Hopkins: ‘I’m Not Taking Kovalev Lightly’

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    img_8842Bernard Hopkins is well on his way to becoming a notable and memorable Hall of Fame fighter. The oldest man to become a world champion is once again defining the odds and taking on Russian power house, Sergey Kovalev. Hopkins, (55-6-2, 32 KOs) is trying to unify the light heavyweight division by taking on Kovalev, (25-0-1, 23 KOs) who is undefeated and has been making an impact in the division. Hopkins has expressed that he will not be underestimating Kovalev, though he is confident he will once again beat the odds like he has so many times. He makes clear this is not a walk in the park for him.

    “I’m fighting without pressure from my point of view. We’ve talked about this, it’s the pressure of the unknown. The unknown is the business part, the unknown is the political part. The unknown of the rewards that come after taking on such a challenge.”

    Hopkins expresses how after the Trinidad fight there was nowhere to go, he didn’t have much of the “rewards” that come after such a big win, he had nothing in front of him until he beat Oscar De La Hoya, even though the Trinidad fight was one of the biggest upsets in that era.

    “Trust me, it didn’t happen until I beat De La Hoya, but there is no pressure on that side, on the political side, on the politics side.”

    With taking on such a big puncher like Kovalev, the old man finds himself once again the underdog. Like Hopkins has stated before it does not bother him at all, and all though he is confident, he understands the danger that comes from fighting a guy like Sergey.

    “I create pressure for myself, for every fight. It’s to understand, to never underestimate anyone, or take anyone lightly, whether its Sergey, or the last 2 or 3 opponents.”