This Match Needs No Introduction-Bernard Hopkins Versus Marvin Hagler

Hagler. Because Hopkins wouldn't get away with his usual clinching, rough house tactics for a couple reasons. 1.) He'd get booed out of the joint if the fight took place in the 80's. 2.) Hagler wouldn't get sucked into B-Hop's fight. And if he does, he's going to WAR.

Simple as that. Well not that simple but I'm making it that simple.

 

Oh for sure. Just to make it clear i wasn't taking actual weight advantage into account, just a sizeable height advantage and equal reach etc.

 

I always felt like elite smart defensive fighters could beat Hagler like Toney, Hopkins, and someone with blazing speed like RJJ.

 

Yes, and a height advantage with equal reach, can mean a reach advantage in practice. I.e. in a fight between a 6ft and 5ft 8ins tall boxers, the 6ft boxer jabs with his arm at a right angle to his body, maximising his reach, whereas the shorter guy jabs upwards, losing part of his maximum reach.

Like Monzon vs Hagler, when I picture Hokpins vs Hagler in my minds eye, I see 2 fighters capable of going to war up close with great levels of skill. When the pace inevitably slows, the taller Hopkins/Monzon will have the advantage at long range. Hagler would have to work ever so hard, and ship punishment, for every round he won, whereas Carlos/Bernard could pick up the odd cheap round mostly at range.

That said, like you, the only outcome I'd be confident in, is a distance fight.

 

Out toughs Marvin Hagler?

 

Hagler, for god's sake! Hopkins is great because of his Archie Moore like longevity but at MW he never fought anyone like Hagler. Marvin is faster, hits harder and works every minute of every round. As others have pointed out B-Hop has a weigth advantage if fought under current weigh in rules and I don't feel Marv benefits from this as I feel he was built for the rules of his time physically. But fought in the 80s and Marvin crushes it.

 

Nicely said Greg and i agree, as usual. A very close fight with, for us, Hopkins potentially having a little advantage or two here and there.