Hard, hard decision to make. Toney I think. But Hopkins impressed me the older he got, where as Toney was good in his early, younger days. Ahh illl still go Toney, by split decision.!
Are we taking JT Vs Barkley/Williams vs. B-Hop around Trinidad here as the hypothetical versions? I happen to think whichever versions you pick, as long as James comes in disciplined with prefight nutrition and prep, it's going to be a fight where B-Hop does the fundamentals more consistently, James throws the flashier work, both fighters extremely cagey; like two chess masters recognising the formidable opponent almost somewhat happy to play it out for a draw and hope that they win on style and strategy, rather than being able to dominate and chase the other out of the ring .
Whereas I think that B-Hop turned out to be the slightly greater fighter overall, due to his consistency and better longevity, on their respective very best nights I think that Toney was a notch better than B-Hop. So I'm taking Toney by close decision, maybe split decision. I don't think it would be such a pure chess match either. In their physical primes, both Toney and B-Hop were busy in the ring and had good hand speed. Watch Toney-McCallum I - although that one was at MW - it was a great action fight, on a very high skill level. So was B-Hop - Glen Johnsen.
Close fight that really could go either way. I think BHOP was the more consistent performer so I would put my money on him. The fight would definitely go to the cards and would likely be an ugly yet very technical fight.
Good fight on paper, but could be a real snoozefest due to Hopkins dirty, spoiler style, & Toney's counterpunching style. This would likely result in a low action fight, with both guys trying to play counterpuncher. Anyway I got Hopkins on points in a dull fight. I think he hustles his way to victory using every dirty trick in the book.
