Bernard Hopkins will face Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev on November 8 in Atlantic City, in a bid to take Kovalev's WBO light heavyweight title and take a step toward unifying the division. Kovalev will come into the fight with a 25-0-1 record that includes 23 knockouts-an 88 percent KO rate.
Kovalev's power will not take Hopkins by surprise; the studious, self-proclaimed "Alien" said on a conference call he plans on negating Kovalev's strength.
"Whatever gun he has I'm not going to run from the gun, I'm going to disarm him. You have a big punch? I'll disarm you. If you got a plan B, buckle up because the people are going to get their money's worth. He's a human, I'm not. I'll disarm him. Let's fight," Hopkins said.
On the same call Hopkins said he doesn't believe that Kovalev's high knockout rate means that power and aggression are his only resources.
"He has a long amateur pedigree and John David Jackson [trainer], who if he seemed one-dimensional he changed that and made adjustments," Hopkins said. "He only had to be one dimensional because the guys he fought he knocked out."
Hopkins hinted that Kovalev will have to use other skills aside from blind aggression in Atlantic City, and confidently predicted victory.
"He is stepping up to a different level with the professor. The alien. This neighborhood is kind of strange. When I beat him, don't be upset. Enjoy the artwork. Enjoy Miles Davis. Enjoy. The concert's going to be great."
Kovalev was less forthcoming when asked if he spotted any weaknesses in Hopkins he plans to exploit. Kovalev simply chuckled and said, "This question is very funny. I never will say. This is my secret for the fight."
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