Hopkins Hagler at 160-Who takes it?

Bhop!!!!!

 

A prime Hopkins(Tito/Echols/Joppy) decisions prime Hagler(Hearns/Mugabi).

 

This subject always comes up, and I'm too lazy to right out a new analysis, so I'll copy what I've been saying.

As I've always said, this is a very close fight between two great, versatile fighters.

Both guys are complete fighters. Hagler was a terrific boxer-puncher with a great jab, good combos, heavy hands, good set of legs, terrific chin, nice parrying skills and head movement, and he could slug it out as well and fight on the inside.

Hopkins is a master of controlling the pace and picking his spots. He knows the angles and knows where to position himself to land good shots and avoid the incoming. Like Hagler, he is versatile. He can box from the outside using the ring, or maul guys up close and "stink it out". He has a big of dirty tricks to frustrate opponents. As proven throughout his career, he is very effective against lefties. He's also a bigger MW than Hagler due to different weigh-in procedures.

Hagler had the heavier hands, superior jab, and was more proven in the slugging/pressure department. Hopkins was a little quicker and slicker, and just has a brilliant fighting brain in there.

No matter how the fight takes place, I see it being very close. I doubt either guy gets stopped. Hopkins is slick and has a sound chin. Hagler's chin was great, and he didn't exactly have a soft body either.

Over the years, Hagler was developed a reputation as a face-first brawler from people who don't watch enough of his fights, but he usually boxed behind his jab and broke guys down over the course of the fight. It'll probably be a pretty tactical fight, and I see Hopkins winning a close decision, with his straight right hand being the key.

As for their all-time rankings. Hagler with the slight edge at middleweight. He beat better opposition, fighting lots of good middleweights on the road to the title. I also thought he definitely won the first Watts fight and scored the Leonard bout even.

 

Hagler wins this 2 out of 3 times on sheer workrate and coming forward

 

Nice post. I'd call it an excellent post, except LEONARD WON:hey

 

Bhop SD or Marvelous TKO

 

Hagler

 

Anybody who thinks Bhop beats Marv needs their head tested! Think most people who go for Bhop just dont really know the facest of Marvin.... an allround boxer with great technical proficiency. One who scores 9 out of 10 in almost all facest of the sport.
1. world class jab
2. Excellent feet and lateral movement
3. Fight you long behind a brilliantly timed jab, especially the southpaw jab
4. Very good game on the inside
5. great chin
6. excellent mental/pschological strength
7. without doubt the best conditioned middleweight ever, an olympic mchampion trainer in the gym.

So whats Bhop gonna do! He aint gonna beat Marv on the inside, and on the outside the early rounds will be a chess match. The turning point will come mid rounds when Marv turns up the gas. Bhop will get hit regular as this goes down the stretch and will not live with a boxer who forces him to fight out of his rhythm and pace. Bhop only wants to fight at his dictated pace and when this doesn't happen he is in trouble. And if he tries those dark arts.... well Marv was brought up on that ****!
Bhop in his prime lost twice to Taylor!!!! bloody Taylor! He is a great, but beats Marv..... the hell he does!!!

 

Hopkins doesn't lose to Leonard, not even at 45 does he lose to that version of SRL, and he doesn't go life and death with welterweights. He drops them and stops them. I would also dispute the notion that Hagler hit harder. Hops was bigger and stronger, and a young Nard could ring someone's bell pretty ****ing hard.

 

Says the lameass who considers the Nard that 'lost' to Taylor a 'prime' Hopkins.

 

In the General forum, you're likely to get mostly "Hopkins UD".

In Classic, you'd get more "Hagler UD".

In the Lounge, you'd get "Draw"...or "who?"

 

It's a 50/50 fight. I think you'd have to be fairly bias (either for or against one of them) not to see it that way. I agree with virtually everything Thread Stealer posted as well.

 

I think Hagler out-toughs him on the inside, doing the more damage throughout & taking a unanimous decision... he would have Hopkins fighting very defensive because anytime B-Hop tried offense I think Hagler would just come right thru anything he had meeting him head on & making Hopkins a bit intimidated.

Hagler by UD.

 

Hagler UD.

I find it funny that the Calzaghe - Hagler thread everyone was laughing saying Hagler smashes Joe yet here I'm willing to bet some of the same people pick BHop.

Newsflash, neither Bhop or Calzaghes primes have a record worthy of beating a prime Hagler at 160 or even out of his comfort zone at 167.