Why Hopkins would beat Monzon at MW

Taylor for all his faults was quite a bit more quicker and athletic than Monzon and imo it was more the speed and athleticism as much as the jab. I do wonder if BHOPs was a little drained here too and at the time I thought he was past it at 38/39 and passing the torch, quite ironic that he's outlasted Taylor. But then again the fastest 3 men he's faced in Jones Jr, Calzaghe and Taylor all took away his A game, speed kills.

Hops fought some other good jabbers with different results - Tarver, Winky Wright, Pavlik (who outjabbed Taylor quite a bit), Vanderpool and Holmes. He largely bossed those other jabbers, albeit all southpaw jabs Pavlik aside

So yes I think Hopkins can largely take away a jab, unless its a quick jab combined with a fast a step in

What are your thoughts on the rematch tongiht Patter? I think Hops should win, I'm a fan of his style and like to see an older man show that age can be conquored BUT I wouldn't mind seeing Hopkins a little humiliated for his obnoxious treatment of his opponents, speaking of Taylor he was a complete ass to him too

 

I've always maintained Monzon would beat Hopkins..haven't changed my opinion.

 

Monzon accomplished far more in an athletic field of endeavor that Taylor... ergo he was a far better athlete... ergo he had a greater quantity of that mystical quality known as athleticism.

 

The speed was a small problem IMO. Taylor had reasonably quick hands but his punches are slow for his speed, if you get me? He tended to be quite tense and throw them strong and long so they weren't blazing quick, like some of his more reactionary shots were.

The length of it seemed to be the problem IMO, Hopkins looked like he could be quicker with his own jab but he never once jabbed with Taylor, weirdly. I think his tactics were terrible first time around, and he was struggling with the weight.

I think in its length and power it is very much like Monzon's just less adaptable and slightly quicker.

I don't think these guys had Monzon level jabs though, Taylor had an excellant jab. The rest were good.

Pavlik was crap.

Taylor wasn't really stepping in though. He tended to just chuck it out or try and counter with it.

Hopkins wide decision or late stoppage.

Got £30 on it, Pascal is mentally beat, shattered confidence, and whoever got this fight with him would be the new champ.

 

I'd have to respectfully disagree with allot of this. Taylor while not seeming a speed king, covers an awful lost of distance at high speed with that jab and right. From what I remember he did step in with his jab and right, plus his jab fires up from his hip out of sight. In fact as a front runner he's practically outboxed everyone in the early going. As Taylor slowed later in the fight, Hopkins managed to take away his jab, counter it with the right and actually got his own jab working as Taylor slowed

Now don't get me wrong Monzon does plenty of things better than Taylor. But Taylor is more explosive/quicker, is taller and much rangier because he has really long arms, HBO measured his arms as 4-5inches longer than BHOPs if I remember right and if thats each arm its pretty epic because BHOPs has a long reach. I think you'll agree if you've fought a seriously rangy jabby who trebles it, its a hard thing to get past or jab with him no matter how good your jab is

Monzon has a more cultured, relaxed jab, thrown at a higher output ofcourse. Jermain to his never learnt to relax but he was more explosive athlete, partly down to his 400m athletics background, although never learnt to be efficient, always being tense. Monzon will fight hard for the full 12 at a higher pace, he won't make it easy for Hopkins on the inside either, his defense too won't make it easy for Hopkins, although Hopkins imo will manage to have more success than Griffith did

I think you're underestimating the jabs of those other men too, Winky's whole career was pretty much based off his jab, both Winky and Pavlik outjabbed Taylor for long periods, Tarver bossed most LHW opponents with his jab Jones Jr included before his demise. However most of those men are lefties so there is something of a difference in style. I do think Pavlik at his peak was better than we may think of him now, he didn't do anything amazing, but he was technically solid, physically massive with a hell of an engine, that engine probably saw a few valves got stuck with his alcoholism, not that he necessarily beats Martinez anyway but he's much better than his last fight. If you want to have a career in boxing avoid the alcohol Greg, it can be a slippery slope

 

bump, maybe some new thoughts?

 

I've been saying for some time that imo Hopkins' chances are very good.

 

I leading towards McGrain on this one. This fight could be a chess match extreme unless Monzon goads Hopkins into a brawl which is least likely. It really depends on which Hopkins is used for comparison.


I can see young Hopkins getting frustrated and pressing the action when he shouldn't, only to get countered by Monzon and tied up coming in. Monzon was excellent in knowing when to tie up and hold the opponent's opposite arm while throwing shots in the clinches. Hopkins was good at this tactic too, especially when his fights became dirtier past the middle rounds to the later parts of his fights.

Older but not too much older Hopkins, the version who schooled Tarver and Pavlik would be my choice to beat Monzon by UD. Younger Hopkins that lost to Jones could win as well, but I'd bet on him being a little more reckless in his younger days and Monzon takes him by decision that matchup.