No problems with your opinion, but not sure Hopkins had the tools to clearly beat McCallum by scores of 118-110/117-111. The only claim for Hopkins clearly beating McCallum in anyway shape or form, knockout. And that aint happening, make no mistake about it. McCallum arguably had a better chin than anyone Hopkins has fought to date. I pick Hopkins to pull out a decision 115-113.
McCallum is the more skilled imo but Hopkins is naturally bigger and stronger so Id go with him by Dec.
McCallum was clearly not at his prime when fighting Watson, Graham, and Toney at 160lbs. But he was a damn finely tuned and accomplished middleweight who performed extremely well in the divison, with many observers having him outpointing Toney.
Hopkins was a touch bigger, a touch stronger, more comfortable at 160. Plus I think he is a little more technically correct. Plus he is naturally more tricky and I think this may lure McCallum into Bernards fight rather than vica versa. I'd say Hopkins UD!
This is not to disrespect B-Hop in any way, but I am intractably predjuiced in favor of boxers with a 15 round pedigree, which B-Hop lacks, through no fault of his own. Nonetheless, Mike does have a championship rounds background (15 complete against Mannion, 13 against Minchillo), and available tale of the tape measurements indicate that Mike has a reach advantage on Hopkins as well. Taking into account the fine performer B-Hop is, I see the outcome as being: McCallum SD 15 Hopkins
X could do 15 no problem. X is one of the modern fighters who I have no doubt could do 15. He wouldn't suddenly just get tired in the 13th round.
Hence, my SD posit. (If the 15 round limit had never been abolished, B-Hop's current record would stand at 51-2.) Even Duran respects X.
Gotta go with Hops but love both guys. I would expect a slow fight with a close Bernard decision over 12....I try not to guess how it would go over 15....to many unknowns as to how he would adjust to that distance
I think that on the right day McCallum could beat Hopkins. Hops looked beatable against worse fighters than MM.
B-Hop 8-4 sounds about right. As excellent as McCallum was, prime Hopkins was just the better of the two, imo.