Hypothetically Speaking: Hagler vs Hopkins

I think Hagler outworks him. You can only counter so many punches, Hagler would just outwork him, it'll be a close, but he'd win. Same way how I think GGG beats Hopkins at MW, just varied, aggression attacking from all angles can be too much for even the best counter punches.

 

Nice read.. Great fighter but will do whatever it takes to win, even if its underhand ! I wont miss that exaggerated screwed up face of a baby when things didn't go his way. Hagler had the skills and personality to truly respect ! Hagler in a very close fight

 

just watched Hopkins v Council. I agree with your post. GGG poses serious stylistic problems for him. Bernard would be running too at times !

 

Very good read. I'm looking forward to the next one that you're working on.

 

Hagler by UD.

 

Hagler..

 

If it's the 40 year old Hopkins that fought Taylor, and could no longer fight a full 12 rounds, he'd get outworked and lose a decision. If it's the younger Hopkins, I'd pick him to win a 12 round decision. Box move, brawl a little. It would be a rough and rugged fight though.

 

You ever pay attention to the weigh in and in ring weights for a younger Hopkins. He could have made 154 if he wanted to.

 

I'll take Hagler. Too versatile, too busy, too mean.

Hopkins has performed underhwelmingly on occasion against less than stellar opposition.

Hagler has performed underwhelmingly against ATG opposition.

Hops would make the distance, and he'd probably win some rounds with his awkwardness. But I think late in the game Hagler's savvy and workrate will tell and Bhop will be reduced to survival mode.

 

Hagler

 

Hopkins came in fairly light several times at 160 when he was younger. He'd weigh in well under 160, and if I recall, he may have entered the ring around 160 a time or two. As far as his prime. His physical prime never matched his in ring prime, due to his incarceration. If you could take the 30-33 year old Hopkins physically and match it with the mind of the older Hopkins, that would have been some scary stuff. Many people not familiar with Hopkins, only know him as a slower old light heavyweight. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in recent memory that would be able to get what he got out of that old body for a decade at ligh heavyweight, and win against top level opposition at that.