Bernard Hopkins vs Dwight Muhammad Qawi - 175 pounds

Yes, but he can't overcome Qawi's physicality.

Qawi clearly on points.

This is a fight Hopkins wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

 

What was Ike's nickname again? As much as I respect 'Nard, I just can't see him overcoming Qawi's work rate and brand of counter punching pressure. At 175, the Buzzsaw was a stylistic nightmare who only got outboxed by perhaps the greatest LHW in the history of the division (boxing possibly his most perfectly executed match). As terrifically consistent a performer as X was at 160, he's dealing with an absolute tank here, and I think it would become clear fairly quickly who the eventual winner was going to be.

 

the fraudulent MW, should have been fighting near this weight his whole career - he didn't because he couldn't, the S-MW, at the very least, Bhop gets seriously put into place...

and that is, shown for what he really was/is his whole career, a fraud who exploited a nitch in the 'modern' game, and that is fighting down in weight, where at least many of his contemporaries had the balls to at least prove to themselves what they were made of. He didn't!

Qawi destroys the boy!

 

You don't know much, do you?

 

I think we have learned by now that no one murders Hopkins ... However, I think Bernard lacks the work rate needed to outpoint a prime Buzzsaw at 175 ..

 

I either underrate both of these guys or most overrate them. Both to me came a tad short of being in the very upper echelon when tested vs the very upper uchelon (Bhop vs Jones, Qawi vs Spinks). But if BHop can do anything, it's spoil and I think he could work his best combination, jab, righthand, headbutt, clinch effectively against Qawi. I don't see Qawi blowing through BHop. But I also don't see BHop gaining the respect that Spinks did against Qawi. Close fight. I'll say Qawi edges it on workrate.

 

:nut ******ed Much?

 

Qawi would have destroyed him. Hopkins would not have been able to headbutt such a low target. Also Hopkins wouldn't have Spinks' or Holyfield's height advantage that only due to it they lasted the distance against Qawi.

 

No 5'5 midget is beating BHOPs

 

I love B-Hop, but Qawi would get inside and batter him.

Qawi on points over 12.

 

Well, here's the thing. At 5'5" Qawi has a 71 inch reach, compared to the 6'1" 'Nard's 75 inch reach, and Dwight was well schooled by the sage team of Quenzell McCall and Wesley Mouzon in the art of turning his stature into an asset. He actually had to learn to fight inside, his natural inclination being to compete from outside. Ike was the closest thing we've had in modern times to Langford with respect to physical dimensions. (Sam was an inch taller with an inch more in height than Qawi.) Factoring in Dwight's outstanding slip and counter jab, BHOP's reach advantage would be negligible as I see it. Many believe that Qawi deserved the first match over Holyfield (Evander standing 6'2-1/2" with a 78 inch reach), and the 6'2-1/2" Michael Spinks had a 76 inch reach, and boxed perfectly. These are future HW champions here who defeated ATG's in the top division. X's best weight was 160. His resume at 175 only dates back to 2006, and it's a substantial leap of faith to assume he could beat Dwight at 175 peak for peak when he never competed above 160 during his prime.

I though this might come down to a discussion of whether the "midget" or the "middleweight" would be at greatest advantage or disadvantage.

Right now, the one thing I'd definitely put money on is that this one would go to the final bell. Hopkins has never been stopped, and at his age, it really doesn't matter now if he ever is for fantasy pairings like this.

 

In my opinion Qawi would outwork and decision Bernard in a clear fight. but Hopkins would be in it, I just think Qawi's strength and stamina would be too much for Hopkins.

 

Qawi, too strong for the feather fisted Hopkins.