Tough fight for Ray, who wasn't quite as brilliant at 160 as he was at 147 and who occasionally struggled against physicality and rough stuff up close or inside - and Hopkins certainly brings those to the table. That said, Ray the Middleweight still had great hand speed, which Hopkins was always a little vulnerable against (Jones, Taylor, Calzaghe etc.). Also a lot more durable, classier and hard-punching than most of the guys Hopkins faced at Middleweight. Hopkins would try and break the rhythm and make it scrappy but I think Robinson's speed and movement proves a bit too much for him. Robinson by competitive decision.
SRR clearly. SRR's offense shuts down Bernard Hopkins' workrate. Hopkins always struggled with guys with fast hands and feet and he'll be waiting too long to try and counter SRR while SRR is constantly hitting and moving.
I'll go against the grain here and pick Hopkins. Bernard's bag of tricks was varied enough that I think he can consistently break Ray's rhythm and scrap his way to a decision, while exhibiting good defense, a solid chin, and being able to find different ways to disguise his right.
I'll disagree with ya, I seriously doubt Bernard brings much to the table Sugar Ray Robinson hasn't seen before . Ray by UD in 15 , around 144-141.
At 160 I have BHOP. No doubt Ray is better pound for pound but he was at his best at 147 in the same day weigh in era. A lot folks forget how physical and strong Bhop was at 160. I see him grinding Ray down for a UD win.
Hi everyone, I was wondering how many fighters of Hopkins size ( BHops is a VERY large middleweight who was six ft one inch tall with a seventy six inch reach ) did the great Sugar Ray fight ? Sugar Ray was usually the taller fighter with a longer reach in his fights. Bernard was at least as big a guy as Joey Maxim. When Robinson fought taller, skilled boxer types like Bell and Gavilan he was given a good, competitive fight. I would give the prime version of Hopkins ( from the Glenn Johnson to Trinidad fights ) an excellent chance of outpointing Robinson due to his size advantage and his overall boxing skill. Robinson is without a doubt the greater fighter but size does matter in boxing. Cheers All.