schoolingbut then lost his title to Chad Cloud,Dawson and then went on to upset the odds in breaking his own record again and be2013, beating and schooling the highly coming the oldest ‘unified’ champion too, pick- rated ing up Tavoris Shumenov’s WBA strap a record again Beibut Cloud, breaking his own couple and becoming the oldest ‘unified’ champion of fights later, putting in another masterclass. too, picking up Beibut Shumenov’s WBA strap a couple has been in with the likes of Roy Hopkins of fights later, putting in another masterclass. Jones Jr, Glen Johnson, Felix Trinidad, Winky Hopkins has been Joe Calzaghe, and Wright, Jermain Taylor, in with the likes of Roy Jones Jr, Glen Johnson, Felix Trinidad, so on. Win or lose, these fights mean that Winky a huge advantage over KovaHopkins has Wright, Jermain Taylor, Joe Calzaghe, and so on. to or experience, fights lev when it comesWin pro lose, these where- mean that Hopkins has a huge advantage as Kovalev only captured his first title last year. over Kovalev when it comes to pro experience, whereas Kovalev only captured Kovalev, however, does have some attributes his first title last that Hopkins does not possess: he had an ex- year. tensive amateur career at a high level and he has Kovalev, however, does have unbelievable power, Hopkins had no amateur ca- some attributesstopped anyone for several years. does that Hopkins reer and hasn’t not possess: he had an extensive as Hopkins has been, there is and he As phenomenal amateur career at a high level a has unbelievable a 2/5 Hopkins with the reason why Kovalev is power, favouritehad no amateur career and hasn’t bookies. He seems like an unstoppable force stopped in anyone division, he has steamroll- years. for several the light heavyweight ed a decent run of opponenta during his 25(23)As phenomenal as pummeling been, 0-1 career, most notably Hopkins has Nathan there is in 4 rounds Kovalev is a 2/5 favourite Cleverly a reason whyto win the WBO champi- with the bookies. banger also has solid wins onship. The Russian He seems like an unstoppable force in Ca mpillo, Cornelius White, Ismayl against Gabriel the light heavyweight division, he has steamrolled a and Blake of opponenta during Sillah, Cedric Agnew decent runCaparello, all by his all within career, most notably easy stoppage,25(23)-0-1 the distance. That’s nopummeling Nathan Cleverly in 4 rounds to win feat, but the opponents do often get dismissed. the WBO championship. The Russian banger also has solid wins against Gabriel a issue #14 NOVEMBER 2014 039