Roy Jones vs. Bernard Hopkins (2000)

Roy by a clear UD, id say 117-112.

 

Jones UD. He'd make it look fairly easy too.

 

Jones.

Stylistically, Hopkins isn't the fighter to beat Jones. His best attributes (footwork, all-around ring generalship, in-fighting, etc) are pretty much nullified by Jones. Due to Roy's superior speed of hand and foot and his own generalship, he's going to make the fight on his terms - an outside fight and forcing Hopkins to lead.

A clear decision for Jones, not as wide a score as their actual fight, but still a pretty comfortable lead.

 

Jones for the reasons stated by The Cobra. Jones matches up very well against Hopkins and it would resemble the first fight.

 

Jones too athletic and fast.

 

I actually couldnt disagree more.

Ive always contended that the man with the best shot to beat a prime Roy was a PRIME Hopkins.

You mentioned his ability to make his opponent fight his fight...this is key when assessing the two of them. During their first fight (well before both of their respective primes), tho Roy clearly won, they fought Hopkins fight (hardly at a distance, Roy fighting backing up, Hop pushing the pressure)...remember, a few people ringside, most notably...and laughably, Michael Spinks, were arguing giving Hopkins the fight because he was the aggressor and really dictated the fight. Now no reasonable person would agree that Hopkins won (it was one of the easiest fights Ive ever scored, Roy won 8 clear rounds...Bernard won 4 clear rounds).

Saying this, its really a credit to Roy's amazing athleticism and skill. BUT, it also shows that Bernard could make Jones fight his style of fight...a style that just doesnt suit him well.

On the outside, where he is able to use his athleticism, able to use his speed...he is dangerous...one of the best ever, but on the inside, the same could be said about Hopkins, where the angles he uses to attack, how tough and dirty he makes it in there (something Roy was NEVER comfortable doing), how hard he is to hit, even at that close of range...the fight now favors Bernard.

And lets not forget, this is the same strategy that Glenn Johnson used to beat Roy (albeit a much faded version of Roy). And after the win, in ant interview, Johnson credited Bernard with not only being "BY FAR" (his words not mine) the best fighter he has ever faced, but also with "telling him exactly how to beat Roy Jones".

And thats the other thing we have to look at. His ring intellect is unparalleled in the sport. If he sees something that he can exploit, he WILL exploit it. Johnson said he told him how to do it (stay in Roy's chest...rough him up...keep throwing...and Johnson isnt half the inside fighter of a PRIME Hopkins)...I have no doubt he knew all along.

Now I dont feel it would be easy in any right. I do rank Hopkins #1 all time among MWs (both ATG list and h2h lists) in a h2h manner, but I have always felt his toughest fight would be a PRIME Roy Jones.

 

Roy would be way more experienced too, so I'd say that Jones takes this one as well. This fight would have been the ideal cure for insomnia. Two cautious fighters who would try to win without staining their hands and faces more than absolutely necessary.

 

Jones in his pomp would have hit and run all night long, his athleticism got him to the highest heights - I'm a Calzaghe fan and even he wouldn't have defeated Jones before the Ruiz fight. His physical attributes were immense.

 

Hopkins, while he drastically improved after this fight, improved in areas such as footwork, defense, and little details to his overall craft that add up to a lot, but Hopkins isn't going to have much more success as the aggressor, trying to make it an inside-fight as he did in their first IMO. Roy knew how to cover up on the inside and immediately get back at his distance. His ability to turn and move at angles, his mobility, is always going to make it difficult for Hopkins to track him down and keep him on the inside.

I don't believe Hopkins improved enough as an aggressor from the first fight to give him the edge in a prime for prime match-up. Jones won handily, and while not to the extent that Hopkins did, he improved himself, becoming more experienced and building up his own craft. That fight - Hopkins pressuring and looking to make it an inside fight, is still going to favor Jones IMO. Sure Hopkins will make it difficult and will have success at getting Jones on the inside from time to time and obviously getting the better of the action when the fight is there. However, Hopkins isn't going to be able to keep Roy inside, the only range where he is the better. Roy will move and land his shots, Hopkins will trap Roy breifly on the inside where he'll get some good work done, and then Roy will get himself out as he knew how to do and go back to looking for the potshots and counters on Hopkins.

