Hagler vs Hopkins. 15 rounds.

That's interesting.

Certainly Hopkins was no slouch when it came to imposing himself on you with his sly, rough tactics. You will not find a more solid Middleweight than Hagler in a constitution sense, but very comparably, Hopkins was a rock and a strong Middleweight fighter.

 

I think Hopkins was strong mentally and was very game in a scrap, but he's not in Hagler's league when it comes to physical strength.

I'm not saying Hopkins wasn't strong physically, he was, no question, but Hagler was markedly stronger imo.

Try and think of Hopkins' opposition, and try and think how Hagler would impose himself on them. Then do the same vice versa with Hopkins and Hagler's opposition. To me at least, it becomes clear.

 

I'm not getting in between regarding this friendly conversation.

One thing I did notice was a comment that Hagler could impose his will, at times. Hagler, at his weight, could do that very well. There aren't many fighters who can shift back and forth in fighting style, and still have what they would have, power speaking, in each stance. Hagler was a very gifted boxer in this area!

Anyway, you guys carry on But Hagler, if nothing else, had an ability to impose his own will through fighting style/adaptability quite well.

 

The only niggle here is that Hagler did not dispose of his man via crushing them, he used his tin opener-like jab to set up that high output to gradually rid the can of its supplies.

Hopkins likened his style to a splice of Ray Robinson and Marvin Hagler; now, while that is very probably impossible to assimilate, it modestly summarises his mix of 'flash and brash', tough and adept.

Dick Tiger was a man who went to you, stood square on and played the "I'm stronger than you and will break you down' game. Hagler was not of the same ilk and always boxed you, first and foremost.

Hopkins is a big fan of playing possum and suckering you into shots that roll off his sporadic circling. While strong, he boxed his man, first and foremost.

Point being, Ted Spoon can't see how physical strength would play such a big role in a bout like this.

Hopkins is an awkward and deceptive trickster who would force Hagler into an uncomfortable waltz, as did Duran and Leonard, which ever way it would swing, the fight would have a number of momentum shifts.

That ability that the Marvellous one showed to grind down tough, yet limited men like Hamsho, would surely not be present when pitted against the slippy Hopkins.

 

Hagler often didn't try and impose himself physically on opponents, especially when he could win simply by outboxing them. Doesn't mean the ability wasn't there.

Would it be relevant in this fight? At some point it will imo. If Hagler finds himself getting outboxed, which he may in patches, he can always switch it up and try and force the issue. Hopkins has shown some vulnerabilities when getting pressured, and I think Hagler might try to push him around a bit when the bout calls for it.

 

What fights would you point me too in regards to Hagler showing this physical strength?

 

In this one i dont think hagler will necessarily be the stronger man physically. X man is bigger at the weight than hagler.
I think haglers physical strength is overrated because of his 'greek' like physique. Vito,minter and roldan were all stronger than hagler physically. And duran,leonard and hearns were not overpowered physically by hagler despite being smaller men in natural boxing terms.
And x man may keep it at long range and use lateral movement anyway,which negates the inside game somewhat.

 

Personally i think Hagler doesn't stand out at all strength wise - as you say his physique misleads. Hell, Leonard pushed him at one stage.

 

I really dont understand what makes people think Bernard is special. He's always looked very average to me with a couple cute defensive moves and pawing jab and that's all there is to him. Calzaghe should have an easy time with him. I won't be proven wrong.

 

Well gee, don't stick your kneck out or anything

Nards 100 years old and Caz, tho aging, is coming off his best wins ever.

 

Redrooster on comparing both fighters "Hagler is better in every department"

 

:rofl


Shall we start with self confidence under the biggest gun?

 

I was the one who went against the grain and picked him in his fight with Tito not because Z is so great but because Tito is a small boned man who looks like a boy standing next to a man. He was stiff footed fighter and Hopkins at least has some mobility but I dont see why he would want a fight with Cal. he has no weapons and never did from the beginning so it's easy to pick against him after watching several of his fights.

He is an average fighter who is durable and with good stamina but will never be able to beat high class like Hagler or Ray Jones. This is comparable to putting in the 70s white hope quarry in the ring with the second tier heavyweights but loses every time to the elite: Frazier and ALi.

Who has he ever beat, John Thomas? My man Jones beat him without much of a problem with a a title at stake disadvanteged and with a busted hand and weight drained so Bernard is about as capable as I estimated him to be. It is not enough to say that he has the style to beat Hagler and let it go at that.

This means that Bernard would be champion in a great era of middleweights and Hagler would be stuck as contender like Hamsho? No f*g way. Only the most gullible fools would believe you. I want to know who has he beat that was any good. We both know you will stay slient on this matter and like everyone else will only answer when you can.

 

:huh

 

As in the fight with your man Hearns? Hagler looked real scared in that fight. You have to be one of the biggest dumbshits around! No wonder I don't respect you.

Hagler as no issues with confidence thats something you dreamed up like Hopkins style would throw Hagler off his game. Mediocrities like Hopkins would never faze the great Hagler. Being as great a tactician as you say he is, I didnt see him come up with anything brilliant aginst Roy Jones.

So he's got a couple of defensive moves that make him look slick to you. I once said that no man could hope to box Roy and win so in effect Bernard was forced to take the fight to him and despite all the versatility you brag about he lost to a man fighting with a broken hand AND weight drained.

Bernard will always lose fights to the elite because he is exactly as I described him-just above average with no special talents. I agree he would make a great sparring partner for any of the greats and was blessed to come along when he did.