Prime Bernard or 175lb Bernard of the last few years? Old bernard gets outpointed with the fast jab making it close by being difficult to hit clean and scoring crisp clean counters as he always does.
Foster was a crafty puncher, but Hopkins oozed craftiness in all aspects of his game. I think Foster was reliant on physical gifts, namely size and reach, that aren't effective enough against Hopkins. RJJ gave him fits with speed, but RJJ is nothing like Foster... I can't see anybody of Foster's style knocking Hopkins out. I can't really see anybody at LHW knocking Hopkins out. It'd be an extremely close fight, though. Foster is very dangerous, I just think the styles matchup would give Hopkins something to work with to sneak away with a decision. I'd call it 51/49 in favor of Hopkins.
Foster would win via KO he is too big and far to powerful no past prime middleweight is beating him, Tarver is nowhere near as good as Bob.
I'd like follow on from my post above. Hopkins has never faced a light-heavyweight as accomplished as Foster. We are talking about a fighter who reigned at the weight for 6 years, and brutally KO'd Dick Tiger who had not never been previously stopped in his career. I'm not saying Tiger was as ring savy and skilled as Hopkins, he wasn't, but he did have durability on his side going into the fight. Tarver, Wright, Calzaghe, and Pavlik. Only one of those fighters was a natural at the weight and he wasn't physically what he should have been when they fought. If Hopkins had beaten a prime Hill or Spinks at the weight, then it's worth a shout, and the reasoning is stronger that he'd possibly win. Foster's jab was like a rocket. It was quick, powerful, and accurate.
Bob Foster was to my knowledge the only man to cut Ali. He had a tremendous jab. Hopkins would have to press the fight and that would get him in trouble eventually. Foster by late stoppage.
I agree with this statement. I don't think he'd stop Hopkins but I feel he'd most likely win on points. I also wouldn't rule out either fighter knocking each other down once or twice in the fight.
Old Hop goes into spoiler mode and loses a decision The Hop of RJJ II however gets knocked into a three day coma
Prime Hopkins completely humiliates him and stops him late if he feels the need. The older Hopkins just completely humiliates him.
Yeah, what happened to Mantequilla? Seems like Sweet Pea is still around, though. Haven't seen Sweet Science for a while either and Stonehands only makes cameos nowadays. A heavy winter of discontent in September already?