KELLY "THE GHOST" PAVLIK & BERNARD "THE EXECUTIONER" HOPKINS FACEOFF IN AN AMAZING LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT. Devastating knock-out artist Kelly Pavlik meets two-division world champion Hall of Fame legend Bernard Hopkins who has never been knocked out. In Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Saturday October 18 Kelly " The Ghost " Pavlik faces Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins in a light heavyweight battle.
The 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins defeated Youngstown, Ohio boxer Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City, N.J. Saturday October 18th at Boardwalk Hall. Hopkins (49 wins, 32 knock outs, 5 losses and 1 draw) demonstrated that experience is king as he gave the younger Kelly Pavlik a boxing lesson. Using lightning quick combinations and a close to perfect defense, Hopkins embarrassed and confused Kelly Pavlik in a 12-round non-title bout. Hopkin dominated the middleweight class for nearly 10 years and made the young 26-year-old WBC and WBO middleweight champion appear powerless in fighting at 170 pounds.
Pavlik gained 10 pounds to go over his weight class. Official judges winning scores for Hopkins was 119-106 from Alan Rubenstein, 118-108 from Steve Weisfeld , and 117-109 from Barbara Perez.
Bernard Hopkins stated after the fight that he believes this fight to be his best performance. Better than previous fights including matches against Antonio Tarver, Felix Trinidad, and even better than Oscar De La Hoya.
By the fifth round, Pavlik was bleeding from the nose and by the seventh round Hopkins began taunting him. Hopkins landed four straight punches, then stepped back to wind up and deliver his punches. Never seeming to hurt him, Pavlik (34-1) did not stop stalking Hopkins of Philadelphia, finally facing his first defeat.
