If Hopkins had been at the top in the late 80s ?

Bernhard Hopkins W UD 12 Frank Tate
Sumbu Kalambay W SD 12 Bernard Hopkins
Michael Nunn W UD 12 Bernard Hopkins
Bernhard Hopkins W SD 12 Mike McCallum
Thomas Hearns W UD 12 Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins TKO 10 Iran Barkley
Bernard Hopkins W UD `12 Roberto Duran

Bernhard Hopkns W UD 12 Michael Watson
Bernhard Hopkins TKO 10 Nigel Benn
Bernard Hopkins TKO 9 Michale Olajide
Bernard Hopkins W UD 12 Herol Graham
Juan Roldan W SD 12 Bernard Hopkins

 

I agree that Nunn and Hearns would be tough opponents as would McCallum and Kalambay (all of those are more or less toss-ups imo), but don't think Roldan would problematic at all.

 

I just think Roldan was unusually strong. Bernard was not as strong as Hagler or as slick as Hearns and Nunn

If Bernard fought safety first, he could eak out a decision.

But if he engages Roldan he might get smothered.

 

Hopkins would kick the ass of hearns at mw

 

I’d pick Hopkins over Hearns but I think I agree with all the others. Bomber might give him a surprisingly difficult fight too though.

 

I agree with most of these. Except I think McCallum beats Hopkins UD.

Graham might beat him as well, in a fight that is hard to score.

 

Hopkins was plenty strong in his prime.

And he was slicker than Hearns. Not that a think Hopkins was terribly slick, but Hearns wasn't slick at all. Hearns's defense was his offense. His offense was more devastating than Hopkins's, but purely defensively Bernard was better.

Nunn was definitely more of a natural talent, but he had less of a punch and not stellar stamina.

Hopkins was never seriously hurt at MW (the KD:s against Mercado was flash KD:s), he was great at adapting and he never gave up. Can't see any way Roldan beats him.

 

No way could Hearns and Roldan outpoint Hopkins, Tommy was really sloppy at middle and so was Roldan.

 

Hopkins would toy with Graham look how Kalambay beat him.

 

The body shot Hopkins hit De La Hoya with was as hard as any shot Hagler ever threw and before he became more savvy he was a come forward destroyer who might have punched harder than Hagler at that point despite being easier to hit in the early 90`s.

 

Hopkins would absolutely flog the **** out of Roldan.

 

Tate - TKO 11
Kalambay - Wins close decision
Nunn - TKO 11
McCallum - Wins close decision
Hearns - TKO6
Barkley - Decision or late TKO
Duran - Comfortable decision with a lot of pressure on Duran late