Hopkins vs Cloud Prediction

On March 9th the 47 year old Bernard Hopkins will once again try and defy the odds by taking on IBF Light Heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud. I was never a big Bernard Hopkins fan, at least when he was dominating the middleweight division with a record 20 title defenses (it may be more than that actually). However, when he began beating much younger and seemingly stronger fighters, I could not help but fall in love with the guy. It is not often that a great fighter is able to adapt his style to his aging body. Generally as a fighter ages they deny the fact that they are slowing a bit and make little to no change in their style which opens them up to more punishment. Hopkins is one of the rare fighters that has been able to adapt as he ages, enabling him to compete at a world class level well into his fourties, which is something you have to see to believe. I am positive that nobody expected him to last against Antonio Tarver, but lone behold, he took Tarver to school. Same with Kelly Pavlik who was soaring when he fought Hopkins. The Executioner lived up to his name putting a beating on Pavlik and being the first to blemish his record. In fact, that fight was not even close, it was probably the aging warriors best performance. More recently Hopkins defeated the younger stronger and very powerful Jean Pascal. To add insult to injury Hopkins actually did push ups in between rounds!

That being said, Hopkins has not always looked stellar. In his last fight against Chad Dawson, Hopkins was outpointed by his younger and much faster foe, though he was still competitive, he clearly lost the fight. In a long awaited rematch with Roy Jones Jr. a few fights prior to that, Hopkins actually looked old. The fight was a foul filled affair, and this surprised me because Jones Jr. is well beyond his best and Hopkins should have been able to knock him out, however, he still got the win. The question is, can he compete against Cloud who is young, very strong, and very powerful?

Tavoris Cloud has seemingly every advantage going into this fight, except experience. The major problem with Cloud is that he is terribly inactive for such a young fighter, he only fought once in 2012, 2011, and twice in 2010. He is a very solid fighter but also has very limited experience. Common sense says that Cloud is too much for Hopkins, but history tells a different tale. Hopkins has had little trouble with pressure fighters, he dismantled Pavlik, who was supposedly stronger, he schooled Pascal who again was supposed to be too much for Hopkins.

We know Cloud is a strong powerful man, but there are still some unanswered questions that Hopkins should be able to provide. Can Cloud take a good punch? Hopkins is not known as a power puncher but has demonstrated the ability to punch when he needs to, he just generally does not look for the knockout. Can Cloud go 12 hard rounds? Despite Hopkins being 47, he is still a masterful boxer that is always in tremendous shape and unless he ages rapidly overnight, I doubt he will have trouble boxing all night. Hopkins conserves energy because he is unbelievably intelligent and calm in the ring. The only way that can change is if Cloud can somehow manage to dictate the pace of the fight. Now, on to the predictions.

What should happen
The younger fighter Cloud should walk his older foe down, breaking him down over the course of the fight. The aging warrior will go into survival mode looking solely to survive the fight and nothing else. If Cloud does not stop him late, he will win a majority decision.

What could happen
Cloud very well could be too much for Hopkins and he could just completely overwhelm him and stop him quickly. Hopkins could once again surprise us all and put on another dazzling performance which would certainly solidify his place amongst the all time greats.

What I think will happen
I am calling the upset. I think Hopkins puts on a masterful display of boxing and ring savvy yet again. Cloud is made to order for Hopkins, he is right in front of you and he isn't going anywhere. This should, in my opinion, be easy pickings for Hopkins who should cruise to a unanimous decision and win yet another title. It is also possible that Hopkins puts such a beating on Cloud, as he did to Pavlik, that he stops Cloud late.

Bernard Hopkins Highlights

Tavoris Cloud Highlights (vs Glen Johnson)