Bernard Hopkins vs Tommy Hearns @ 160

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He was bothered badly by the speed of Jones and Taylor.

Now Hearns is more technically skilled than either. Almost as fast as Jones and hits like a ****ing 18 wheeler compared to either of them.

 

You've picked both ends of the 160 pound Hopkins spectrum. Hopkins was light years from the fighter he was to become when he fought Jones. He improved immensely. Jones was green too but already showing most of what he would thereafter. Even at this stage Jones was quite special and he would have beaten plenty of big name middleweights that night. It's possible he beats Hopkins at any stage of his 160 career but it's also possible he beats Monzon and Hagler too.

The Taylor fights were Hopkins well past his best days at 160. He'd been at the weight too long imo and it was like he had a new lease of life the moment he stepped up in weight.

I agree Hearns had big power at 160, despite what others might believe. I wouldn't be underrating Jones power tho, he'd blasted out about 24 of 25 opponents going into the Hopkins fight. He was also only a year off all but shutting Toney out one division up.

Jones was a lethal fighter even at this early stage. An earlier version of Hopkins would have defeated Taylor handily.

 

Yes Hearns was fast but not on the level of the borderline superhuman Roy Jones and he was 40 when he fought Taylor. Hearns power fell off a bit as he rose in weight. At 160 I'd rate his power to be just above average to very good, rather than the brick-fisted hitter he was at welter. He had a weakish chin and was hittable if you could close the gap. B-hop was skilled enough to cut the ring and track Tommy down probably stopping him late.

 

Hearns always had great punching power.

 

I don't disagree but he went from having the power to starch anybody at welter to having issues with top level chins at middle. I believe that B-hop has a top level chin at 160.

 

Actually Hearns speed was borderline superhuman. The punch he landed on Duran is one of the fastest thrown punches I've ever seen.

No it didn't. He stunned the GOAT chin with the first punch he landed. Now that is power.

Hearns outboxed Leonard. I doubt Hopkins poses much of a chance.

 

He didn't have any issues with power at 160. His chin is what failed him at that weight. He didn't last long into fights against Barkley and Hagler to allow his power to start accumulating damage.

 

Styles make fights.

Hopkins with his safety first, technichal and tactical approach has not the right style for Hearns. Hearns can hardly be outboxed. He did outbox master boxers Leonard,Benitez and Hill.

So what is left for Hopkins? He may score a KD at some point but would in all likelyhood lose on points.

Hopkins does not have the ferocity, punching power or agreesive style of a Barkley or Rodan to really trouble Hearns.

 

From memory Barkley was getting flogged from pillar to post before landing something, it's not like his "aggressive" style got him anywhere in the first fight. Anyone can potentially land a punch at some point.

Hopkins is 3 levels above those two anyway. Hopkins has no problems getting inside rough housing, and it's what would be called for. He's a master strategist and adapts brilliantly. He's going to be fighting the right fight. Once he gets inside he will keep it there for as long as possible and be very hard to tie up and nullify.

 

Garbage.

Hearns had 5 fights at Middleweight and was KO'd twice. Who ever LOOKED like knocking Hopkins out?

 

Exactly this. Particularly when he realises Tommy can't hurt him. He would batter Tommy's skinny body on the inside, and just wait for those arms to come down to get to the china chin. You do NOT need to have immense power to put Hearns on q"eer street.

Also PRIME Hopkins ( not the near 40 year old who had problems with Taylor ) would be far and away the most adaptable fighter Tommy had faced since Leonard.

Nothing bodes well for Hearns in a Hopkins fight.

 

I'll pick Hearns over Hopkins because I like Hearns and I don't like Hopkins.

This was a totally scientific and fact based choice

 

Hearns can hurt anybody at 160 pounds. He is a puncher.

 

Hopkins would eat Barkley and Roldan for breakfast. You're discounting his aggression when he was younger.



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