Kelly Pavlik intends to take advantage of the 17-year age gap when he fights Bernard Hopkins. The 26-year-old Pavlik meets 43-year-old great Hopkins in an eagerly-awaited showdown at 170lbs in Atlantic City on October 18. Hopkins has proved a master in recent bouts at making opponents fight his fight. Wins over Antonio Tarver and ‘Winky’ Wright were followed by a close defeat to Joe Calzaghe. But this time the big-hitting Pavlik - now 34-0 with 30 knockouts - says Hopkins won’t have it all his own way.

“We’re not going to fight him at a 43-year-old pace,” he told the Cleveland Free Times . “We’re going to make him fight at a 26-year-old pace. We’re going to throw our 100 punches a round. If he thinks he can get away with throwing his 27 punches a round and keep up with us, it ain’t gonna happen. I think you’ll see the difference once the sixth round comes around. “Despite being one of the new stars of the sport now, Pavlik refuses to let his head be turned by big money and bright lights.He added: “I’m a simple person. Simple things keep me happy. I’m too busy to get into that Hollywood mentality. Maybe if I was raised different, I’d have a big head.”