HBO Boxing Preview: Hopkins vs Cloud

Photo credit: Tom Hogan /Golden Boy Promotions

Tomorrow night in Brooklyn, on HBO, Father Time will put his undefeated record on the line against one of his most unwilling rivals when Tavoris Cloud takes on forty-eight year old Bernard Hopkins for whatever belt it is that Cloud possesses. There is also an interesting co-feature when exciting power puncher Keith Thurman takes on rugged brawler Jan Zaveck as Thurman looks to progress towards big fights in the Welterweight division.

Cloud is an imposing physical force with an iron chin and excellent stamina. I’ve never agreed with the masses that consider him a murderous puncher, his power is more thudding and accumulating. As is with all Don King fighters in recent years he has been plagued with inactivity; only six fights in four plus years in what is presumably his prime and he will be battling another year plus layoff when he climbs through the ropes tomorrow night.

While Tavoris throws a good number of punches, he fires them in spurts. His elongated combinations put his opponent on the defensive, but that is something that Hopkins is comfortable with and if he has lapses the old man can get his shots in during those time frames at a comfortable pace. It’s important for Tavoris to maintain his work rate and pressure and try to make Bernard feel it in his legs. While timing can be affected by a layoff, and Hopkins will mess with anyone’s; Cloud needs to stay on top of Nard and ignore moments where he looks foolish and stay the course of trying to grind down his foe.

The superlatives to define The Executioners career are many. He’s quite possibly the best fighter since Pernell Whitaker and his ability to compete with young lions ages after he was written off will long be a part of his legend. While Hopkins has continued to fight predominantly high level opposition he selects his opposition carefully so you can bet he sees holes in the belt holder’s game that he can exploit. The exception being Chad Dawson; whom he had to fight to get the Pascal fight. I’ve always thought Chad’s style would trouble him on his best day so I don’t think we should read too much into that.

Bernard is going to need his legs in this fight. Not bouncing around the ring on his toes, but pivoting and creating angles that keep Cloud from punching and allow him to employ his tactics. Nard hasn’t been starting quickly as of late and I think he needs to get off to a fast start here and put some doubt in the young man’s head and build a lead in case he tires a bit under the physicality and body punching of Cloud. Blasphemous as it may be, old Hopkins has had several moments in fights where he appeared to lose his will a tad. That’s understandable, but it could be his undoing if he lets Tavoris get into a front running mode. Full of confidence and charging forward, Cloud can be a beast.

It’s the same old story when Hopkins fights over the last seven or eight years. If he gets old overnight he’ll succumb to this and that. Many people don’t enjoy watching the old version of Bernard; I’ve always found a palpable drama with every punch meaning something and his subtle moves are beautiful to watch. I’m proud to say that my track record with his fights is pretty good; I picked him confidently over Tarver and Wright, backed him as the dog against Pavlik and knew he had virtually no shot with Dawson. I must admit that I thought Pascal would out speed him, but he proved me wrong and I didn’t make that same mistake twice.

Cloud’s propensity to fight in spurts is something that Nard has to love, defend for half the round and potshot for the rest of it. That could lead to a difficult fight to score, but that has to be his game plan. Tavoris is an excellent body puncher and I expect him to invest there early while he struggles to find Bernard’s chin and eats solid right hands from the wily old sage. I’m expecting an even fight after eight or nine rounds before Cloud closes stronger and earns the decision. Sadly, he probably won’t get much credit for it and that’s too bad. If he does get his arms raised, let’s hope to see him against Dawson or murderous punching Sergey Kovalev before 2014. Hopkins, win or lose, can do whatever he wants as far as I’m concerned. I’ll watch or wait for his induction.

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I really enjoy watching Keith Thurman. He seems to be one of those young fighters that most fans pick on his shortcomings instead of enjoying what he brings to the table. That would be very real power in both hands and a willingness to rumble that makes for crowd pleasing action. I’m not willing to say that he’ll be atop the Welterweight or Jr Middleweight divisions in the immediate future, but I’m very comfortable saying he will always be entertaining. That’s enough for me.

Jan Zaveck offers a nice challenge for the up and comer. He’s a rugged fighter that comes forward and if there is any break in Thurman, Jan is capable of finding it. He’s not a particularly big puncher and the facial damage suffered against Andre Berto is a concern, but he will give rounds and not shy away from a brawl.

I think Zaveck provides a nice step up in contrast to Thurman’s last victim, Carlos Quintana. He will meet him in the center of the ring and not give way for Keith to build up forward momentum and unload. That being said, he will also provide an open target and I’m looking for Thurman to score a TKO in the mid rounds after a nice action fight.