Marvin Hagler Vs Bernard Hopkins

Would it be close? Can't see it, myself.

Firstly - Never say never. Out of 62 Wins, Hagler finished 52 of them inside the distance and if Hopkins can be put on his backside by the barely fringe contender, Segundo Mercado, then it is not inconceivable that Hagler could do the same with better effect.


Secondly - A lot is said of Hopkins brilliance as a technician. I don't doubt that Hopkins has exceptional skills but he plays heavily to his strengths which is, in the main, the aspect of defence and counter-punching. It suits what I consider to be his 'lazy' style and lends itself to his spoiling tactics.

Hagler has, in my opinion, demonstrated a far wider variety of tools and used them more clinically than any of the work I have seen from Hopkins. So, on balance, I'd say Hagler is the more technically proficient.


Thirdly - Hagler is one of the toughest guys I have ever seen in a Boxing ring and this toughness was not only combined with skill but also an unforgiving determination and physical prowess. This manifested itself in a seemingly tireless work rate and, in the majority of cases, a stoppage win.

If you're going to suggest that Hopkins' prime was reached at the time of the Trinidad fight, I cannot see what makes you think he was more experienced than Hagler by this point. This would have been Hopkin's 42nd/3rd fight and his level of opposition up to that point was not top-drawer by any stretch of the imagination (save maybe RJJ & Holmes 1-1).

Hagler had lifted the World Title in his 54th bout and had fought the best of a far better era, along the way, to earn it. If he ever got it tactically wrong, he more than made up for it, e.g. by raising his game and beating Duran; by retrieving what many feel were enough rounds to have been awarded the decision against Leonard.


All-in-all, I can't see Hopkins delivering the sort of problems Hagler hadn't faced before. Your outlook for this match-up is based on your assumption that Hagler would make a tactical error in his approach against Hopkins, which in turn is based on only two high-profile bouts with Duran and Leonard. To say your evidence is slim would be an understatement.

There is far more evidence to suggest that Hagler would close Hopkins down, outwork and hurt him along the way, and never really be bothered by Hopkins alleged fire-power. Hopkins' only recourse would be an attempt to spoil but, again, I can't see this having a huge impact on Hagler's determination.

Hagler wins this comfortably.

 

I simply do not understand how Hopkins vs prime Hagler wins or be competitive versus arguably a more technical and athletically gifted boxer like SRL fighting an old Hagler.

WTF - Hopkins is top 10 P4P now and a top 3 MW? What fight was Hopkins in that is in the same level as Duran and SRL or Mugabi? Young RJJ is your best answer here. And he lost. Nothing in Hopkins resume says he ever faced 2 top 10 P4P fighters be competitive let alone win.

Hell his best 2 wins are Tito and Pavlik (young and old versions of BHop). Those two guys can't even wipe the **** off SRL or Durans ass hair. (no disrespect to Tito. I like the dude)


Is this Bizarro Earth?

 

I dont consider Hopkins to be very good at adapting mid fight

If its just a fair fight no headbutts, overacting, excessive clinching etc from Hopkins then I can see Hagler outworking him to win by UD.

 

go take a look at the **** pile hopkins fought 20 times against...robert allen 3 times, junior middles carl the squirel daniels, john david jackson, weltersweights simon brown, dlh, trinidad, guys like william bo james, steve frank, joe lipsey, andrew council, morrade hakkor, syd vander pool
yeah, the whos who of middleweights....
only good fighter he lost to Roy Jones

no steve collins,nunn, barkely, toney, eubank, benn, mccallum, mcclellan, julian jackson, terry norris

but like you said, he had over 20 defenses...lets not forget that :rofl

 

Hagler by UD.Simply the better fighter.

 

hopkins would have won quite easily i think.

 

No one at MW takes Hopkins easily. I would pick Hagler though by 116-112 in a hard fought fight. Hopkins' clever tactics would get him some rounds for sure. I also think there would be a lot of close rounds, with Hagler edging most of them out, Hopkins has a way to make rounds look close with his tactics, even when he is outmatched.

 

Hopkins was the only one I could beat hagler with against my boy at fight night 3 but how could you bet against hagler?

 

sd either way, its imposible to count either man out

 

For ****sake Bhop Got robbed by a close fight to Calzaghe! MMH would own his and JC ass on the same night . . . but seriously MMH in a very hard fought UD . . . it is only his Defense, cageyness and whiskers that save him from a KO. Bhop is slightly over rated and MMH is slightly underrated

 

Popkins would hug and hold like a ***** all night long and Hagler would win a decision

 

In the words of James Toney, Hagler would "launch his ugly, snaggletooth ass into outer space."

Hagler by unanimous decision. If B-Hop pulls some dirty ****, my man would make him pay through the nose.

 

I find it a tad surprising that so many people are confident of a decisive Hagler victory.

Certainly nothing wrong with picking him but I thought more would be siding with Hopkins.
At anyrate I dont see a knockout in this one...Hagler has the better offensive tools but Nard's D and chin see him go the rounds for sure. Hagler has an iron chin and I would bet on Hopkins employing his typically cagey approach for this one, thus not really pushing for a stoppage at any point. So I reckon this is going the rounds guaranteed unless there is some unforeseen event like a cut or something.

I think its just about a pick em, two very closely matched guys. To be honest Ive always leaned towards a Hopkins eek out, thats just how Ive always pictured it.

 

Hagler UD all the way.

 

you guys underrate my boy hopkins. he wins split decision. he lands the cleaner more effective punches and stays on the outside for most of the fight, working a great jab from a distance while circling left to right and right to left to neutralize hagler's jab. towards round 6 or 8 hagler catches him and almost knocks him out, but hopkins clings, and makes it through the round. after this, hopkins recovers and continues to stay to the outside and jab and straight right hagler to death for a close decision. not a very eventful fight, but a good one.