Hopkins vs. Duran

Yep, sure am. Rather high on mister Duran as well as a matter of fact.

Duran was a natural lightweight who performed reasonably well at middleweight. He was the only fighter to take Hagler the distance in all his successful title defenses over a seven year period. Duran finally won the WBC middleweight crown against Barkley over 12 rounds at the ripe old age of 37.

"Duran is a lightweight. End of story". Not too sure he would be a lightweight fighting against Hopkins. He wouldn't be 135lbs, thats for sure.

 

My thoughts as well. Good post.

 

There you go, hating on Yank Hopkins again!!!

:smoke

 

Maybe i'm really telling the truth? :hey

 

You cold cold man you.

 

Hopkins, by close UD.

 

Surely the best middleweight since Hagler is RJJ who beat BHOPs when both weren't far from their primes. Toney/McCellan/Nunn/Benn/Eubank would dispute BHOPs being the best

Hopkins resume looks good now but hes picked on a weak middlweight division and smaller men outside of Tarver. He turned down a rematch with RJJ for 40% and a massive payday against Calazage

Hopkins will look good in years to come based on his longevity, not as good as RJJ in reality though

 

Roy Jones jr is arguably a better middleweight H2H, probably more talented, but not a more accomplished fighter at the weight.

Jones won the IBF middleweight title against Hopkins, and defended it once against Thomas Tate. After that, he was up at 168lbs challenging Toney.

Jones briefly made a noise at 160lbs, Hopkins however was around for much longer and proved more without question. 20 defenses over a 9 year reign against decent oppostion. Johnson, Jackson, Echols, Allen, Joppy, Trinidad, etc.

Not close.

 

At 135 (where Duran belongs) BHOP is a skeleton - LOL

 

I concur.

Hopkins was too comfortable at the weight and his intelligence came close to matching Duran's at many levels. Add to that the reach and the patience and you have Duran having a hard time all night -even reaching Hopkins. A KO? Not against an in-shape Duran... but a lopsided decision would be almost a foregone conclusion.

 

Yeah, Hopkins' immense discipline was the biggest factor why he was comfortable at the weight. When fighting at middleweight, he enlarged himself to walking around no more than 166lbs. And I've heard through a source his waistline was 26". No Pizza, cigarettes, beer, and certainly no drugs.

Duran was superb at getting inside, but he has limitations when up against someone as tall with a healthy wingspan thrown in for good measure. Maybe against a mediocre middleweight with those advantages Duran would have success. But Hopkins and mediocrity don't belong in the same sentence.

As big as Hopkins was at middleweight, he made the weight easy. Back in 1999 he was willing to meet De La Hoya halfway, which of course meant a possible showdown at 154lbs. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever Hopkins would not have had a problem making 154lbs all those years ago.

 

bump

 

Hopkins specialised in former lightweights, but Duran deserves a mention

 

I think Hopkins of Mercado II might well stop Duran. Hopkins is very much a bigger Duran. A bit less skilled and a bit less punch p4p, but not by very much.