Hopkins facing Hagler s opposition from minter through to leonard?. How does he do against Sibson, Duran, hearns, roldan, beast and sugar . Who does he struggle with or defeat easily? Does having a different skill set to Hagler help or hinder Hopkins in these fights?
Leonard would most likely pull off the win over him, Hearns is a tough one. He would survive the hit man's punches no doubt but could he out box hearns, or ko him like Hagler? Unlikely I would guess but I don't see it been a easy night for hearns or Hopkins. Probably the undecided fight for me amongst the others.
Hopkins vs leonard....I think RJJ was faster not just P4P but just straight up faster with his hands(which might anger a few people but its true) hit much harder and was bigger physically. RJJ himself often said that his size advantage was a major factor in his win over hopkins. But i think a hopkins leonard fight would be a different fight...Leonard was better technically and was very smart, a different kind of ring IQ than Jones. It would definitely go the distance and could be a very boring fight..I think leonard gets a close decision simply because of the fact that while hopkins was a good puncher at MW and used to be an aggressive fighter before he got old he wasnt as good a agressive fighter as hagler. Either leonard wins a decision in a less competitive more boring version of the hagler fight or hopkins figures out a way to get leonard to tire himself(and more importantly his legs) out in the first half to try to pick him off in the second half. But im leaning towards leonard
SRL would have a solid chance against the Hopkins who lost to Taylor, otherwise my money would comfortably be on B-hop against the rest. Well, Hearns would definitely stand a chance against the older MW renditions of Bernard. Is Hopkins around his prime, I think he eventually walks him down.
I'd pick Hopkins at his best over Leonard at 160. I don't think Leonard would be as successful at staying away from Hopkins as he was against the smaller, shorter Hagler (in the early going). I think he'd come out more aggressively, make it a much rougher, uglier fight, and score enough points on the inside to win.
Hopkins would handle them. Hearns would be the sternest test. He would stay on top of SRL and tire him out. I think a Minter would give him more trouble than the brawlers like Roldan. He'd sit on Duran a lot more than Hagler did as well.
Duran against hopkins would be great, B-Hop tries to low blow him away from the referee, duran thumbs him in response and insults his wife LOL
Duran , Leonard, Hearns give most difficulties. Duran in 83 fought a Hagler who earlier in that year destroyed Sibson in a performance largely regarded as Hagler's best. In a chess match with a lot of respect given by each fighter's Hopkins wins a close decision because of his higher work rate. Leonard wouldn't be able win a decision like he did with his late flurries vs Hagler Hopkins higher work rate wins him a unanimous decision. Hearns wouldn't try to blow out Hopkins early like other mw . In a fight similar to Hearn vs Hills Hearns outboxes Hopkins on points.
