Bernard Hopkins vs Tommy Hearns @ 160

Hopkins stops Hearns in the championship rounds

Hearns out boxes him early but then Hopkins eventually is able to cut off the ring, imposes himself as the much stronger man gives Hearns a severe beating on the inside.

 

I wouldn't call Hopkins pillow- fisted, he had enough pop to drop Calzaghe who had a pretty good chin.
Decent match up I'm going to think about it.

 

Tommy has a punchers chance in almost any fight but Hopkins is up there with anyone i've ever seen at 160.

He'd fight a cautious fight very early and Tommy would have some success with the jab. I can see Hopkins rushing Tommy once he's settled in, there's no point fighting him outside for long. He'd get in close, he knows all the tricks in there and look to bully Tommy while reducing his punching room. Hopkins is a master at getting inside when he wants to and he'd own the fight in close.

Hopkins has plenty of power and the odds would be he'd stop him. He's a good finisher. Noway is he pillow fisted.

 

Middleweight wasn't Hearns best weight and Hearns wouldn't enjoy the big size and reach advantage he usually would against Hopkins.

Hopkins lost some of his power as he got older as he lost some speed and explosiveness but in his prime he had solid power and could grind you down like he did with Tito and the very durable Johnson.

Hopkins would look to pressure Hearns on the inside, Hopkins was stronger and more skilled and would dominate up close. I don't think Hearns could do enough to keep BHop off him for the full 12 rounds and eventually wilt under the pressure.

 

I seem to recall this one extensively debated on this forum at some point. In fact, aren't half the threads on the front page usually repeats?

 

Repeats of repeats and sometimes more

 

hearns by ko in 40 seconds, actually i don´t know why he never fought larry holmes, holmes avoided him because his week point were the right hands. tommy the hw champ without belt. but don´t worry tommy all we know that you would have knocked out holmes, after all you owned prime ali in the sparring sessions, tyson ran from like the pest, after all tyson said that tommy did hit like a 250 pounder

 

Yeah, this is my problem with predicting this fight with any certainty. I don't think Hopkins has the mentality to get after a guy like a pit bull from the opening bell, and he has to in order to have a chance to win.

A secondary issue is whether he has the chin to take Hearns' punches. Hopkins has a great chin, but I have not seen anyone with better chin than Hagler.

 

Hopkins wouldn't come out like Hagler and didn't have to to have a chance to win. He'd have a look for a round or two or might even wait more and then make his moves.

Getting in close bullying actually means taking less punishment, not more. He'd take away Hearns punching room. The only other way is to wait for Hearns to tire, but he'd take some leather waitng on the outside and be where Hearns wants him. He'd be best suited to an inside fight and make it that way. He was brilliant at getting inside when he wanted to be there.

 

I would rather have root c**** treatment with no anaesthetic than watch Hopkins fight, plus what is there to dislike about Tommy?

However, I'm afraid the most boring man in the world wins this one. Tommy can't hurt him, and he imposes his physical strength, and by extension his will on the fight and grinds Hearns down for a late stoppage win.

 

Hopkins cannot handle speed. Hearns by wide UD.

 

Hearns by UD. Hopkins didn't have the killer instinct nor brutality to put Hearns away.