If a prime Hopkins or Hagler came back now, how would he fare at middleweight?

BHOP is the man, Hagler is a couple steps under him. Big respect for both.

 

Even a 40 year old Bernard would make Canelo look really bad.

 

Right now they'd do quite well I think. Maybe unify. There's few guys at MW that I think would be competitive. Feels to me that with GGG and co off the scene we either have old dinosaurs or unproven babies around.

 

Have you seen Middleweight division now ? It's an absolute wasteland and probably has the worst top 10 in history. Forget Hopkins and Hagler fighters like Briscoe, Hamsho, Mugabi, Barkley, Roldan, Antuofermo, Minter, would be considered the best Middleweights now.

 

Both would clean up nowadays. Hagler especially would wreak havoc throughout the 160 and 168 divisions.

 

This. It's a dead field currently. Hopkins era wasn't the strongest in my view - but even guys like Keith Holmes, Antwun Echols or Howard Eastmann would have good chance to be the top dog today.
Hagler would be undersized, but with the skill difference I don't think it would matter.

 

Hagler could win titles at both 154 and 160lbs. He may even pick up a strap at 147lbs early in his career if he drained to the extent some fighters do with the day before weigh ins.

 

Are you kidding me ? Hopkins with 100 years old beat guys that jus the other day were world class ranked guys like Jean Pascal. He would have no opponent today in any divison he was on, and it would be for a while.
He just knew how to really fight boxing, which is not the case for many of these "padwork robots" from the recent era.

 

160 is pretty much easy mode for Hagler or Hopkins. 154 wouldn't be much more difficult with the only challenges there being Charlo and Tszyu, both of whom are a bit too inexperienced for Hagler or Hopkins. The real challenge would be Benavidez and Canelo at 168.

I favor both of them to beat Hagler, largely due to weight. I think Benavidez's sheer size would allow him to swamp Hagler with volume punching that will break through his chin and defense skill at some point especially given both of these dudes like to fight at point blank range. Canelo on the other hand has a better chin and firepower at his disposal. He can't outbox or outwork Hagler, but he can and will catch him with big shots that'll accumulate into a knockdown at some point.

As far as Hopkins, he beats either of them. He's too fast, too skilled, too relentless, too strong and in general too tough. Canelo is simply outgunned a bit too much in all departments other than defense and possibly chin. Benavidez is simply too inexperienced and a prime Hopkins will easily take his firepower without any problem. He'd drag both into deep waters and score a stoppage sometime in the mid rounds against Benavidez, maybe late against Canelo just depending on how much firepower Canelo can absorb.

 

Both of them would out-jab everyone, Hagler jabbed constantly and had a 75 inch reach.

 

Hagler would out-jab Benavidez and could take Hearns power, I doubt Benavidez could take Hagler`s power, Hagler would out-work Benavidez.

 

Hagler would have a field day against the "fighters" of today!!!

 

160 lb use to the blue ribbon division . Its shameful how woeful it is at the moment .