Too much is being made of Tarver’s sheer size and southpaw stance, and Hopkins’ age.
Tarver is 6ft2 with a 75-inch reach, Hopkins is 6ft1 with a 75-inch reach. FFS!
Hopkins isn’t getting any younger, but Tarver is 38 later this year!
Hopkins has taken apart left-handers in the past, and Tarver doesn’t like fighters who are able to get inside him (which Hopkins was a master at in the 1990’s).
Hopkins will suprise people in this fight by getting inside Tarver’s right jab, roughing him up, and outworking him to a clear-cut decision.
I agree, Tarver doesnt exactly box at an electrifying pace, Hopkin’s most recent tactic of coming on strong at the end will proably (and hopefully) work.
Who’s gonna be watching this Z fest live? I’ll be watching cotto malignaggi! I still think Tarver will beat that old man to sleep. People talk about tarver like he can’t fight, he’s one of the best. Boring yes, bad no!
I agree that this fight is not a mismatch bu Hop ia a career Middleweight taking on the light Heavyweight Champion who can punch and has a good chin. Hop can beat him by i dont think he can ko him. He has to outwork him. Even though he won imo versus Taylor, he didnt outwork him in either fight. Too big of a leap for him at this point in his career, but he can win if he is busy and uses his right hand a lot and his body attack
I still believe Hopkins is in the P4P, well maybe not the top 10 but 15 at least. Slightly OT but i believe he won both Taylor fights despite how boring they were. Tarver isnt great to watch and has made his name on a shot RJJ (who its surely unanimous would of destoryed Tarver in his prime) and Glen Johnson, ten loss Glen Johnson (ok he might be the best 10 loss fighter around, but still, thats 10 losses). Hopkins by UD, and a snoozefest at that.
I’m not a Hopkins fan either.And I didn’t think there would ever come a time that I would root for him. Well, the day has come, because I can’t stand Tarver. IMO, it’s Tarver’s fight to win or lose, but I still say Hopkins is one of the smartest fighters to date. I think he can pull it out, and I hope like hell he does. He’s done more in his career, and is more deserving to go out with a win. Tarver is junk.