Is prime Hopkins not a superior ring general to the old Hagler, quicker of reflex and with better ability to make his natural size count?
Certainly. But when was Leonard not the recipient of favorable scoring? And all the details like ring size. Location. ref. all that stuff is to Leonards favor. Like I said---judges just absolutely love shoeshining. And Leonard was not doing it the first 30 seconds of the round, he does it smart at the end. It certainly would not bother Hopkins and Ray's punches would have like zero effect, but if Nard does not win 9 rounds convincingly, I think the decision goes to Leonard.
I like Leonard against Hopkins. Leonard's speed and movement being the difference. Hopkins is one of the more overrated fighters of the last 20 plus yrs. In my opinion. Though there's no comparison in the version of Leonard that fought Hagler , and prime Jones. Jr's victory over Hopkins. Leonard was clearly not the fighter he was a few years prior to the Hagler fight, still, what Leonard had left would be enough to get past Hopkins . He'd move , land pretty combinations, and show boat his way to a victory. He wouldn't white wash Hopkins the way Jones did, but his superior skills would see him to victory. Hopkins fight and loss against Jones is a text book to how Leonard would beat him.
I've said this multiple times, there but for the fact he has a "win" over end stage Hagler (we all know Sugar Ray lost that fight), Sugar Ray did absolutely nothing of note at MW. He beat Lalonde at SMW/LHW, he (really) lost to Hearns, lost to Norris and was ended by a Camacho that was just as out of place at MW as he was. Leonard simply wasn't a good MW and Bernard was a monster against former elite WW's that moved up. I think Bernard may actually stop Leonard
Leonard did nothing of note? He beat one of the greatest middleweights of all time in Hagler. It is better than any win on Hopkins 160 resume.
your only argument is that Hagler was not prime anymore. I argue that he was still better than anybody Hopkins beat at 160.
My main position is that Ray lost: I actually agree with you, even post prime Hagler was far better than anyone that Bernard ever faced, my position (and a lot of other's) is that Ray didn't beat Hagler. It's like Golovkin/Canelo. I can't give Canelo credit for those Canelo wins being his best wins when I thought he lost both of the first two fights. Same with Leonard. And besides that very controversial win, he really didn't do anything at MW.