KOing Bernard Hopkins, is it possible?

At his best i actually think Hearns would have the best chance of anyone, tho i can't see him being stopped full stop. Hearns with his freakish speed and snap could land that right hand on anyone - period. There would definitely be a time in the fight Hopkins would be questioned.

 

Ray Robinson is the most obvious choice at middleweight.

And there would probably be others.

 

Bar SRR i wouldn't FAVOUR anybody to stop a prime Hopkins however some people have got chances: Julian Jackson, Gerald Mclellan, Hearns, Foster....ANYBODY can be KO'd cold if the right shot lands...

 

it's possible...but not likely at either light heavyweight or south of it.

 

I could see a fair few fighters getting stoppages on Hopkins at 175 simply by keeping it at a pace he can't match, albeit more likely him retiring on his stool or some sort of ref intervention rather than being outright knocked cold.

 

MW SRR is not stopping a prime Hopkins.

I know you all love him, but it wouldn't happen. Hopkins has a large size advantage, the skills and smarts to hold his own and a cautious style which would limit Ray's offensive opportunitys. Personally I have Hopkins above SRR in a MW H2H scenario, and again I'm aware that goes against the concensus. I think Monzon would be top, followed by 2. Hagler and 2A. Hopkins. SRR is number three on my list.

 

Even a pefect punch from a feather fisted fighter could ko the hardest of chins.

Its possible for Hopkins to get knockout. Now the odds are against it. But there is always a shot.

 

SJS,where do you have the young middleweight Roy Jones Jr and Charley Burley?

 

When hurt he would revert to safety-first ala' Camacho vs Trinidad. If BH wants to survive he can and would.

 

I'm not really familiar with Burley, Sir. Long time before me and I've never really bothered to learn. If anyone would like to school me then I'm happy to sit and learn.

A young MW Roy Jones does not qualify for discussion IMO. Raw unrivaled physical talent yes, and an ATG fighter eventually. I don't think we saw the finished article at 160lbs. He neglected body punching and never really fought anyone in the class of the all time elite in the division. He fought a Hopkins who was still in a developmental stage, and would not of had it all his own way had they fought in 2000/2001.

I'd say he can never be discounted but there's a lack of any real evidence outside of percived brilliance. Always a very live underdog, but not favourite against messers Hagler, Hopkins, Monzon or Robinson IMO. Above 160lbs then it's a very different story.

Again, sorry; really not clued up on Burley, so won't give an answer full of bull.

 

This is close to the middleweight ranking that I have:
1. Monzon
2. Hagler
3. Robinson
However, i don't have Hopkins at 4., that spot goes to Greb. don't knoiw where I'd rank Hopkins.

 

Again, Greb would be a long time before me. As the name suggests; I'm 19 I've done my best to learn about the history of the sport, but I haven't gone back as far as Greb really. (Though obviously I've taken the time for Robinson, Marciano, etc.)

 

I think that the 1 thru 4 names wouyld each beat Hopkins..that would include the erratic (at middleweight) Robinson, but none of them, I think, would stop him. you'd have to go to lightheavy to find that beast, namely Foster and possibly Moore and Galindez. maybe Galindez's counterpunching style would have kept that from happening, but Foster at his best ('68 thru '71) would have turned the trick and the ol' Mongoose could have pulled a rabbit from his hat as well.

 

Yes it's possible but not likely. Now I wouldn't have the current version against the best versions of Ezzard, Moore, or Foster but the prime MW version almost never if ever gets ko'd imo. His durability now will go as long as time will let it but prime for prime he was very tough and is still crafty. Anyway to make you look bad he'll do it.

 

At this age, you could STOP him.

I don't think you could KO him outright, but if Calzaghe had a punch, just a little bit of dig, I think he'd have pulled the trick.

He had Hopkins ragged and exhausted, spoiling his ass off. If those shots he was throwing and landing had real authority, there you go, Hopkins probably has to be pulled out.

Prime, say, the Trinidad fight, and no, nobody is kayoing Hopkins.

He has the Holy Trinity of Survival in boxing. Cast iron jaw, elite defensive skills, and the veteran spoiling tactics of a master. Roll it all together, and you have a package that is not going to go anywhere.