Sergio Martinez vs Bernard Hopkins

I love both of these guys, but I am a bigger Hop fan.

Hopkins set an awesome pace against Johnson and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport's ins and outs. He'd work his jab and lure Maravilla into rights and clinches and spin a web which Martinez isn't sophisticated enough to get out imo.

 

Dawson is the anomaly in Hop's record vs southpaws. I've not seen those fights since I watched them in 2017 but given Hopkins was like 45, slowed down and above his prime weight, the speed issue isn't as prevalent imo. He normally beat southpaws like they were nothing though.

Is this not peak for peak? I skipped the op. Martinez from either Williams fight would lose against any Hopkins from Johnson to Del a Hoya imo. Hopkins would also be huge next to Sergio.

 

I think a lot of people would go with B-Hop but this is a very difficult fight to call at 160. People have forgotten how good Sergio was at 160. He was rated number 3 p4p for a time.

If Hopkins were to get the W this would prob be his best win at 160. Better than his two wins over highly decorated welterweights IMO.

 

With a fair ref, I take Martinez by UD. If Hopkins is allowed to headbutt, hold and low blow, Hopkins can hurt him.

 

I’m a fan of both guys but don’t see any version of Sergio beating BHop. It would be hard for me to root for either guy because I like them both. BHop would bust Sergio up with his head and elbows. And I think he would have been too big for Sergio. Two great fighters and I loved watching their fights. BHop by KO.

 

People seem to forget that DLH was doing very good against Hopkins using his speed moving and boxing, Martinez unlike DLH was very comfortable and a beast at 160 compared to DLH.

 

People seem to have forgotten the Robert Allen fights too.

 

very difficult fight to predict.. It’s hard to forget that guys with speed and awkward styles was Hopkins weakness.. only styles that gave prime Sergio problems was guys with volume and size (Margarito and Paul Williams).. I simply don’t think Hopkins will have enough activity to deal with sergios speed but I can see Hopkins coming out aggressive against the much smaller opponent

 

Sergio could take them early but as always he concedes 4 rounds mid-fight. Against Hopkins, though, he doesn't get that second wind.

 

I'm on the fence as Hop chose young gun in his prime age--but they were come forward fighters. He turned down Dawson initially, then punked out 1st fight.

Said publicly he would never fight Ward. I tend to think a waiting- trap setting awkward Maravilla frustrates Hop because he wasn't a Pavlik or Tito.

True Tito & Pav had different styles...but they were still forward-fight boxers. I think Hop would reject a fight with Sergio. Thats why he chose Joe Smith. young & Strong & kinda quick- but one dimensional.

Hop does just enough in this fight to complain he was robbed- similar to Taylor 1st fight.

 

spot on.. Legendary fighter but he obviously didn’t prefer to fight certain styles.. It’s why he was hesitant in fighting Dawson but willingly went after the Krusher.. Also why he skipped 168 to fight Calzaghe and chose to go to 175 for Tarver..

 

Hopkins would have tore Sergio's ass all the way up.

 

Sergio was an ambush fighter..move around stick on the outside then dart in and land.
I just think Hop would see that coming an adjust he was hard to hit clean, had great success against lefties and knew all the dark arts.
I see a technician like BHop beating Martinez who used more of his physical gifts to impose his style on his fights.

Great match up tho