No, not the prime for prime match-up, we're talking about the 41 year-old version that outboxed Tarver for the ring magazine title vs. the Dick Tiger that weighed in a lb below the SMW limit at 167 that defeated Jose Torres for the undisputed LHW title. Who would win this one?
oooooooo, tough one. tiger had an all time great chin (foster knock out aside) so he could take most of what hopkins threw. in terms of styles, tigers pressure would inevitably bother hopkins. he would work his way inside and pound hopkins with hooks, despite b-hops incredible defense; tiger wouldn't do much damage but he'd score points. this trend would continue for the first 6 round until hopkins figured out tigers pattern and begin moving and trying to time him with right hand leads. this wouldn't work as well with a shorter opponent and he'd resort to uppercuts, forcing exchanges in close. again working on the inside and combating tiger's forward attacks and exchanges with hooks, hopkins would lose close rounds and eventually be outworked over 12 with tigers relentless attack vs hopkins overly cautious approach
