NEW YORK (AP) -One fighter was the aggressor, making the big moves and going for it all. The other was more evasive, biding his time and defending himself.
Kelly Pavlik and Bernard Hopkins were a contrast in styles at their news conference Tuesday. They will be again Saturday in their 170-pound bout in Atlantic City, but then the roles will reverse.
Four days before the fight, Hopkins was his bombastic self, trying to bait his opponent into betting $250,000 that Pavlik will become the first boxer to knock out the 43-year-old.
Pavlik, the 26-year-old undefeated middleweight champion, has 30 knockouts in 34 career bouts. Promoter Bob Arum deflected the dare before his boxer even stepped to the podium, and Pavlik spoke briefly and without bluster.
``I haven't one fight, ever, predicted a KO,'' Pavlik said calmly. ``I don't train eight hard weeks with a brutal workout regimen and put my body through what I do just to knock somebody out. I go in there to win - 12 rounds. If a knockout comes, that's great.''
The aggressive, big-hitting Pavlik better be prepared to go 12 rounds with Hopkins (48-5-1), the wily former champ with a knack for outlasting opponents. Hopkins suggested Pavlik won't be able to adjust his style to win.
``The last time I seen or heard is Kelly Pavlik's been at his best knocking people out and coming forward and being himself,'' Hopkins said. ``No matter what's been changed or what's been added on or what we're working on, that's great. But, trust me, when you're undefeated and never had to taste the taste of losing or even lost ... (you're) going to go back to what (you're) comfortable with doing.''
