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cowboyronnie wrote:Man, that Countdown was not convincing.

I'd be up for almost any Pavlik fight, but what storyline could this possibly have? Hopkins has no chance. He's lost to lesser fighters, and lost to them when he had much younger legs. Now at 43 he has a chance? When his legs clearly wore down in his last fight? This is just dumb. The only interest is in the dynamic of Hopkins' pot-shoting, defensive style and Pavlik. But that's not even going to be pleasant to watch.

RalphWiggum wrote:Hopkins gives everyone a hard fight. He maybe the smartest in ring fighter this generation. He knows what his strengths are and he is excellent at frustrating his opponents. To my knowledge Hopkins has never been knocked out and I can't even recall him getting knocked down though I'm sure it has happened. I expect a tough fight for Pavlik, he'll probably win a close 12 round decision.

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: Looking forward to the 18th--whoever can't be there, buy it on Pay Per View.

E.L. Trujillo (Mile High City): Can't wait to see you in action this weekend Champ! What is the biggest difference in styles that the fans can expect to see Saturday?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: I come straight ahead, and Bernard's game is more defensive tactics, trying to survive. I try to keep my work rate up and take the fight to the other fighter.

Ken (Toronto, ON): Good luck Kelly, you're an inspiration to us all. Do you expect to see, and have you prepared for, the underhanded tactics that Hopkins is known for?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: Of course. That wasn't a concern of ours--you can't go into a fight making that part of your gameplan. That's the ref's job.

Aaron (Hartford): Kelly - your now making the million dollar purses and getting endorsements and you?ve made it clear you are not leaving Y-town. Have you had a lot of pressure on you to give some of that money back to the community and/or have you experienced the ?more money- more problems? scenario ?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: No, I do a lot for the community though. I do a lot of benefits, and we give a lot of money away to cancer wards and children's hospitals. I think I do quite a bit in terms of giving things back.

Robbie- Denton, Tx: What are your plans after this fight ? Do you defend the MW belt ?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: We haven't even thought about it. We'd definitely like to go down to 160 and fight Arthur Abraham, but I'm focused on Bernard Hopkins right now.

Ken Lundgren (Pompton Plains, NJ): Kelly, nice talkin' quick on Tuesday morn. What are the emotions you feel when you're walking towards the ring on fight night?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: Excitement. I'm ready to get in there and work on everything I've prepared for in training camp. Emotions run high, but I have to just stay focused.

Hugh (Cleveland, OH): How's the dart team doing and are you disappointed in the Buckeyes so far this year?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: Dart team is doing well, though we're coming off a loss on Thursday. I'm not worried about OSU. Tressel is a great coach, and they turned things around after the USC loss.

James(ottawA): Kelly, how's the extra weight feel?...do you think it will add to your power or do you feel your power will now be negated?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: No, we learned a lot from the Jermain Taylor fight. I've only stepped on the scale three times. The weight is great--I feel energized, have a bounce in my step and snap in my punch. The weight is no issue.

Alfonso - Des Moines, IA : Good luck on Sat. champ! Do you think you'll be able to break through Bernard's D and give us another classic k.o.?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: I'm not one to predict KOs. With my work rate, if he starts wearing down, it could happen, but I have prepared for twelve rounds. If the opportunity comes, I'll take it.

Curt - Raleigh, NC: I love how everybody you fight says the same thing, "he doesn't do anything special" and "he comes right atcha." Example -- Gary "the rocket" Locket. He was brutal! I'd imagine you'll be doing the same thing this weekend, correct? Or is there a different game plan?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: No, we fight and train one way. We train to come forward and throw a lot of punches in volume. That's the way I fight. We'll just have to attack with caution.

Johann (Bristol, CT): Champ, Hopkins is a slick defensive fighter...Calzaghe who is known for high volume of punches couldn't even get to him and had to win ugly....does this concern you? and how will you make him fight your fight?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: Calzaghe chased the head around, and once you miss, it opens you up. We won't do that. We'll concentrate on the body and shoulders and keep him from moving, which should deal with his defense.

Tim (Pittsburgh,PA): Kelly, what is it like to carry the pride of youngstown on your back going into every fight?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: It's great. We've had so many hard times in Youngstown with the economy the way it is, so this is a way I can give back to my town. They support me, and I support them.

Kyle (Indianapolis): Whats the best venue you've ever fought at?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: Probably Boardwalk Hall, where I fought my middleweight fight against Jermain Taylor. But of course, fighting at home is always great.

Walter (Albuquerque, NM): a recent ESPN the Magazine article quoted you saying that you'll have 2-3 more fights after this one, than you'll call it quits. Is that true, and if so would you mind reconsidering?

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: I don't know about two or three more, but I won't have a real long career. We'll fight two in '09, and who knows what the future holds? Maybe I'll even fight at heavyweight someday.

Mark (Chicago): Kelly, huge fan. I'm jealous of my friends from Y-Town since they get to claim you as their hometown fighter. What does a win against a legend on the decline do for your confidence, and your career? Can't wait to watch you on Saturday.

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: It'd be like making history. He has proven he is still versatile and that he can still fight. Age isn't even a factor as far as I'm concerned.

SportsNation Kelly Pavlik: Hope everyone tunes in on Saturday night! Look forward to seeing everyone after the fight!

ManualRam wrote:i think antwun echols put hopkins down as well...but if i recall correctly, it was a illegal punch.
the mercado fight's the only fight i've really seen hopkins legitimately hurt, but i think it was a culmination of things surrounding that fight that lead to him being put on his ass.

GS Warriors 1 wrote:Its from Whitaker-De La Hoya.

5:30-5:37.

Pavlik/Abraham could happen early next year or maybe a tuneup and make it inthe summer. Both fighters should win their respective bouts coming up.

GS Warriors 1 wrote:Dan Rafael of ESPN.com has the TV card up for the PPV:

Main Event:
Kelly Pavlik(34-0, 30 KO's) vs Bernard Hopkins(48-5-1, 32 KO's), light heavyweights, 12

Undercards:
Steven Luevano(35-1-1, 15 KO's) vs Billy Dib(21-0, 11 KO's), featherweights, 12 for Luevano's title

Antonio Rubio(42-4-1, 37 KO's) vs Enrique Ornelas(28-4, 18 KO's), middleweights, 12, title eliminator

Daniel Jacobs(10-0, 9 KO's) vs Tyrone Watson(7-1, 3 KO's), 6

Blame Rasho wrote:Prediction...

Pavlik KO in the 9th

Luevano... UD. He is very enjoyable for someone who doesn't get press. He does get alot of PPV slots by the way.

Rubio KO 7th

ManualRam wrote:

Blame Rasho wrote:Prediction...

Pavlik KO in the 9th

Luevano... UD. He is very enjoyable for someone who doesn't get press. He does get alot of PPV slots by the way.

Rubio KO 7th

hmm, pavlik via KO? how do you envision that happening? ref stoppage?

i'll go pavlik UD 116-113 (there's gotta be an even round around there somewhere.)

btw, lol at kelly's nose. nard must be really comfortable in his sexuality to get that close to kissing another man.