Mike McCallum Vs Bernard Hopkins @ 160

Now, I'm sure this will divide opinions.

Mike McCallum was a great technical boxer-puncher, with ferocious body punching, a stout chin and ring I.Q. A destructive force at junior middleweight (with big wins over Ayub Kalule, Julian Jackson and Don Curry), McCallum really matured as a middleweight, learning from a loss to Sumbu Kalambay to become one of the most complete middleweights of all time, a solid all round technician and a potent offensive force. It was arguably Herol Graham (outside of Kalambay) who pushed him the hardest at this weight, though McCallum finished his 160lb tenure with quality performances against a red hot James Toney.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeEonouYfZg[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy5NiBY1tFM[/ame]

B-Hop was also a fighter that got better as he gained experience at the top level, being a respected technician and a consensus 'master' of modern-day Sweet Science. Like Mike McCallum, Hopkins has had success in different weights, but is mainly remembered for his impressive reign at the top of the middleweight rankings. Massive dominant win over Felix 'Tito' Trinidad to unify the titles.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgphmCrLwpY&feature=related[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veBLTzFDPEY[/ame]

This is definitely a fight that will be won down the stretch. Neither man was a particularly fast starter, though I have noticed 'The Body Snatcher' attempting to rectify this a few times, but here this is going to be a technical affair, with McCallum trying to be more consistent with his offence, with B-Hop trying to keep the fight at his pace and land sharp, accurate shots.

At their best, who takes this? 12 rounds.

 

I get their first two fights mixed up. Mike gasses terribly at the end of one of 'em...the 2nd?

But he definitely deserved at least one of 'em...the first I think. Toney only beat him late on, Mike definitely got the better of their series IMO.

 

Don't worry TFFP, Gaz is still smarting over the Curry win :yep ;-)

 

But come on lads, stylistically, how does it flow?

 

I was merely giving a few indications of different facets of both mens form at the weight :good

I would say B-Hops 'best' at 160 was Tito, but then again, Mike is a far more educated fighter than Tito, and will present Hopkins with different issues.

Kalambay would cause Hopkins more issues IMO, which is why I've chosen Mike, to make this more competitive.

And I think McCallum is being sold short here. Whilst lacking the super fast hands that cause Hopkins problems, Mike has the ability to sustain an educated assault, and B-Hop lacks the overall speed that Kalambay bought to his fights with Mike. I do not see Hopkins navigating Mike on his path as easily as he did Tito, and I do not see Hopkins picking off all of McCallums intelligent punch picking, and I think his barbaric body shots will give Hopkins grief as he ties to set up counters for them.

Hopkins could well manage to get success in the pocket with crafty spoiling, as Graham did at times. That is something that Hopkins can do to bring the fight to his pace.

I would favour Hopkins to do the better work overall. But I think McCallum had the all round game to cause him serious grief, moreso than some of you guys are saying.