Bernard Hopkins vs James Toney at Middleweight

Hopkins UD

My sentiments on this matchup mirror the cobra's. He's got it covered IMO.

 

For all of the things he does amazing, his footwork and movement have always been mediocre. Against a fighter who can use that against him, he will always be at a disadvantage...and if we are discussing movement, footwork and use of angles, Bernard Hopkins is among the best EVER in the history of the sport. Toney's movement would be his own poison in this fight.

No version of James ever beats Bernard...not to mention that you never knew what version you were getting with Toney, even in his prime...when on the other hand, a PRIME Hopkins was just about as consistant and dominating fighter imaginable (from Johnson to Tito).

 

Toney at Middle.

 

At 160, I'd go with Hopkins by competitive decision. Toney is best when his opponent comes at him so he can counter. Hopkins is very smart, so he's going to not give Toney that sort of fight and rather use movement and box. Toney was quicker on his feet in his younger days so he'd hold his own in that area, but still I don't think it'd be enough to win.

Toney was rather inconsistent at 160, although he looked brilliant in the first McCallum fight (which I thought he won, and thought he lost the rematch).

 

toney had more talent. hopkins had more brains, discipline and adaptability. hopkins got WAY more done with less. toney would probably win the trash talk and the press coverage. that would be his last moment of glory before hopkins tunes him

 

i would pick toney over anyone on his day but for his own faults that was hardly ever

 

What he said.

The only advantage i see for Toney is speed, he was pretty fast at 160.

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Very good point...if this fight ever had happened, it would provide probably the best press conferences EVER!