A prime Hopkins would use his movement to offset GGG's jab better than anyone else was able to do. And he would get within GGG's optimal punching range at times by roughing him in close. GGG would be competitive, but Hopkins would land the cleaner blows and control more of the action to take a decision IMO.
Jacobs counters back with quick hands, that's why he is hard to KO. He is knocked out only once. Hopkins didn't fight a fighter similar to Golovkin. Kovalev didn't try to KO Hopkins, because he was 49 years old. Probably he didn't want to be a murderer.
Prime Hopkins wasn't actually huggy bear. The actual under age 35 prime Hopkins was a crafty boxer, but let his hands go and didn't need to hug.
I'll take BHop in a close fight but ppl forget prime BHop was vicious w counters in addition to exceptional defense, great jab, and excellent ring generalship
This is the real Bernard that I was trying to explain was better than the 40s version on another thread. Bernard can beat Golovkin all the way inside or all the way outside, Golovkin would not have much chance unless he got midrange and Bernard showed throughout his career that he could take that away from people and had the chin and durability to weather damn near anything from a hitter.
Pressure fighter, but also a banger and a boxer. But in his true prime, pressure was Golovkin's calling card.
Hopkins via UD for me great jab and really good outside fighter which would make ggg struggle to get shots off and Hopkins runs away with the fight
Hopkins will be ranked higher given his body of work but H2H I'm taking GGG. Are blown up fighters like De La Hoya and Tito Trinidad going 9 and 12 rounds with GGG in his pomp ? I don't think so. GGG was so destructive at his best and whilst B-Hop was great at negating fighters strengths, I think GGG just has the firepower along with an excellent jab in his own right to beat Hopkins.
A lot of people here underestimate 3G's technical ability. He wasn't some plodder with a big punch, he was exceptionally skilled!
You think Golovkin has got a better chin than Hopkins??? Really?? Hopkins fought & easily defeated Trinidad than moved up to fight 6'2 one punch knock out artist Tarver who he easily beat in decision.What bigger punchers did Golovkin fight than those 2.The only Fight that Hopkins was stopped in was when he was 51 years old.Get real.Golovkin never fought the competition than Hopkins fought not even close.Hopkins was 6'1 much bigger fighter than Golovkin stronger & much smarter.Hopkins was known for one thing upsetting the big named boxers.
Like I said, if Jacobs can go 12, then so can Hopkins. Hopkins always had great footwork and was capable fighting off of the back foot. There is nothing that Jacobs could do that Hopkins could not- And Kovalev did try to KO Hopkins. He let his hands go as much as he could. Some of those combinations were absolutely vicious.