If Bhops had trouble with a 1,000+ slap per fight Calzaghe, there's no way he beats Hagler. Hopkins would win the first 4-5 rounds, and then Hagler takes his best shots, outworking and draining Hopkins as Hagler grew stronger. Close, competitive fight, but with a clear winner. It would be worse for Hopkins if it went 15. Hagler MD 12 Hopkins
This, though i've previously said Hagler via SD I now prefer Hopkins.....his ring IQ would find a way.
exactly, One thing I know for sure is that there wont be ko. People think of hagler as the guy that knocked hearns out but he could also box very well of course, I do believe though that hopkins has a higher ring iq, makes it very close and edges him.
What makes you think Bhops wins the first 4-5 rds? His outrageous work rate? :rofl Bhop would lose a very clear 9-3 type decision here. He simply couldnt deal with the amount of pressure that hagler would bring on him, hagler was relentless. Bad styles match up here for Bhop.
Haglar spent his career in the era of the same day weigh-in, and usually weighed around 157. In the current era Haglar would fight at 154, possibly 147. The 168 division was inaugurated near the end of Haglar's career. In that era Hopkins, Taylor, and Pavlik would have all fought at LHW. Haglar never showed any interest in moving up to 175. This Haglar/Hopkins stuff has been done to death, but very few people ever stop to think about the fact that Hopkins and Haglar are two divisions apart. The size difference is enormous.
Thing is, prime Hopkins was a more reckless, physical fighter and at the time didn't have the ring IQ he's had in the last 10 years. Don't get me wrong, I like Hopkins, but he doesn't have the style to beat Hagler. Hagler could pick up the pace as the fight went along and when he wasn't brawling he had a great southpaw jab that is often overlooked. Hopkins might of been the bigger fighter, but so was Tommy and I don't think Hopkins would be the stronger of the 2 either. I think prime for prime RJ and Monzon could of decisioned Hagler.
Please stop this myth of Hagler. The myth of Hagler being this style of fighter is doing a disservice to him and what a complete fighter he was, not to mention totally inaccurate. He was a versatile boxer-puncher, who loved to use the ring and box behind his vicious jab, and then open up with combos. He could slug and brawl it out if need be and kill opponents on the inside.
Hagler would probably outbox Hopkins. I don't know where the perception of him being a brawler comes from, unless the only knowledge people have is the Hearns fight.
That's pretty much it. It's like watching Mayweather fight Judah & Mosley and coming to the conclusion that he was always a "walk you down behind a high guard" type of fighter. Or watching Cotto fight Margarito & Abdullaev and thinking he was always fought on the backfoot.