Strictly on performance its Hopkins. Obviously there was a big gulf in class between Watson and at least that version of Johnson though.
I disagree that Watson was obviously the better fighter. Johnson was a future light heavyweight champion with a far better cv than Watson though tragedy did prevent Watson from doing more with his career. Watson was more proven at that stage and perhaps a more talented fighter (I don't think so personally) but I don't think it should be taken for granted that he was a far better scalp.
Reggie Johnson was a very good fighter.... Watson's ability was mostly tested on European talent albeit good talent in Benn and Eubank...head to head...I would go with Reggie winning a very close decision against Michael Watson.....
Watson is technically the better operator, better at that stage of his career and Glen Johnson got a gift against Tarver too (although ripped off in a few other fights). Watson beating Benn and arguably beating Eubank tips the scale in Watson's favour
The gulf in class between Johnson and Watson was pretty dramatic, actually. Johnson offered up almost nothing, whereas Watson fought his heart out. Hopkins took advantage of the fact that he was fighting a punching bag, whereas McCallum took advantage of pretty much every minor mistake Watson made. McCallum for me.
McCallum did real good against Watson, who I thought would beat him. Actually I put money on Watson, can't remember the odds but he was betting favourite. It had nothing to do with the Benn performance, why I put my money down, but all to do with the Lee performance. Lee was a former world #1 who used to put guys on ***** street with either hand, a tall, rangey southpaw switch-hitter and Watson was 22 and a late substitute - Watson was brilliantly aggressive and terrifically accurate in dominating and destroying Dangerous Don. I knew he was special then but we didn't see that sharpness again until tragic Eubank Rematch night. I think he struggled with weight a lot in his mid-20s, he was a humungous middle with rock-hard peaky muscles. McCallum had looked vulnerable and below-par against Kalambay, Graham and Collins. Watson had looked perfect against Benn. He was much fresher, much bigger and stronger, much tighter in his defense and even smoother than Mike. He did block a lot and land a few lead rights, and try to counter in combinations, but ultimately the 11 months out of the ring threw his timing off that fraction of a second and Master McCallum took full advantage in punishing every right that fell short by countering below the shoulders. It was brilliant, Watson never stopped trying for 11 rounds straight, and McCallum never lost his composure once, didn't put a foot wrong all night, and completely out-maneuvered and knocked him out where he was on his back after the count of 10. Total excellence. That for me over limited journeyman Glen.
