In their primes, who wins, Marvin Hagler or Bernard Hopkins?

I'd favor Hagler but this is as close to 50/50 as it gets. A true dream match.

 

This would get me killed on the Classic forum but I would go with BHOP. He has the size, speed and versatility to give Hagler fits not to mention he was excellent at fighting southpaws. As great as Hagler was I think Hopkins would neutralize his offense and win a UD.

 

Bernard was a big, modern day middleweight; Hagler was a medium, maybe even smallish, middleweight in his day.
Under the old rules of same day weigh-ins and 15 rounds, it’s the Marvelous One.
Under modern next day weigh-ins and 12 rounds, Hopkins wins.

 

Really really bloody hard one to predict. Two of the best ever MW's. All I'm hearing RN is 50/50.

We'll say I hope I do not set a precedent here, but I'm actually going to go for a draw here. 6-6.

However, if it was 15 rounds, then this is when it gets interesting, in Hagler's heyday - boxing was 15 rounds. Although, I'd very much expect Hopkins would be capable of lasting 15 rounds.

This fight is so intriguing as you have such a crazy balance of dirty fighting and technical fighting with two literal raging bulls smashing into each others heads all fight. Hopkins was so crafty and so so good at making fights his way and ugly, but it is a mammoth task to remain crafty when you have a rolling wrecking snowball in Hagler, in addition to Hagler's southpaw defence which is rather awkward for Hopkins to work out. Then again, it wouldn't be easy for Hagler to find a way through someone as crafty as Hopkins. Hopkins would need to try and keep it crafty, stick and move. Whereas Hagler would have to be in his angriest mode and not allow Hopkins to leave the ropes and also do his own ugly work.

Such a phenomenal fight.

 

Bernard and easily. Horrible match up for Hagler. What in Hagler's style troubles Hopkins? Nothing. He's tailor made for Hops.

 

Apart from the nostalgia merchants that plague this forum, B-Hop would outpoint him fairly easily bigger stronger smarter people be bit like the trinadad fight

 

I think bhop is too big, crafty and very good against south paws. Hagler is my favourite fighter but I dont like this match up for him.

 

Hagler esasily the favorite, admired ATG fighter in this forum and elsewhere.
But as others have pointed out, Hopkins wins clearly (matter of styles).

 

Hagler, the version of Marvin that demolished Tony Sibson and Wilfred Scypion was a beast, with that punishing right jab , great footwork and his snarling meanness. Hopkins defense and style keeps him in the fight but I don't think he can match Marvin offensively. Marvin close UD by 2 or 3 rounds.

 

People keep pointing out the size difference but Hagler beat multiple MW's Bernard's size/frame. They weren't rare in the 70's.

Hagler wins by decision. Hagler was better on the inside with combination punching. Bernard was never a combination puncher. Even young Bernard, he was a right handed gun slinger and that won't work on Hagler. Hagler also had a better engine. I do think Bernard's overhand right was more educated than Hagler's left cross but Hagler's jab and right hook (his real power hand) were better and had more snap than Bernard's left. I actually think Hagler's feet were quicker than Bernard's, not as coordinated but quicker. And Hagler could close distance so quickly Bernard would have trouble. That's one thing Bernard always had trouble with, guys with feet that could close in on him, that was a constant in his career (Roy, Chad, Jermain, even Calzaghe). If you're stuck in mud Bernard will maneuver you to death, but if you have quick feet, Bernard struggles even though Bernard has "better" footwork than all of them (except Chad).

 

X2

 

Hagler takes him out in the mid-late rounds.

 

This. Great post, NP!