Rocky Marciano versus Bernard Hopkins?

Pretty difficult imagining the best Hopkins for this. He would have to be a little heavy, which is fine with his limited output and efficient footwork but it would also slow him down a bit.

Could Hopkins tie Marciano up when he needs to? Quite possibly. Marciano would have excess energy, though, with Hopkins "shoplifting" as you put it, and may force exchanges.

Hopkins would have to go through hell to have a chance. I think he has the mentality.

I'd still make Marciano a favorite to take a UD. He'd be eating plenty of single potshots, but he can take it. Hopkins should slow down with the extra weight/moving around and I think Marciano sweeps the second half of the fight.

 

As good as Hopkins is I am not convinced he goes the distance , a whole twelve rounds and Marciano is not going to land at least one or two true hard punches I find that a tough ask to believe .

 

Tieing up Marciano would be the worst move Hopkins could make. Walcot had great movement and was not able to evade Rock.
B-Hop would get knocked out.

 

When B-Hop was defending his middleweight title for the 100th time, a proposed match with The Rock would get you committed to a rubber room. But cunning as B-Hop is, it doesn't seem so far fetched.

I'd get it PPV. It's more intriguing than some of the stinkers I've ordered.

 

Could you really see this fight going the distance JG , I see it as Hopkins fighting a clever cagey fight but after the 7/8th round rocky taking charge and stopping Hopkins around the 10th . I am not suggesting this is an easy fight for Marciano though . To be honest can also see Marciano winning this one earlier

 

After thinkin' about it, MB, agree with you. Cunning as B-Hop is, without anything to discourage The Rock, he'd get worn down 'n stopped.

 

Saw Ike all but murder Sonny Boy West in the ol' Madison Square Garden.

 

I only comment on fighters I've seen train 'n fight live, S. Leonard was before my time.

 

I am actually pleasantly surprised to see some good discussion on this thread. And i like what seems to be the consensus that Hopkins does better than expected but ultimately cannot deal with the power and is stopped. I think this likely.

Benny Leonard, i think was too good for Ike Williams, but i am willing to listen to any reasonable arguments otherwise. It would definitely be a good fight, but Benny was probably the greatest ever at his weight. At the very least, imo, quite a bit better than Ike.

The forgotten match in this discussion is the one i raised of Bernard v Klitchsko. Not really much point in discussing this match, but middleweight James Toney's white climbing efforts and ability to go the distance with top ranked heavys do beg the question as to whether Hopkins could become the logical contender to the Klitchskos. Given that the former light heavy champion Adamek did it, then surely Hopkins must not be without claim. Maybe Hopkins v Toney or Hopkins v Adamek might be the stepping stones to propel him into this position. Both would be interesting fights, imo. certainly better than most of the fights we usually get in the heavy division.

 

you miss the pun, nimrodz?