B-HOP down?

I think some people get the misperception that Jones dominated Hopkins. He didn't. I watched this fight closely quite a few times and it was pretty competitive up until the 8th round or so when Jones' superior hand speed started to land more frequently. And that's when he separated himself in the scorecards.

But Hopkins was the aggressor the entire fight and really chased after Jones. He was throwing a lot. And Jones gave him respect.

I really do think that had they fought around 2002, Hopkins might've pulled out a win. Jones relied on raw talent to get it done and he had that when they first fought. Hopkins relied on savvy and ring intelligence to win and he wasn't nearly as polished in their first fight as he was later in his career.

It would've been a great fight and it should've happened. But then again, Jones predicted that Hopkins would beat Trinidad. So that shows you Jones respected Hopkins' abilities.

 

Echols vs B-Hop is the funniest and most entertaining fight you will ever see. If you haven't seen it yet, find it and watch it. ****ing hilarious. At one point Hopkins blasts him after the bell so clean and hard :rofl

 

You may be thinking of the Toney fight.

 

Bernard was tagging him with the left hand for the remainder of the fight, until late in the fight when he gritted his teeth and hit Echols with a couple of rights.

Echols was a wild man. When he was fighting Hopkins he was at the top of his game and living up to his Kid Dynamite nickname.

 

Ive seen the fight MANY times...I just had a brain fart.

And no Jones did not dominate Hopkins. It was a clear win, but in no way a domination.

Again....I have NO IDEA, why I thought he got knocked down in that fight. Seriously, no idea. Im gonna go watch it again.

 

Agreed. You won't find many fights that are as fun to watch as that one.

 

So Hopkins only lost the Jones fight 116-112? That means it was pretty close...Maybe I should watch the fight I figured Hops got handled, guess not

 

Bernard was rated numba 1 by the IBF and Jones numba 2, he played the aggressor part throughout but was always beaten to the punch by RJJ who also ate here and there a punch back... Bernard pressed up more from mid-stage to the final stretch but was always reluctant ( or aware) to get in. Michael Spinks and Butch Lewis tried to portrait Bernard as a winner at the end for the aggressiveness and stalking but I had the fight much more balanced towards Roy's favour. Sloppy affair but know a site from where you can get a quality DVD NTSC for 4.99 USD ( from where I got the fight actually)...

 

FOOL, that was toney...

 

The whole fight is on youtube now as well.

BTW, it is very clear that Jones hurt his hand in the middle of the fight. Jones often had this problem.

 

So harsh.....

 

Yes, but while Hopkins became more polished, his physical skills diminished. He was able to pressure Jones a bit and be the aggressor in their first fight. He would be more savvy, but also further behind Jones physically at that time.

And remember, Jones wasn't nearly as ring savvy as he would be later on in his career as well. Comparing that fighter to the one who dismantled Hill and you will see a much better Jones in the Hill fight.

The best possible time for this fight to have happened again was 1997-99. Hopkins had progressed to close to the in ring intellgence he is now, but still had most if not all his physical tools. Jones was at his best at this point and blowing away fighters larger than him.

 

I think that's somewhat true.

But whatever the case, the rematch should've happened.

 

Twice against Mercado in Ecuador. And he still was able to comeback and salvage a draw. Hopkins was bad ass in his prime.

 

Still say dat didn't happen cause Jones and Hopkins got bitter and greedy. 60/40 and 50/50 split is not a reason for not have happened. Both developed a sense of utter respect for each other though, you just have to listen to RJJ's comments on Hopkins-Taylor I on Hopkins in defeat and Bernard recognizing that he knew he lost that one to Roy ( but not 2 Taylor) in the post-fight interview with Larry...