By Mike Coppinger

Bernard Hopkins is known for many things inside the ring: guile, counter-punching and defense among them.

But perhaps his best asset is his ability get in an opponent's head before the fight.

Sergey Kovalev is well aware that Hopkins likes to play mind games, and he doesn't want to fall prey ahead of their November 8th unification matchup. The HBO televised fight takes place at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

"I know I need to stay disciplined and keep working hard in order to not fall into Hopkins' mental games," Kovalev said on a Tuesday media conference call.

Hopkins scoffed at the talk.

"It's just a lame excuse for not being as confident," Hopkins countered. "It's saying 'he beat me and got in my head.' ... I don't know what is in Kovalev's head. I don't know what's in his head other than Nov. 8 I hope."

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