How would “Thi Tiger” do against this line up of Light-heavyweights? Bob Fitzsimmons? Tommy Loughran? Billy Conn? Archie Moore? Ezzard charles? Bhop?
Give him little chance against any besides Fitzsimmons where they'd be fighting what may aswell be a different sport, in Fitzsimmons' time he takes it, today Dariusz more than likely takes it. Dariusz had that big punch but you picked technicians who know how to take their opponents weapons away and force them to fight at their pace especially against someone not as ring savvy as them. Also has a chance against Loughran but I wouldn't put him as a favourite, loses a wide decision to the Charles, Moore, Conn and Hopkins.
He gets embarrassed by Moore, Charles, Conn and Loughran. He probably beats Fitz since Fitz looks like ****. Probably B-Hop too.
Yeah, I think he beats B-Hop. The old man Hopkins wouldn't be able to deal with DM's jab and pressure. He beats Fitzsimmons since boxing skill was still in its infancy then. DM loses to the rest - he doesn't see the distance with Charles and Moore.
I actually think Hopkins has the right style to beat Michalczewski. But the problem with rating Hopkins as a Light-Heavyweight is that he didn't fight there (his debut aside, which we can pretty much discount for a few reasons) until he was already in his fifth decade and having to fight a bit more economically. Dariusz would pile the pressure on, especially in the latter rounds as he was often quite a slow starter, but I always felt that speed was Hopkins' real Achilles' heel (Jones, Taylor, Calzaghe etc.), and that's something Dariusz doesn't really have. Michalczewski also couldn't fight on the inside, whereas Hopkins was very adept in close, not only in terms of getting punches off (so clever with that short right, and also had an underused uppercut) but also in denying his opponent punching room and muscling them when he needed to. So I guess Dariusz's natural size is the issue here, and whether he can make it could against a guy who was smaller than him. But even past his best I see enough in Hopkins' performances at 175 to make me think he can win this, and I'd definitely back him in a hypothetical had he moved up to Light-Heavyweight a few years before he eventually did.
I see it more or less the same way.Bernard is the more skilled and versatile fighter.It is more a matter whether his conditioning can withstand the constant pressure of Michalchweski at his advanced age
A lot of fighters belong there. But yeah, he does. DM was better and more accomplished than Mancini, McGuigan, Mitchell, ect.
Hopkins was certainly at his best at 160 but at 175 he holds wins over Tarver, Pascal, Cloud, Schuminov etc. Which is a more than solid group. I would favor BHOP over Michalczewski with his wins over Pascal and Cloud as a blueprint on fighting aggressive fighters. And yes, I know Michalczewski was better than Pascal and Cloud. BHOP even at an advance age would be a handful for Michalczewski because of his versatility and far superior skill. Michalczewski pressure wouldn't mean much against a guy like Hopkins would constantly turn him and not let him set his feet just like he did against Cloud.
