Personally I think it would be a lot closer than everyone else is suggesting. Duran still had plenty enough left to give Hopkins lot of problems. B Hop's height may even work against him - I think Duran would be forced to make it an inside fight, and I think Duran could outfiness him there. It's not like Hopkins had a Hearns like jab to keep him off. Still favor Hopkins but not by a lot.
Overrated or not, he has a very long undefeated reign at middleweight, while destroying smaller but (semi)great fighters like Trinidad and De la Hoya. Duran, on the other hand, basically only has a good win over Barkley and a respectable, but clear 10-5 loss to Hagler at middleweight. And Hopkins is still in the top3 light heavyweights today at age 43. Those are the facts.
That is why I said "almost." Barkley pressed Duran, giving Duran his best chance to win. Hopkins showed in his fight with De la Hoya his patience and ability to take away a fighter's best option. De la Hoya's only advantage over Hopkins was speed. Hopkins may have been to big for Oscar had he pressed, but that would also have given the faster De la Hoya his best chance for victory. Hopkins systematically broke De la Hoya down, and looked to be on his way to busing him up badly before that body shot ended the fight.
Underrated I reckon by your standards. Even Stonehands89, who takes Duran to beat the Leonard of New Orleans and possibly Hearns at 147lbs, doesn't give Duran a sniff against Hopkins at middleweight.
Think it would be a similar fight. Duran is not going to fall into Hopkins' hands. He'll make it tight and will have his moments. Hopkins will win but the way Duran fought Hagler is the eprfect way to fight Hopkins.
I was actually saddened Hopkins did not just beat the **** out of Oscar from the start. the golden boy was an inept middleweight that would be steamrolled by many at the weight.
underrated by my standards? umm well yeah, it's my opinion, right? Somewhat redundant statement there Robbi. I remind you that I stated I think Hopkins would win. I personally think Duran would give him fits along the way though.
Hopkins, one of the greatest of MWs beats Duran, perhaps the greatest LW ever. UD, in all probability.
Yes, it's your opinion. It's also my opinion that you underrate Hopkins, especially in a match-up against Duran.
I don't think Hopkins beat Duran in an easy win. Hands of Stone deserves more credit than that and I think he could make this fight farely competitive. Hopkins probably still wins but I think some are selling Duran a little short. Duran was a legend at middleweight.