Moments ago at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, undefeated WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev picked up the WBA & IBF titles with a dominant victory over Bernard Hopkins, dropping the future Hall of Famer in the first round and winning every round after that en route to a unanimous decision. The fight took place at the pace that Hopkins was hoping for, but Kovalev proved to be too strong and powerful, landing the harder shots that clearly got the respect of the 49-year-old. Hopkins took more punishment in the fight than he ever did in his career. Although he valiantly fought back, he just couldn't get enough offense going to keep Kovalev from pressing forward. Relive all the action in FightHype's round-by-round results.
ROUND 1
Both men start off cautious. Hopkins gets in a right ot the body. Kovalev answers. Hopkins circles. Kovalev backs him up to the ropes. They clinch. They trade some shots on the inside. A lot of movement from Hopkins. Hopkins jumps in and Kovalev lands a counter right that drops him. Hopkins takes the count. Kovalev tries to jump on him, but Hopkins covers up. End of the round.
Kovalev 10 Hopkins 8
ROUND 2
Kovalev lands a nice left. Hopkins tries to clinch. Kovalev backs him up to a corner and fires to the body. Hopkins gets in a jab. Another jab lands for Hopkins. They trade jabs. Right to the body lands for Kovalev. Kovalev clubs him with a right. Another right and a left lands for Kovalev. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 20 Hopkins 17
ROUND 3
Kovalev jabs to the body. Hopkins pushes Kovalev to the ground. Kovalev back up and continues to put the pressure on Hopkins. Right hand gets in for Kovalev. HARD left hook lands for Hopkins though. Jab and a right lands for Kovalev. Now a right and a left lands for Kovalev. Nice counter right lands for Hopkins followed by a left. Kovalev lands a couple more shots. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 30 Hopkins 26
ROUND 4
Right to the body lands for Kovalev. Clubbing right lands for Kovalev again. Nice jab to the body lands for Kovalev. Kovalev clubs him with another right. Hopkins digs a left to the body. Hopkins backs up to the corner. 1-2 lands for Kovalev. Hopkins answers. Left hook from Hopkins grazes Kovalev. Jab to the body lands for Kovalev. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 40 Hopkins 35
ROUND 5
Kovalev jabs to the body. More jabs to the body from Kovalev. Nice 1-2 lands for Hopkins. They trade jabs. Another jab lands for Hopkins. Kovalev lands a hook. They trade on the inside. Kovalev backs him up to the ropes. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 50 Hopkins 44
ROUND 6
Kovalev fires to the body. Nice right lands for Kovalev. Hopkins covers up. 1-2 lands for Kovalev. Two nice rights get through for Kovalev. Jab to the body lands for Kovalev. Another right from Kovalev bounces off the top of Hopkins' head. Quick straight right lands for Hopkins. Hopkins lands a jab. Hopkins digs a right to the body. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 60 Hopkins 53
ROUND 7
Hopkins has Kovalev missing a little more now, maybe because Kovalev is tiring. Nice right hand and a left hook lands for Hopkins that gets the attention of Kovalev. 1-2 lands for Kovalev. Hopkins gets in a right. They clinch. Better round for Hopkins, but still not enough to win it in my opinion. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 70 Hopkins 62
ROUND 8
Hard right lands for Kovalev. Jab to the body lands for Kovalev. They trade on the inside. Jab lands for Hopkins. BIG right hand lands for Kovlev and the legs of Hopkins buckle momentarily. Nice uppercut lands for Hopkins. Another left lands for Hopkins. Kovalev lands a hook. Right hand lands for Hopkins. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 80 Hopkins 71
ROUND 9
Right hand lands for Kovalev. Another right lands for Kovalev. Kovalev lands a combination to the body. Hopkins just not getting any type of consistent offense going. Kovalev jabs. Now Hopkins gets in a right. Left hook lands for Hopkins. Jab lands for Kovalev. Again. Right hand upstairs lands for Kovalev. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 90 Hopkins 80
ROUND 10
Hopkins lands a jab. Another. Kovalev gets in a right hook. Right to the body from Kovalev pushes Hopkins back to the ropes. Right hand from Kovalev blasts through the guard of Kovalev. Left hook lands for Kovalev and Hopkins backs up. Jab to the body lands for Kovalev. HARD overhand right lands for Hopkins that gets Kovalev's attention. Another left hook lands for Hopkins. Kovalev fires back. HARD left hook lands for Kovalev to end the round. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 100 Hopkins 89
ROUND 11
Nice shot lands for Hopkins. Kovalev presses forward. They clinch and wrestle on the inside. Jab lands for Kovalev. Kovalev fires to the body. More wrestling on the inside. Kovalev jabs to the body. Hopkins fires a right back. Nice 1-2 to the body lands for Kovalev. Hopkins lands a left hook. Kovalev lands a right at the bell. Round to Kovalev.
Kovalev 110 Hopkins 98
ROUND 12
Hopkins lands a nice shot that rocks Kovalev. They trade shots. Hopkins digs a hard right to the body. They trade jabs. Big right lands for Kovalev now. Hopkins sticks his tongue out at him. Both guys start to trade big shots now. Hopkins lands a shot. Kovalev lands two nice shots. Both guys still trading, but Kovalev appears to be doing more damage. HARD right and an uppercut lands for Kovalev. Another HARD right from Kovalev wobbles Hopkins. Another right lands for Kovalev. Kovalev rocks Hopkins again. Another left lands for Kovalev, snapping the head back of Hopkins and putting a punctuation on this performance.
Kovaelv 120 Hopkins 107
Official judges scorecards: 120-107, 120-107, 120-106
THE WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION...SERGEY KOVALEV
COMPUBOX
Kovalev total punches: 166/585
Hopkins total punches: 65/195
Kovalev power punches: 121/341
Hopkins power punches: 40/111
SADAM ALI STOPS LUIS CARLOS ABREGU IN 9
Also on the card, undefeated welterweight Sadam Ali scored the biggest victory of his career, stopping Luis Carlos Abregu in the 9th round of the co-main event. Ali controlled the fight from the onset, using his superior boxing skills to easily win round after round. A lead right hand from Ali sent Abregu to the canvas for in the 6th round for the first time of the fight. Obviously sensing that he was behind on the scorecards, Abregu tried to unload with a flurry of punches at the start of the 9th round, but another series of right hands hurt him badly, allowing Ali to send him to the canvas for a second time. Although Abregu beat the count, his legs were extremely shaky, prompting Ali to pounce on him in the corner until the referee finally called a halt to the attack at 1:54 of the round.
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