The reason Hopkins can be effective at this age is due to his training, diet and strict life style. Also his style does not require speed, agility or power, he is a pure counter puncher and even at his advanced age he is still able to time guys, he has enough pop to make you not go all out and he has a chin that can take the best. Hopkins uses angles and leverage to his advantage and I also think he uses the fact that he knows these young guys want to look impressive against a 50 year old man and so he expects them to shoot their loads early so he can take over the second half.
Hopkins may be the smartest man to ever lace up gloves. He knows every inch of that ring and has seen everything these young guys can throw at him. He would be best advised to avoid fast movers as he hasn't handled them well anytime in his career but slower strait forward flat footed fighters he can still eat em up.
I think this fight has only 2 conclusions, either Hopkins can handle Cloud like he thinks and wins a decision or he overestimates himself and underestimates the power and skill of Cloud and gets stopped for the first time in his career.
Cloud by UD or even a TKO. Geezer Hopkins exausted and can't go on.
b-hop by a close decision.i can't see him not taking training seriously especially after how confident he came across at the final presser
cloud
This really should not be that hard of a fight to pick but it really a tough fight . What makes it so hard is the 48 year old Hopkins has not shown any signs of slowing down there lies the problem. We pretty much know what Cloud brings to the table aggressive fighter, strong , not very smart in side the ring. With Hopkins you have a con man literally and figuratively one of the greatest middle weights in the history of the sport. I read some very disturbing news from Bernard's trainer Nassem that Bernard was not working hard and showing everything during camp . Brother Nassem said that Hopkins was saving it for the fight BS . I have went over this fight many times Bernard is 10 times a better fighter than Cloud and has fought many guys with Cloud's style Pascal for one . Cloud has never fought anyone like Hopkins because there is only one of him. I don't like to guess but this is just a hunch . I am going with Cloud in this fight. If Bernard does not quit or find a way out of this fight I can see Cloud stopping Hopkins. Age has got to come into the picture at some point and lets n ot for get Cloud is undefeated on paper any way we all know he lost his last fight got a gift from the judges. I am not betting on this fight too many un knows I repeat I am not betting on this fight . Everything points to Bernard winning but I can't get 48 years out of my head. Cloud is undefeated and can make a big name for him self by winning this fight tonight if there is anything to Cloud we will see it tonight if not he will get beat by a 48 year old man. Cloud wins by knock out in the 10th round.
