hopkins vs a prime giardello and lamotta....

Why is Tarver a inept comparison? Did Hopkins handle him in the clinches or not? Was Tarver bigger or not? I think that´s as good a comparison as any else.
Yep, LaMotta is a very strong mw. Hopkins himself is also strong. I don´t think there is much between them.

It´s all about styles. See what I wrote about Giardello. I could see Hopkins getting outboxed by him. Is that also overrating? I just think LaMotta is made for Hopkins stylewise and that Hopkins will make the ref step in - especially nowadays.

Who said anything about knocking out? I certainly did not. Hopkins would not be the hunter in this fight, he would box LaMotta and counter him. LaMotta is open enough to get it very often with counters, too often and the ref steps in to save him.