Gene Fullmer v Bernard Hopkins

At there best I'll take Hop by decision. He's a little to crafty for fullmer and would never stand right in front of him. Gene would keep the pressure up and Bernard would slip punches and counter his way to a win.

 

Hopkin's enjoys a almost half foot height advantage over the short, 5'8 Fullmer.

Something tells me he'd by and large neutralize Fullmer.

 

I respect both fighters and it ruffles me a little when fighters like Fullmer, Olson, Turpin, and Maxim aren't given their proper due...
Ahem...after having said that, I feel Hopkins has the assets to offset what Fullmer brings...This would be interesting because Hopkins intimidates (for lack of a better description) with his roughhouse tactics at times...but against Fullmer? I don't think so...Fullmer, in the ring, has a nasty disposition, and seems a little crazy to me. IMO he would meet Hopkins foul for foul and then some...rabbit punches,head butts, wrestling, lacing, you name it.
Hopkins has the ability to stay out of the trenches, if he chooses..and I think he would.
Hopkins has very solid skills offensively and defensively...and is very physically strong. A tactical fighter.
I'd pick Hopkins by decision (UD)

 

Hopkins uses every trick he's ever learned to win a UD against Fullmer. This would be a foulfest because both guys like the rough stuff. Hopkins was more subtle about it though.

 

And then get nearly decapitated in a rematch...

 

You know who was a former Welter and is not H2H in the best of MW.

Hopkins early TKO. Fullmer may be able to last a few rounds due his durability, but a prime Hopkins shredded people with a good workrate and his defence is too tight for the sloppy Fullmer.

 

Hopkins pre-2000 was not boring at all, this is a misconception. He's been boring recently to make up for his age and became overrated due to schooling an overrated former MW.

Take the Hopkins against Johnson, that's a H2H monster at MW IMO.

 

Hopkins would out-point Fullmer to a clear UD.

 

In 63 fights, Fullmer was stopped once by a perfect shot. His jaw is considered one of the best ever at middle. What makes you think that the average punching Hopkins is gonna dent that jaw where other greats couldn't?

 

In his prime Hopkin's could be a 15 round fighter, easily.

 

He is a 15 round fighter, technically. Regardless of that, it's not going past 4 rounds, Hopkins will be teeing off on him from the start and will get nothing in return.

It's going to go like Gatti-Mayweather to be exact. People say, "oh slow, no workrate, boring Hopkins". Yes, NOW. Back then, he threw a ton of punches and brutalised people.

Please watch the Johnson fight if nobody is convinced.

 

:rofl

It is not often that a post in the classic section actually has me loughing out loud, but this little gem of yours did just that.

Now, on a more serious note there is no way that either man gets stopped within 4 rounds, let alone 12 or 15 for that matter. Both men have proven track records as far as chins and durability is concerned, and both men were also very versatile and adaptable in the ring.

For you to even suggest that this would be a one-sided beatdown in Hopkins` favour is laughable... and if he did decide to come right to Gene and get up close and personal with him as you suggest that would actually favour Fullmer moreso than Hopkins.His best bet would actually be to box from the outside and try to keep the fight at a distance, not by fighting it out in the trenches where Gene won`t have to go looking for him and can use his mauling, brawling tactics to full effect.

And since when did Hopkins develop this Julian Jackson type of one punch KO power in either fist that he is going to flatten one of the toughest men to ever lace up the gloves? It took Hopkins 11 rounds to stop Glen Johnson (on his feet I might add) , and this after he hit him with everything but the kitchen sink... yet he is going to stop Fullmer in less then half the time it took him to get a far lesser fighter in Johnson out of there?

Hopkins has never faced a fighter in the mould of Gene Fullmer, and once he did he would quickly realise this is no former welterweight or average contender he is dealing with. Hopkins can and will box him, but even he won`t be able to read all those awkward, clubbing blows coming his direction as Gene bulls his way in on him.

I think this fight will go pretty much the same way that Fulmer`s fight with Joey G went, with lots of fouling, elbowing and all other kinds of niceties being exchanged between these two in close quarters. I do believe these two are very evenly matched and no matter how often they fought the scorecards would always be close, possibly even controversial.

Myself I favour Fullmer`s awkwardness, cleverness and physical strenght to offset Hopkins the first time around, with Hopkins making the necessary adjustments to win the return and with the third bout being up for grabs. One thing I know for sure is that there is no way, shape or form that this fight resembles Gatti/Mayweather in favour of either fighter... both men had very good defense and ring smarts and they would be fighting on even terms every time.