Lopez had great talent, with a great chin, power, amazing stamina, a good grasp of the fundamentals, and a strong intuitive understanding of the sweet science. He's a pleasure to watch but I'm not sure why his career never panned out. I've never thought as highly of Matt.
I suspect Jose Luis could achieve what Robert Hines achieved, but with a lot less drama, early Matthew was like a sweaty stick of dynamite, could blow you to pieces if you juggled with it, but if handled carefully, and dampened down over a number of rounds, he could be defused .
Lopez is another one of those myths.A good fighter who's actual talent has been greatly exaggerated in recent years.Heavy hands and a good chin,but a lazy **** who's punch output makes Kendall Holt look like Paul Williams. Hines was a better technician than Lopez,and had the workrate,conditioning,smarts and determination - all of which Lopez lacked - to take Hilton into deep waters and drown him down the stretch.
Have you ever seen Lopez's destruction of Campas? Its some impressive **** to watch. I could see Lopez doing something similar to Hilton.
Have you ever seen Hilton when he was at his peak-he was a wreaking machine.And people forget he dropped Hines twice and only Hines toughness and Hiltons injury and Hines would have got knocked out.
This (nice piece of writing, too). Hilton was dangerous for four or five rounds, then he got tired and was very ordinary. Threw exceptionally wide punches too.
Lopez was much craftier, efficient and thudded. The guy would have KO'd Quartey if he had another minute. Hilton couldn't say that about anyone as significant.
