Zale lost his best years to world war 2. I think he gives Bhop a tough fight since he's rough and mean enough that Bernard won't be able to bully him and Zale was strong enough to compete on the inside. In the end though Bernard's savy may have been what seperates the two.
I think this would be a great fight and Bernard would have to pull out all the tricks, and really have to open up and fight. I might favor him by a sliver, but that is no slight to him. That is, in fact, a great compliment.
I think Hopkins can hold his own on the inside but is the better one on the outside. He also seems to have a bette defence. Zale would make it tough but in the end Hopkins prevails by close but clear decision.
well if zale can compete well with conn and other greats from the best of times and especially for middleweights then zale gets it. and before you go running at the mouth for the much bigger man BHop, who NEVER competed UP until the end of his career, hell he didn't even go the S-MW route, then the much smaller Tony Zale, whose period of excellence when fighters not only fought often against the best, but weren't satisfied with that but also sought out bigger game - gets it! in fact the sport demanded such accountabilty of top fighters, fans and promoters alike!!!
Zale's awesome, but Hopkins is just better. He has more dimensions, more refined skills, and he always seems to rise to the occasion: Against an opponent as dangerous as the great Zale, he'd come in ready to perform like he did against Johnson, Trinidad, Tarver and the like. And that Hopkins has a bit too much behind the scenes and wins a close decision.
Zale's never impressed me on film. I understand he was a Middleweight immortal I just don't see it. Anyone want to make a case for his greatness in fighting ability?
What exactly are you looking for on film, a few cute shimmies and shakes so you can call him crafty? I look for effectiveness... i.e results. Zale KO'd Graziano twice, KO'd Hostak twice, beat Abrams and Apostoli, and hung tough with Conn. That's more impressive than the pelts Hopkins has bagged, tho B-Hop endures well (not improves just decrescendos on a slighter decline)... Now, I say, this is a pick-em. I honestly was never over-impressed with Hop in his prime.
