Even matchup. I would say a draw could be the result. Mc Callum has the better jab, that is for sure.
Hopkins is too big and strong for McCallum. Mike isn't gonna have any answer for the straight right battering ram that Hopkins throws.
I'm going to go with Mike. He is better at 160 than anyone Hopkins ever beat there and is one of the few fighters to match B-Hops boxing IQ. Hopkins was clearly better and more aggressive at 160 than he was at 175, but he was never a massive puncher at either weight. And, obviously, no one gets stopped here.
This for me is one of the most even and tactical fantasy match ups to ponder. Hopkins could usually dictate if an opponent wasn't as experienced, or could use 'rough' tactics to gain an advantage...I don't think he could do that against McCallum. Even the older McCallum had the wiles to last against Toney at the very end of his career, and also against a prime Roy Jones Jr. McCallum could change levels and deliver those body shots, you couldn't read him...I don't know if Hopkins' usual hold and hit tactics would work against another skilled operator at close range...It would depend on Hopkins' ability to land the lead right, and McCallum countering. If Hopkins misses, he gets countered to the body hard...Toney landed on McCallum with the right hand, but he forced the fight...did Hopkins force the action with that type of pace? I lean very slightly towards McCallum decision in this one.
Mc Callum was not exactly a small middleweight. At 5ft 11 anc wining later a title at light heavyweight. That jab of Mc Callum would have given Bernard a lot of problems. Even fight, but if I would have to pick a winner, it would be Mc Callum by close decision
Mike has the better jab but doesn't have the right physique to dictate Hopkins behind his jab. Especially considering Hopkins has superior footwork, timing and hand speed. That battering ram right and the flurry combo behind it should be enough for Hopkins to take it on points.
Fairly even fight and between two men who have a lot of similarities, not necessarily stylistically but in terms of how they're careers panned out as well longevity, durability, etc.. Be interesting to see how Bernard approaches a durable, defensive minded body puncher like McCallum. Mike was like nothing Hopkins ever faced at 160 or anywhere else for that matter.. Overall I'd narrowly go with B-hop on a close points win but truthfully its anybody's fight and I wouldn't be surprised if the decision was contested one way or the other.
