b-hop v hagler

you got to remember Hagler was primarily a boxer who could punch add that to a southpaw style and good foot movement and the fact that he was 160lbs all his career...I think he was stronger at that weight than B-Hop but it would still be close...Leonard had better speed of hand and foot than Marvin and he outhustled him...Hopkins would have to grind out a win and Marvin was strong and fast....B-Hop more adaptable,tricky and resourcefull....Marvin fought one way...I still give Hag the edge

 

Nice post. I think BHop would get outhustled by Hagler. I refer to Hagler's late 70's fights against the Philly fighters. He was very fluid with his combinations and his movement was underrated. I just don't think BHop would be busy enough and I don't think he'd be able to deter the offense of a prime Hagler.

 

Could be a very close fight. B-Hop has one weakness, he can't deal with opponents who are have a significant speed advantage. He only lost to faster fighters, he was never beaten with skills, power or toughness. Hagler used his physical attributes to wear down opponents, that would not work against a fighter who is strong enough to bully Tarver and Pavlik. I give B- Hop a the edge.

 

So Hagler was stronger just because he stayed at middleweight for his entire career. That your reason?

 

I think Hagler's massively superior jab woudl give him too much of an edge here.Unlike most seem to, i also think the peak Hagler was quicker of hand and foot.

A lot of posters assume hagler is just going to lead against Hopkins.I'm not so sure he would and if it turns into a chessmatch\classic box-fighting bout with both pivoting\turning each other at ring centre then Hagler's jab will own the exchanges.

 

Me and Marvin Hagler would have been a war. We’d both be in the hospital afterward with straws in our mouth. We’d destroy each other. I wouldn’t run from Marvin. My game-plan would be, rough him up, box, rough him up, box. You wouldn’t use judges for that fight. You’d go by the doctors’ reports. Whichever one of us is damaged less gets the win. Carlos Monzon? I could lose that fight. Monzon was tall, rangy, did everything right. I see myself losing that fight more than winning it. I ain’t saying I’m number one, but I’m one of the best middleweights of all time

-Bernard Hopkins

 

No Marvin was a natural 160LBER, nothing less, nothing more, that was his home. I think B-Hop looked and was a bit weaker at that weight, he looked strong vs Hoya and Trinadad but they were really weak at 160, welters carrying another 13 lbs. B-Hops 1st fight was a loss at 175 and he chose to fight at 160...thin...he looks great and stronger @ 175 even at 43 yrs old.....I see Marvins speed and power vs B-Hops tricks and wireryness...close fight but I like the Marvelous Southpaw to take it.

 

Hopkins' discipline and healthy lifestyle made sure had made 160lbs, easily. This was a man who in his mid-late 30's never went above 166lbs between fights.

People have banged on in the past about Hagler's spartan like training and discipline. By all accounts, he wasn't quite in Hopkins' league. I'm sure Hagler indulged in the odd cheeseburger and pint between fights, Hopkins doesn't go near that stuff.

Look at this factual evidence. Hagler said he couldn't get down to 154lbs to fight Leonard. It was simply a non starter. Hopkins on the otherhand was willing to come down to 154lbs to fight De La Hoya in 1999. Could he have? No question about it. When he did eventually fight De La Hoya at middleweight 5 years after he said he would fight him, he weighed-in only 2lbs above the jr middleweight limit.

Hopkins could've take off an extra 3-4 pounds, Hagler wasn't entertaining the thought.

 

Because Marvin was already muscled and cut at 160....some fighters are so fit and fine in there division there is no need to move...160 was his home he ruled the roost and there was money in that division...Spinks was a big 175 and a great one...no need to move up to him...different times...Hagler had a big name and plently of foes @ 160.....Duran could have stayed @ 135 if his life style allowed but his greatness moved up with him for the most part. His lifestyle got the best of him. Hagler may have had a bowl of pasta when he wanted but ran a few extra miles and lived @160

 

Did he meet anyone who had skills, power and toughness comparable to Hagler? Blown-up welters not included.