PREDICTION PAGE: Who Do Ya Like? Hopkins or Murat?

The weigh-in for the Saturday AC card topped by Bernard Hopkins, defending his IBF 175 pound crown against Iraq-born German resident Karo Murat unfolded on Friday afternoon in AC, and the main eventers both made weight.

Hopkins, who turns 49 in January, was 172 1/2 pounds, while Murat weighed 174. They jawed some at each other during a poseoff, ahead of the Golden Boy promotion.

Readers, who do you like to win the contest? Murat’s skills seem to be decent, but could “decent” EVER beat Hopkins, even at age 48, 49, 50, etc? As Hopkins himself has said, Murat has to hope the ageless wonder lost something in between his last fight and now, and got a visit from Father Time, and has deteriorated. We doubt that…Do you? Could Murat pull off a massive upset? Fire your prediction, including whether you think Hopkins will 1) actually gun for the KO he promised or 2) achieve his first stoppage since 2004.

Hopkins chatted with Steve Farhood after he stepped on the scale. The man calling himself “The Alien” chuckled that Murat made a throat-slash gesture, referencing his old “Executioner” nom de guerre.

Did he see anything in Murat’s eyes? He said he saw fear, but “Murat is coming to fight.” He said coming in light was a “statement,” and yelled to Adrien Broner to take note.

On Saturday, he said, he will end his KO drought. He last stopped a foe in 2004, when he dropped and stopped Oscar De La Hoya.

WBO 160 pound champ Peter Quillin of NY was 159 1/4 pounds, while challenger Gabriel Rosado of Philly was 160 on the dot. They did a staredown and Quillin barked hard at him. Farhood talked to Rosado first after the scale session. Rosado didn’t want to divulge what Quillin was saying, and said he’s used to it, and he will talk in the ring. He said he’s comfy at 160 now, in his third middleweight fight. “I’m going to take the title back to Philly,” and said the fight wouldn’t go the distance. “He gonna be on his ass.”

Then, Quillin talked to Farhood. He said he’d get arrested for beating up a “sucker” in the street but he will be able to beat Gabe up and not get incarcerated. He too said he looks for a KO win.

Alabaman Deontay Wilder was 224 pounds, while foe Nicolai Firtha of Akron, Ohio was 252 1/2. That fight is scheduled for ten rounds or less, emphasis on “less.” Wilder chatted with Farhood, and was asked about him chowing on the scale. He said he likes to be an entertainer, and a “silly guy.” It was strawberry shortcake, for the record. The 29-0 with 29 KOs Wilder said he’s excited and feels no pressure.

Danny Garcia chatted with Farhood before the weigh in, and again after. The 140 pound champ said he was looking forward to a great night of fights. Next for him? “I’m just resting,” he said. He’s training kids, he said, and owns a barbershop. He looks to fight in the first quarter of the year, he said. No possible foes were mentioned. He will Tweet on fight night, which kicks off on Showtime at 9 PM ET.

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