Tommy Hearns vs Bernard Hopkins at 160. Who takes it?

Bernard knocks him out. Tommy Hearns lost nearly all of his big fights. Nuff said.

 

And Bernard is naturally bigger and stronger, and has better defense and has a better chin.

 

I doubt Hopkins would knock him out. Hopkins couldn't even knock out guys like Howard Eastman, Robert Allen, or Keith Holmes. He also needed to unload everything and the kitchen sink on Trinidad, who himself had a shaky chin, to knock him out.

Hearns was faster and hit harder than Hopkins. Bernard is steadier, with better defense and fundamentals. I'd give a slight edge to Hearns. I just think he's about two levels better, at middleweight, than anyone Hopkins has ever fought and beat.

 

Hopkins stops him late. Hearns wouldn't have a size advantage on Bernard, and would have a hard time in the late rounds.

 

I think Hearns would outbox Hopkins... just about. Tommy is faster has a bit of a reach advantage a good enough and more importantly fast enough Jab to keep Bernard on the end of it.

Hopkins didn't ever hit that hard. He had power to be respected but I do not see him outboxing and hitting Hearns enough to beat him.

Tommy Hearns UD

 

Very fight tough for Hopkins. Hearns jab and speed would definately give him problems, he would be outboxed by Hearns even though he is by far the better defensive fighter. But Hopkins in his prime set a high workrate, was aggressive and had a very physical style much like Iran Barkley. I'd favour Hopkins to win by late stoppage but Hopkins wouldn't find it easy.

 

I'd disagree about Hopkins not being able to stop Hearns. You mention his fights against Holmes, Allen and Eastman as examples but Hopkins was 35 or over for all these fights, not exactly prime Hopkins. Hopkins did TKO allen though when he was 34 in 99 but not when he was 39 in 2004.

Prime Hopkins stopped Glen Johnson so stopping Hearns isn't outside the realms of possibilty. I think over 12 rounds Hearns might be able to hold on for a points win but over 15 rounds Hopkins stops him.

 

Hearns by TKO

 

One thing I can say about Hopkins is that he has a great chin.

How would you see Tommy stopping him?

 

Hopkins in a beat down that i don't even have to justify.

 

Indeed you do need to justify it. There would be no "beat down" if Hopkins won it would be by TKO and he would be behind on the cards.