Tough Hopkins upset Pavlik

ATLANTIC CITY – Former world champion Bernard Hopkins upset middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik with a unanimous decision in their 12-round, non-title fight on Saturday.

There were no knockdowns but the 43-year-old Hopkins defied his age by battering the slower, supposedly stronger Pavlik throughout the one-sided fight to inflict his first defeat as a professional. “Styles make fights,” Hopkins said.”He’s a great fighter, but I knew my style and quickness was underrated and was going to give him problems.I wanted him to lead, so I could do what I love to do, counter-punch.He was very heavy-handed.I could feel his power, but I never got hurt.”Hopkins, near tears before the decision was announced, called the performance the best of his 20-year career, better than his wins over Antonio Tarver, Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya.All three judges saw Hopkins as the clear winner.Both fighters had a point deducted by the referee, Pavlik for continually hitting Hopkins behind the head in the eighth round and Hopkins for holding repeatedly during the ninth.’IT WASN’T ME’ Hopkins, a Philadelphia native, improved to 49-5-1 while the 26-year-old Pavlik, of Youngstown, Ohio, slipped to 34-1 in the same building where he became middleweight champion by knocking out Jermain Taylor a year ago.Pavlik’s World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organisation middleweight titles were not at stake because the fight was contested at a catchweight of 170 pounds.Pavlik said he was eager to move back down to 160 pounds to defend his crowns following the poorest performance of his eight-year career.”I just couldn’t get off tonight,” Pavlik said.”I don’t know why.It wasn’t his slickness, but I just couldn’t throw more than a single jab.I couldn’t throw a double jab and couldn’t do anything that I usually do.”It wasn’t me tonight.”Nampa-Reuters”Styles make fights,” Hopkins said.”He’s a great fighter, but I knew my style and quickness was underrated and was going to give him problems.I wanted him to lead, so I could do what I love to do, counter-punch.He was very heavy-handed.I could feel his power, but I never got hurt.”Hopkins, near tears before the decision was announced, called the performance the best of his 20-year career, better than his wins over Antonio Tarver, Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya.All three judges saw Hopkins as the clear winner.Both fighters had a point deducted by the referee, Pavlik for continually hitting Hopkins behind the head in the eighth round and Hopkins for holding repeatedly during the ninth.’IT WASN’T ME’ Hopkins, a Philadelphia native, improved to 49-5-1 while the 26-year-old Pavlik, of Youngstown, Ohio, slipped to 34-1 in the same building where he became middleweight champion by knocking out Jermain Taylor a year ago.Pavlik’s World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organisation middleweight titles were not at stake because the fight was contested at a catchweight of 170 pounds.Pavlik said he was eager to move back down to 160 pounds to defend his crowns following the poorest performance of his eight-year career.”I just couldn’t get off tonight,” Pavlik said.”I don’t know why.It wasn’t his slickness, but I just couldn’t throw more than a single jab.I couldn’t throw a double jab and couldn’t do anything that I usually do.”It wasn’t me tonight.”Nampa-Reuters