the fab of the 80s compared to the fab 5 of today...

You're right, Robert Allen, Keith Holmes, Joe Lipsey, Morrade Hakkar, Carl Daniels, and Antwun Echols did so much more before losing to Hopkins.

 

Hagler knocked out Hearns in 3 and really defeated Duran comfortably if you score the fight right. And take into account who he was fighting. Duran and Hearns would do better against Hopkins than De La Hoya and Trinidad.

 

Eastman was a good win, fogot about him, but Segundo Mercado wasn't too impressive considering his level of opposition before he drew with Hopkins.

 

This is a pathetic claim. First off Duran and Hearns are much greater fighters than De La Hoya and Tito. Duran is one of the best fighters ever his skill level and ferocity was amazing old timers who don't give contemporary fighters there due gave duran his. Anyhow it is fact that Oscar was pure **** at middleweight his only other fight at middleweight was against Sturm a fight he arguably lost and looked like **** in. Anyway you slice it Oscar is a shitty middleweight. I really shouldn't have to even bring this up as Duran was light years ahead of Oscar but in 1989 6yrs after the Hagler fight he beat Iran Barkley for the WBC Title which was if you know your history the lineal title as Barkley had won it from hearns who won the vacant version off Roldan which was vacated by SRL whom won it from Hagler. In the fight with Barkley Duran proved he was a very good middleweight when motivated. Hagler fought a good fight agianst Duran maybe Duran should get his due for his greatness for lasting the distance.

Hearns is a much more versatile fighter than Tito and agian a greater fighter. I give Hopkins props for the Tito win because unlike Oscar Tito was a good middleweight who looked awesome in his destruction of Joppy. However Hearns was the better p4p fighter and more proven at the higher weights than Tito. Hearns proved he wasn't just a great welterweight or junior middle he went on to win titles at 160 and 175. Unlike Tito he had success after his loss to Hagler and had it at higher weights. Both Hagler and Hopkins had great performances against their respective opponents but Hearns as one of the truly greatest fighters of all time was great in defeat much like he was against SRL in 1981 but Tito was puzzled and exposed as a one trick pony who couldn't adapt in the ring.

Hagler beat some very good solid middleweights on his way up in his philly wars i suggest you should check those fights out. In all Hagler fought 4 guys who were on the greatest punchers list in Hearns, Eugene Hart, Bennie Briscoe, John Mugabi. Hart, Mugabi, Briscoe may not be atg but they were great punchers. I would argue Briscoe was a better middleweight than Glen Johnson was. Mustafa Hamsho, Antuofermo, Roldan were better middles than Mercado, John David Jackson, Simon Brown. Hagler has the deeper resume rather easily.

 

nice, i like every decision even the one with Spinks vs Jones. which i agree would be the toughest fight to pick a winner.

my point and everyone elses is simple the talent back then is head and shoulders above todays.
all those fights would be huge fights though.

 

There are some great fighters now, but I agree that the great fighters from the 1980s were better.

And yes, Spinks-Jones is a fight I have never given an answer to. Either could win...it's so tough to bet against them at 175.

Sorry - forgot about Pryor-Hatton. Pryor TKO

 

lets talk about Hopkins opponents.

Beat
Glen Johnson (32-0) at the time TKO 11
Robert Allen (23-2) at the time TKO 7
Antwun Echols (22-2-1) at the time UD 12
Syd Vanderpool (28-1) at the time UD 12
Felix Trinidad (40-0) at the time TKO 12
William Joppy (34-2-1) at the time UD 12
Oscar Dela Hoya (37-3) at the time KO 9
Antonio Tarver (24-3) at the time UD 12
Winky Wright (51-3-1) at the time UD 12

there his only wins worth mentioning.
Trinidad, Dela Hoya and Winky were great wins but Dela Hoya and Felix at Middleweight were never going to win.

Hagler
Beat
Bennie Briscoe (60-16-5) at the time UD 10
Ray Seales (46-5-2) at the time TKO 1
Bobby Watts (34-5-1) at the time TKO 2
Alan Minter (38-6) at the time TKO 3
Vito Antuofermo (46-5-2) at the time TKO 5
Mustafa Hamsho (32-1-2) at the time TKO 11
Roberto Duran (77-4) at the time UD 15
Juan Roldan (52-2-2) at the time TKO 10
Tommy Hearns (40-1) at the time TKO 3
John Mugabi (25-0) at the time KO 11

and then theres the split decision to Leonard which some believe it was a draw and some believe he won.

and all i will say if Hamsho,Roldan, Minter and Antuofermo would all win against fighters like Echols,Vanderpool,Allen and Joppy.

i mean take Roldan for instance in the Prime of his career he only lost to these 3 men Hagler , Hearns and Nunn.

I love both fighters but when you size the Hagler vs Hearns fight up aswell as the Duran fight those two names are bigger and greater fighters than Dela Hoya and Trinidad.
Hagler vs Hopkins would make a great fight but i would pick Hagler every day of the week. why he had something Hopkins never has had and thats Raw Power with Killer Instinct.

In Haglers Prime he only ever lost once and that was to a Hall of Famer in Ray Leonard.

Hopkins lost twice to Taylor who in my books is overated and although i feel he got shafted in the first fight he clearly lost the second.