Thomas The Hitman Hearns vs Bernard The Executioner Hopkins, 160 lbs, Prime For Prime

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Richard M Murrieta, Jun 28, 2020.



  1. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    Trinidad was a natural 147 pounder who travelled ok to middleweight. Benitez looked good at 154 and was the most impressive i have seen him against Duran.
     
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  2. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    I don't see him as a small 147 personally. He was still only 23 when he won the Junior Middleweight title. He looked the best i ever saw him both physically and in the ring against Duran in which he scaled 152 1/4. All the talk in the boxing world while he was at 154 was that he had found his niche division and looked fantastic. He was actually favored over Hearns and considered one of the top P4P in the world. A significant number pondered whether SRL could beat him at this stage in the higher weight class and still others openly questioned whether he might be the one to eventually dethrone Hagler if he filled out some more. Unfortunately for him Hearns beat him and his career went off the rails from there.
     
  3. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Hamsho and Hearns were bigger than him. Duran wasn’t a true 154.
     
  4. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    I would agree those two were bigger - absolutely. Hamsho was a fully fledged middle and Hearns was ten foot tall on a spindly frame that took the extra weight beautifully.

    Duran wasn't a true 154 but he was still strong and effective there. He belted a decent fully fledged junior middle in Davey Moore all over the ring and Duran himself actually remarked on Benitez's size and strength after he fought him.