How would Hopkins have done as a heavyweight?

This is a fantastic post. Thanks Chuck!!

 

No.

He couldn't.

He would have gotten murdered, worse than Rahman.

 

Doubt he's beat any of them.

His style wouldn't translate well against the much bigger men.

 

That's too broad a generalisation. His style worked just well when past his best and a stone above his fighting weight.

You have to consider each fight case by case.

 

With Briggs, he'd be looking at close to five stone and Valuev (whom I give him approximately zero chance against) he'd be giving up 8 or 9 stone.

In the last decade, his style was often to punch and grab, take things to the inside.

He needs to be on approximate par with his opponents, strength wise.

This would not be the case with the big lads you mentioned.

 

But when he fought those who were stronger than he he didn't rely on roughing up inside.

There were many times when his strategy relied on superior footwork and accuracy to pop off his punches from mid range.

Against every HW mentioned he would be the faster man and the better athlete.

He wouldn't beat them all because some would manage to get through send him on the defensive and shut him down, however some would not be able to get off their punches.

Briggs and Peter are both very offensively minded and have the best chance of imposing their will.

Valuev and Ruiz I expect to be beaten easily by Hopkins.

Haye I would favour to beat Hopkins because despite how unproven he is, he is an athlete and has serious ability.