Willie Pastrano vs. Bernard Hopkins

A lightheavyweight contest scheduled for 15 rounds. Who wins it? Wille "Wil-o-the wisp" Pastano with fast hands and feet, who was fast jabbing natural defensive boxer who was Ali's mentor, or Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, who, after ruling the roost as middleweight champion for many years, took his bag of tricks up to lightheavyweight to take the crown from Antonio Tarver? I personally think that Pastrano wins it by virtue of his constantly moving, boxing, jabbing style, which would be very similar to the way Roy Jones won over Hopkins back in '83 (?), and similarly by Bernard Taylor on two different occasions. Willie was also, despite giving up a few inches in height and reach, the naturally bigger man, and was used to fighting heavyweights, whereas Hopkins was not. Pastrano was almost paranoid about getting hit, and would have relentlessly made himself an elusive target against Hopkins. Jab, jab, and jab some more, all night, and not stopping to fall into any of Hopkin's traps. The title winning bout against Harld Johnson may have been debateable, but it showed that Willie could acquit himself well against a master defensive strategist (one of the greatest) like Johnson, so who could out-trick Pastrano after that? Pastrano, when in shape, was impossible to hit, and could tatoo his name on your face with that left jab of his, which is something a young Cassius Clay sure took notice of.

 

Willie, in addition to his defensive skills, was a tough son-of-a-gun, who was never down from a punch to the head in his career. It was a wicked body shot to the liver from Jose Torres in what was his final bout that accounted for the only time he was put on the deck, and that punch, I believe, could have probably put anyone down.

 

Take a look at Pastrano-Johnson and realize that Pastrano would have been a nightmare for Hopkins.

 

Willie was done as a fighter by the time he fought Torres. In fact, he had his last gasp in the 10th round vs Tery Downes when he needed that miracle ko to beat Terry. He would have outclassed Hopkins with pure speed. He was like a big Willie Pep when motivated and in goos shape....the problem was he rarely was. Again, just check out that title winning fight vs Johnson. Pastrano was amazing...even if it was a razor close decision. A very underrated fighter.

 

It brings to mind something Dundee said about his fighter...and he said the same thing about Ali as a matter of fact...that when he planted himself and felt like it, he could make that heavy bag "sing"..and I take that as meaning that if he committed himself to putting a guy's lights out that he could do that too. It was definitely a Hail Mary hook that he used to ko Downes with. It was, as I said, his last gasp I think. He was at the end of the road and had nothing left to cope with Torres with.