Who has the better ring smarts?

Yeah true. I don't consider cheating smart. If you can get away with it, cool, but it's not legit in my book. I have more respect for a fighter who can win with legit skills over sneaky stuff the ref doesn't notice.

 

Well said, Dan.

Come on kids, change the record.

 

I'd say Hopkins is the smarter fighter, only just, but mainly based on his ability to win fights without all the natural gifts and athleticism as Floyd.

 

Hopkins is stepping in the ring with the Italian Dragon and Mayweather knows better than to get in there Cotto... this is a slam dunk.:yep

 

Except for smacking an opponent with elbows and forearms

 

Hopkins but not by much. I wouldnt argue either way.

 

I say Mayweather. he is able to use the rules of boxing better than Hopkins. Hopkins is the dirtier fighter but is intelligent in how he is able to execute his plan.

 

I mean besides hitting his opponent's legs from the far side of the referee when he's clinched with his opponents and the occassion coming in with head down aimed at his opponents, what else does Hopkins do that is so awful?

 

Floyd and easily. Bernard made the same mistake 2 times agianst Jermain Taylor of basically giving away rounds 1-6. Floyd Mayweather is unbeaten for a reason cause he rarely makes a mistake let alone a 6 round mistake twice.

 

And the fact that the guy was 41 doesn't affect that? Hopkins in his prime would've KOed JT and you know this. That's why Hopkins is so good. With his raw skills diminishing, he can still beat P4P guys.

 

I feel Mayweather is the better reactive puncher because he thinks faster and under pressure. Hopkins is just a genius with ring smarts - I was not perfectly aware of it until I heard him ( and Larry) speak about his moves and then confirmed it by looking back at it again... Against Tito, denying him the left hook, against Taylor with the sneaking right hands after JT burned his energies, against Tarver, keeping the distance and speeding up inside, and against Winky, nullifying his jab. Bernard almost transports street fighting moves into the ring and he is extremelly cold-blooded.

 

But that's more of a physical gift rather than an intelligence factor. And i agree everything about Hopkins.

 

Man all he needed to do was throw more then 15 punches around in them fights hed have won but he decided to just stand there and let Taylor miss but still score points cause he was the active guy.