Bernard Hopkins vs Sugar Ray Robinson

early 50s (50-51) Ray Robinson bombs non stop with combinistic fury and punches Bernard to pieces

Late 50s version is too old to keep up and loses to a same age Hopkins

 

No-one is knocking out Hopkins.
Ray way too fast and skilled and wins I decision. He doesn't look great doing it as Hopkins style makes everyone look bad. If the fight were in Robinson's era (of same day weight-ins) Robinson beats a weight drained Hopkins much more easily.

 

I winced when I read this thread title because Robinson is possibly the best fighter in history, whereas I think Hopkins is quite overrated. Just because he outclassed Kelly Pavlik doesn't mean he belongs in a ring with Sugar Ray!

 

Hopkins had a good skillset and he does bring some things to the table. Very crafty and big for a middleweight with an airtight defense. I don`t think Ray stops him at anytime and it may well be an ugly fight.

As I stated before pre retirement Robinson probably is too fast and active for Hopkins but post `55 Bernard could beat him. Lets not let Nostalgia blind us completely.

Its not who is the greater fighter. Just head to head at Middleweight.