Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins - Boxing Odds from Bodog

Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will clash this Saturday at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fight will be shown on HBO pay-per-view and take place at a catch-weight of 170 pounds.

PAVLIK VS. HOPKINS - TWO STARS COLLIDE

Pavlik, the rare white boxing star, has captured the imagination of boxing fans ever since his upset win over Jermain Taylor in the later part of 2007. Since that time, he’s defeated Taylor in a rematch and also knocked out mandatory challenger Gary Lockett to retain his undisputed middleweight title. Now he‘s ready for a big payday against Hopkins, but he‘ll be moving up in weight to do so.

Hopkins, meanwhile, is coming off a split decision loss to Joe Calzaghe. Many have speculated that this fight could be the last for the 43-year-old Hopkins, but Hopkins has defied his critics before. After all, this is a man who held the middleweight title for a decade.

The undefeated Pavlik is known for his punching power, but some doubt the durability of his chin. Hopkins is a slick veteran who has never been knocked out, but he’s been known to tire in the later rounds. This should be a great fight for fans of the sport, and the bookies will no doubt be busy.

BERNARD HOPKINS - TALE OF THE TAPE

Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins is 43 years old. He stands 6’1” with a 75” reach. Out of 55 fights, his professional record stands at 48wins, 5 losses, 1 draw and 1 no contest. He has 32 wins by knockout.

Hopkins has held titles at both the middleweight and light heavyweight level.

Notable wins include Felix Trinidad, Antwun Echols, William Joppy, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright. Notable losses include Roy Jones Jr., Jermain Taylor (twice) and Joe Calzaghe.

A crafty Philly fighter, Hopkins won’t hesitate to get inside and fight dirty. He’ll seek to rough up Pavlik and take him into the deep waters, where fighters either rise to the occasion or get overwhelmed. Without a doubt, Pavlik has never faced a fighter with the ring savvy of Hopkins.

KELLY PAVLIK - TALE OF THE TAPE

Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik is 26 years old. He stands 6’2 ½” tall with a 75” reach. Out of 34 fights, Pavlik has a perfect record of 34-0.

He is currently the undisputed middleweight champion of the world.

Notable wins include Bronco McKart, Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor (twice).

Expect Pavlik to rely on his power and attempt to put Hopkins away early. While he often enjoys a reach advantage over his opponents, that won’t be the case in this fight. Pavlik will need to stick with his gameplan, as Hopkins is a master of getting fighters off of their game.

The biggest question with many observers is how the added weight will affect Pavlik. Since he’s more of a power fighter, the difference may not be noticeable, as long as he’s able to take his power with him to the 170 pound level.

HOPKINS VS. PAVLIK - BETTING ODDS FOR BOXING

According to Bodog, here are the current odds for the fight:

Pavlik -350 vs. Hopkins +275

Total Rounds - 11 ½ (Over -205, Under +165)

Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins - Boxing Odds from Bodog