Bernard Hopkins vs. Sergio Martinez @ MW.

Hopkins always struggled with fast athletic guys like who?

 

Well ok I agree with this but RJJ was a once in a generation athelete and Hopkins did about as well as anyone had with rjj up until that point. I have not watched his fights with Taylor in a very long time I can't really remember but I will take your word for it .

With that being said, I'd still feel comfortable picking Hopkins over Martinez

 

Whilst I agree that Hopkins had a style weakness to fast two handed fighters his own size, but Martinez was naturally smaller and I think Hopkins would impose his size and strength on Martinez as the fight wears on.
Hopkins mid to late stoppage

 

Hopkins by late stoppage also. Hopkins is bigger and better.

 

I think SM's speed and athleticism would give him ample opportunity to land on Hops. But Hops can take those punches. Not sure he other way around. Hops was big and strong at MW.

 

A 40 year old Hopkins might have struggled with the athleticism of Taylor, but that was only for a few rounds.

In fact Taylor is an interesting conundrum as I think he literally caught lightening in a bottle and any earlier or any later sees Hopkins beat him.

Had Hopkins fought him in 04 or sooner I think Hopkins still had enough left to beat him.

Had Hopkins fought him 09 or later I don't think Taylor had enough left to beat B-hop any more.

To be totally honest the two fights Taylor did win very easily could have gone the other way anyways.

So yeah I don't think Taylor indicates any style weaknesses.

Jones dominated him though, he won quite clearly and Hopkins looked hapless at times. Martinez could have a good shot at pulling off that strategy.

Although I think Hopkins having a size advantage means Martinez will struggle to see the final bell.

 

Hopkins grinds him down and stops him in his prime.

Martinez is no RJJ and Hopkins wasn't prime when he had 2 close fights with Taylor, he'd started to slow and he was having to ration his out put unlike in his prime where he could throw over a thousand punches like in the Johnson fight.

Plus Martinez was a southpaw and Hopkins had a very good track record vs southpaws. His right hand lead which he disguised so well was a potent weapon vs lefties.

 

Hopkins. Bigger, stronger, better fighter. Sergio fighting off his back foot, hands down, against a crafty and sneaky fighter like Hopkins who wears opponents down. I'd go wide UD for Hopkins.

 

I actually do think Martinez is under rated as a MW to be totally honest.

Although I'm guilty of it myself.

But I suspect he'd do better than expected against many great MW fighters.

Although it depends on how much you buy into the Pavlik being an alcoholic at the time of fight with Sergio.

 

That was pretty well documented sat the time.

 

Yeah but I don't usually buy excuses as a rule.

Kelly was a huge favorite.

 

It's not an excuse, it's a matter of fact. If Pavlik, or ANYONE, said 'Pav lost ONLY BECAUSE he was having drinking problem,' that is an excuse. Simply stating what was widely known at the time, is not.