People should go look at the first Vito fight if they don't think a bigger Hopkins would tie hagler up easily anytime he got close to stop him doing his work are in Dreamland, haglers trainer even stated they didn't want to go inside with Vito as his best weapon was his head lol Saying that tho hagler destroyed him two times after just like he did Willie Monroe so maybe Hagler loses first time and then destroys Hopkins every fight after
I disagree. Hopkins was all about jab then step in with the rt like a shift then getting off a short hook befor he smothers you. Predictable for me
I think Hagler may be the greater fighter and win more matchups historically but would be way smaller than Hopkins, who could box with Hagler and tie him up as well. I think Hopkins probably wins a decision. I don't see Hopkins getting broken down or becoming inactive during the fight.
That's just one part. He could also jab going backwards and was an excellent counter puncher. I believe what he did best was stay out of rhythm. He couldn't be timed. But when he catches his opponents rhythm, their for a long night.
It is funny how overrated Hopkins has become. When he was in his prime actually fighting and defending the "title" people said he was overrated and boring. Now those same people act like he was some unbeatable monster. Hopkin wasn't fast, he wasn't strong, he didn't have fast hands for a middleweight. Nothing Hopkins could/would do would bother Hagler at all. Hopkins get busted up and stopped.
Hopkins isn't the most exciting boxer but what people like myself appreciate is his approach to fighting. He's gonna take away all of your weapons and befuddled you with his intricate slickness. Getting knocked out is very embarrassing but getting outboxed is equally embarrassing internally. Not being able to get around the jab, being roughed up on the inside. Constantly getting smacked upside the head by counters. Not being able to avoid those sneaky lead right hands. The crowd may not know it because the opponent is still on his feet but that **** is demoralizing to a fighter. Look at how Kambosos was humbled by getting toyed with. He had no answers. Same with Calzaghe and Lacy. Bhop wasn't freak of nature boxer but his specialty was breaking fighters down and he mastered that aspect.
One fantasy match up i sure would not bet my house on the outcome of. I think the taller and bigger Hopkins does a Leonard on Hagler to win a close decision. But as a fan of Hagler i could see him prevailing too, again by close decision. I don't think either are knocking the other out. The issue of whether it would be same day weigh in is another factor, as if it was same day that favours Hagler, whereas day before it favours Hopkins. I would be at front of the ticket queue for the match up that is for sure.
You mean Hopkins style of running and holding on for dear life? At middleweight who did Hopkins beat? Also by middleweight I don't mean smaller guy who moved up to fight at middleweight like Trinidad and De La Hoya. Glen Johnson fought Hopkins at middleweight but look at who Johnson fought before he faced Hopkins. Nobodies so that win wasn't impressive. Hopkins beat a faded Simon Brown, Antwun Echols who was a hard puncher but had nothing else. Hopkins lost twice to Jermaine Taylor at middleweight. Even when he gained weight his fights were still boring. He just ran, and held and won boring decisions which is why he was never a draw. He also got some gift wins doing this time frame.
I'm not remembering this off the top of my head, how big was Hopkins on fight night? Could he easily do a same day weigh in?
I remember fondly on fnfs Hagler was on the panel and bhop was in the studio. The marvelous one made light of Hopkins having bad footwork. That's probably the biggest reason my non educated self would think wisely about if these two came about to fight each other.
I'm not trying to convince people to like his style of fighting. However there are those like myself who understand that a fighter doesn't have to annihilate his opponent in 3 rounds or less. They have 12 rounds to get the job done.
You don't have to knock out a opponent but if you are great you still can dominate 12 rounds in style. Hopkins never looked exciting against better opponents. He just ran and grabbed. I don't thin that would work against Hagler.
That's the thing about BHop though, his physical prime didn't match his overall prime, which most would say was around when he fought Tito, when he was 35 ish. BHop was a big MW. He wasn't explosive ala Roy Jones but be was fast enough both hand speed and foot speed wise and was crafty as hell. He could fight outside, maintain distance and pepper you with lead right hands all night long or smother you on the inside. He could fight going forwards or backwards. BHop's skill level continued to improve as he got older.