Hopkins needs to get inside, he can't win anywhere else. Frankly, I can't see him being able to keep the fight inside for the majority of the bout, Roy was an excellent ring general in his own right.

Roy's legs have been pretty much gone for the past several years. Not only that, but his reflexes and handspeed (probably confidence as well) have all clearly declined. Put the recent version of Jones in the ring with prime Hopkins, and he gets destroyed. He's lost his mobility, which was essential to his style and success.

Hopkins will make it tough, he'll make it rough for Jones. He'll have his moments of success, but they'll be few and far between in comparison to what Jones would be doing. I just can't see Hopkins (or anyone else really) making Roy fight on the inside for the majority of the fight. Even when Hopkins would be able to get him there, it's not like Jones was clueless as to handling himself on the inside. He won't just get beaten up while there, and he will get away. He was too explosive for anyone to just keep him on the inside where he knows he doesn't want to be against someone like Hopkins.

The thing is, a fight between the two in 2000 isn't going to be at Middleweight. However small the effect it will have on the fight, higher weights will favor Jones as I see it.

Good competitive fight, Jones clearly getting the better is my take on it.

 

Johnson can throw punches non stop, Hopkins is not that kind of fighter, he relies on accuracy not on volume.

 

The one thing I think you are underrating from Hopkins standpoint is, his own use of angles. You mention that Roy was great at using these to make it hard for fighters get inside on him...which I totally agree with. But Hopkins use of angles from not only a defensive and offensive standpoint, but also from a ring generalship standpoint...ie, cutting off certain parts of the ring, or making it impossible for a fighter to set and throw, or keeping a fighter off balance and therefore dicatating the pace of said fight, etc...has always been and still is simply amazing.

Tho Roy's footwork and movement were always good and very fast...its not on the same level as Bernard's. Bernard's movement doesnt just make you fight at his pace, real estate, etc...but also takes away your offense (remember his movement in towards the left hand of Trinidad...or away and right vs Pavlik...)...

I also feel you are overlooking how good of an outside fighter Hopkins is. I do agree that Roy holds a good advantage over him from a distance...but with Bernard's timing and accuracy (two things that rank among the very best EVER in the sport...) and his aforementioned use of said angles, he could steal rounds from the outside. Where as, the ones that take place on the inside (which we both agree WOULD happen...tho I feel more often than you do), I cant fathom Roy being able to do the same...as Roy, even in his prime was NEVER comfortable fighting in a phone booth...something Bernard was amazing at.

I agree totally that Roy over the past few years hasnt been the same fighter. I eluded as much when I mentioned the Johnson fight. I didnt mean to insinuate that I felt that THAT version of Roy would show up...nor did I feel a fight between the two would look that way.

What I was referring to was Bernard's mental preparation toward opponents. He looks for weaknesses and openings. He takes away strengths. He is masterful at this (and as I said, Johnson said it was Hopkins gameplan vs Roy that he used). Roy was always able to go in and just overwhelm fighters with his unparalleled athleticism...never really employing a "gameplan" so to say. And when two fighters who are obviously on another plane from a greatness standpoint, who do you feel would be more prepared for the other one???

 

We are talking about Hopkins from 2000...Hopkins was a BUZZSAW at that point. He WAS the epitome of a high volume puncher.

You dont get the nickname "The Executioner" by outpointing people.

You should go watch some older Hopkins fights if you really feel that way. Watch either Echols fight, or his fight vs Johnson, or Jackson, etc. Trust me when I say, your comment couldnt be any more wrong.

 

Hopkins main problem in this fight is he is the one that has to fight out of character due to Jones' athletic gifts. That's not to say he isn't adaptable enough to do so, but it puts Jones in a much better place when he can fight his own fight and Hopkins has to do something different.

 

Oh...forgot one thing Cobra.

I know the fight wouldnt be at 160. When Roy and Bernard were discussing a possible rematch, Hopkins was attempting to get it at a catchweight. So if we are speaking of a hypothetic matchup, I think 164-168 would be about right.

My comment about Hopkins place h2h all time at MW, wasnt really about the actual weight class they would fight in...but rather how close I feel the two men are from a h2h standpoint.