Which win was better ? BHop's or Big George's ?

The opponent? George. Pascal is getting trashed for getting schooled. Worst champ in boxing? ****ing hardly. But Moorer was a damn stud, and was better.

The performance is undeniably Hopkins. He beat his foe clearly, schooled him with decades of knowledge and refinement. George got his **** pushed in and landed one punch when MM zigged and should have zagged.

Dunno how you split em when the difference in opposition and the difference in method are accounted for. I'll give George a small edge for showing a ton of heart. Really 50/50, though.

 

I see your comparison between Dawson and Moorer. I think Dawson has faster feet and hands, and MM has more power and the superior fundamentals, but there are some stylistic similarities there that are sure to increase if Manny can actually mold Chad a bit more. Based on the small tidbits I've heard out of Kronk on that partnership, the stuff Manny wants Chad to do would make him a near Moorer clone.

Styles wise, I make Dawson the favorite against Hopkins, but I cant get the Pascal performance(when he played a punching bag for no reason) out of my mind. His fight against Diaconu sure didn't erase it, he dropped 3-4 rounds to a guy that he outclassed by a large margin. These inconsistencies against one of the sports most consistent, dirty, and hard nosed technicians makes me hesitate to pick him to beat Hopkins.

Whoever wins that fight, though, its a big, big W for them.

 

Yeah, i'd hardly call Pascal the worst active champ when dudes like Zbik, Stieglitz, Sartison, Geale, Zaveck, and other middling operators are walking around with ABC rec. Maybe the worst RING or unified champion, but how many are out there? Remember, he won the title on a big upset to begin with.

That being said I think Moorer was obviously better than Pascal is or ever will be. But Pascal isn't terrible. People saying he is are dudes that aren't watching current boxing. If Pascal is your idea of terrible.... I'd hate to see what you think of even minor names in the sport. He's just a physically talented guy focusing on all the wrong things.

 

But how would the same Moorer do against Pascal

 

This happens sometimes magna..and I know you realize this..this performance is somewhat trivial in the big picture..many of the greats throughout history dropped decisions, got stopped and lost to also rans inexplicably..like SRR losing an unavenged decision to Tiger Jones..(one that just came to mind)..among many examples...and I don't penalize Dawson that much for it..in a rematch, I'm sure he'd exact revenge..and I believe he's going to get back on track and beat Hops if and when they ever meet. Dawson is just not going to ever be Mr. Excitement, but he'll be back with a vengeance just the same IMO and reclaim the leading role in the 175 division..

 

He's also got better technique then he showed in the Hopkins fight. He was REALLY uncomfortable against BHop, who was just alot better then him. He actually showed some good moves and poise against Diaconu, his mandatory, and Bad Chad. He certainly looked like a better technician in with them then he did with BHop, and its not hard to figure out why.

I also think Hopkins ate his heart, and Pascal fought very wild as a result. He looked like crap in the second fight. He gave the first fight away cause he gassed, but atleast in that one he looked sharp early. This last one, he just looked like an amateur all 12.

 

Oh, I totally understand, and I think he would avenge the Pascal defeat.

But Hopkins is a different animal, and his style and skill seem to play havoc with a young guy. He's never fought a young fighter he didn't get to and unravel other than Roy Jones.(Yes, he got to Taylor and yes, he broke him. He just didn't do it early enough either time.)

Dawson has shone to be fragile mentally and unfocused, and while I think that will improve with age and maturity, and I think it is easy, and actually likely, that BHop does a mental number on him at some point and removes his confidence. If its late enough in the fight and Dawson is up, he may last the distance and win, but Hopkins is trying to start fights faster, he's said as much.

Dawsons weakness, and yes, he's weak, make this a 50/50 fight for me. And I love Chad as a guy. He's a terrific fighter and father. He just has some growing up to do in the ring, and he needs to stick with his trainer this time(Or find one he will stick with) cause camp hopping this often makes a fighter regress. I actually wish Dawson would get a few more fights with Manny before fighting Bernard to get solid.

 

Hopkins mind****ed him, he was raging weeks before the fight and you could tell it wouldn't pan out well for him. I'd say he at least had better stamina in this one but he was completely out of his element. Usually i see him on the backfoot doing a smash and grab roy jones impression, but this time he fought on the offensive. And did a terrible job of it.

 

Did anybody else see Hopkins laughing at him after the huge miss to end the 6th? Cracked me up. Hopkins facial expression, to me, actually said, "Is that the best you have tonight? You are in big, big trouble."

 

honestly, you got me there. Moorer would probably outjab him and stop Pascal late. But still stylewise George was a huge puncher even at 45, and Moorer had a weak chin. Actually I was surprised in round 10 that Moorer was winning the fight. With his style and standing in front of guys, I thought he was going to get caught early.

 

Pascal not a good champion, but Hopkins dominated him. George got one shot off in a fight he was losing. Hopkins also a lighter guy, who generally age quicker.

 

excellent point. For Hopkins to win at 175 is much tougher than at heavyweight where age is less of an issue due to the slower pace and the lack of discipline of fighters at that weight. Hopkins beating Pascal is like at heavyweight being 50 and older. 46is astonishing at the lower weight, regardless of handpicking Pascal.

 

Is it "handpicking" when he's the man, though?

Pascal was unquestionably to best 175er in the world on resume, was a unified champion. In my experience, if you get the #1 guy in your division and its a favorable match up, thats luck, and hardly simple strategic matchmaking. Who should he have fought? The #2 or #3 guy?

 

george's win over moorer was better than bhops imo. moorer > pascal by a lot. don't forget that holyfield at 46 should have been given a decision over valuev for the wba belt. bhop would have beat that record too but it's worth mentioning.

 

it depends who you are. people give mayweather crap about fighting baldomir but he was the ring champ at 147. i'm not a fan of floyd's but i think it's not fair to criticize him for fighting the real champ in the division.