Boxing legend proves knowledge comes with age

Saturday night, Kelly Pavlik learned a lesson in boxing – a lesson from a legend of the sport he will not soon forget. The 26-year-old Pavlik was outclassed by 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins, handing the Youngstown, Ohio, native the first loss of his career. The fight was held at a catch weight of 170 pounds.

There had been great hype surrounding Pavlik, as he was beginning to be seen as the centerpiece of American boxing. He has spent the last year ascending to the top of the sport, earning victories and gaining respect. There was a sense his time had arrived, and maybe it had.

But it didn’t last long as Hopkins showed us all why he is a living legend.
Hopkins stunned Pavlik by putting on a clinic in the ring for a full 12 rounds by using cat-quick combinations and impressive defense.

From the opening bell, it was apparent Hopkins’ age and stamina would not be a factor. By the fifth round, Pavlik was bleeding from the nose, and you could see the hurt in his face.

During the seventh round, the taunting from Hopkins began. With every punch, he seemed to knock more and more of the pride out of Pavlik.

I must say I was shocked by how the whole fight went down. Hopkins received winning scores of 119-106, 117-109 and 118-108. While watching, I scored the fight 120-108, a clean sweep for Hopkins.

This was a fight Hopkins needed.

It was held just a week after the 2oth anniversary of his release from a Pennsylvania prison and, needless to say, there was a lot on his mind.

Before this fight, he had already achieved his goal of boxing immortality. He earned a record of 48-5-1 in his long journey to the top of the sport. But losing three out of his last five fights, including two in a row to Jermain Taylor, dimmed the lights on Hopkins’ career.

Many thought his time had passed. But all doubters were shut up after his stellar performance in Atlantic City.

I, for one, had become a critic of Hopkins. At the age of 43, with shades of grey in his beard, I thought he might get beat into retirement. Instead, as one commentator put it, Hopkins displayed “the old Bernard Hopkins,” not the “old Hopkins.”

I now believe he might have two or three fights left in him. Hell, he might be able to fight until he’s 50. He is in the best shape of any 43-year-old I’ve seen.
Afterward, Hopkins praised Pavlik.

“I was a fan of yours before, and I am a fan of yours now,” he said.
“You just need a little more slickness. You need to bend your knees more. Middleweight is your destiny.”

It was just the latest lesson given from a boxing legend.