At some point, there are simply no more words.

The boxing landscape has been full of chatter -- particularly as this weekend drew nearer and nearer -- about the improbability of an almost 50-year-old man still performing on a world-class level in the ring, and on the imminent danger he faces thanks to his latest selection of a young, strong opponent.

The particulars this time are 49-year-old Bernard Hopkins and the ominously named Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, he of the 13 straight victories by knockout in fights that have had an average length of 3.2 rounds, and the birth certificate that indicates Hopkins turned pro when he was 5 years old.

They’ll fight Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, atop a two-bout card that’ll be broadcast by HBO and is scheduled to go live on the east coast at 10:45 p.m. Hopkins enters with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) seals of approval as the world’s best at 175 pounds, while Kovalev is similarly recognized by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Incidentally, the Independent World Boxing Rankings, which place all active fighters in the weight class regardless of what belts they possess, has Hopkins second and Kovalev third -- both on the heels of Adonis Stevenson, who holds the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) salutatory championship jewelry.

The betting folks in Las Vegas see it another way, with odds-makers at VegasInsider.com installing the 25-0-1 Kovalev as a better than 2-to-1 favorite to win. In fact, it’ll take a $260 outlay to recoup just $100 for a Kovalev victory, while a $100 flier on the underdog would bring in a $200 windfall in return.

Still, regardless of those specifics and regardless of anyone’s personal fight forecast, it’d be a disservice to either dismiss the older man’s chances entirely -- or suggest he’ll beat Kovalev as easily as he’s beaten past youngsters -- without giving some attention to just how long he’s been working the same job.

A few of the factual nuggets, as generated by the fight’s promotional team, include the reality that Hopkins has fought during the terms of five U.S. presidents (beginning with Ronald Reagan in 1988), he earned his first title shot (against Roy Jones Jr. in 1993) in the aftermath of the erasure of the Soviet Union and he won his first championship (against Segundo Mercado in 1995) when Justin Bieber was 1.

His long-time corner man, Naazim Richardson -- having seen several years’ worth of opponents being puffed-up beforehand and discredited afterward -- cautioned against the same thing this time around.

“Kovalev is a monster. He's a beast. He punches harder than Hercules,” Richardson said.

“But I don't want people to defang him on Sunday. If Kovalev is all of these things that people say he is and Bernard beats him, you better start that car and drive him straight to Canastota and induct him into the Hall of Fame right now.”

Ironically, Kovalev is trained by former 154- and 160-pound champion John David Jackson, who was stopped in seven rounds by Hopkins, then 32, when they fought for the IBF middleweight title in 1997.

Jackson, not surprisingly, is suggesting a far better result for the pupil than the teacher.

“Sergey's talent is still untapped. He could be a really special fighter. He needs to get past this fight here first and then the sky is the limit for him,” Jackson said. “His punching power is so unreal it makes him hard to deal with. I warned Bernard's camp a few years ago, don't fight this Kovalev kid.

“I don't know what they told Bernard. But I told them please don't fight this kid.”

Weekend Watch List
NBC Sports Network -- Saturday, 8:30 p.m.
Amir Mansour vs. Fred Kassi -- 10 rounds, heavyweights

HBO -- Saturday, 10:45 p.m.
Bernard Hopkins vs. Sergey Kovalev -- IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight titles
Luis Abregu vs. Sadam Ali -- 10 rounds, welterweights

UniMas -- Saturday, 11 p.m.
Diego Magdaleno vs. Heivinson Herrera -- 10 rounds, lightweights
Brad Solomon vs. Eduardo Flores -- eight rounds, welterweights

beIN Sports -- Sunday, 12 a.m.
Fernando Montiel vs. Sergio Puente -- 10 rounds, featherweights