Would Hopkins have beaten Roy Jones...

No because he fought flat footed and didnt really have the speed to make Roy fight his fight. He would have to do what Griffen did and make him lead, but I dont see that happening. Roy's speed could offset just about any style. The only shot was to act like a sitting duck and try and time him coming in ala Lou Del Valle and later Tarver, who got a much slower version of Jones. Del Valle actually landed the best shot ever on Jones, its just Jones got up.

 

Calzaghe beat him, so Roy would whoop him.

 

To some extent yes. I mean Hopkins was calling out Jones, yet he used the contract negotiations to not make the fight. It wasnt Jones calling out Hopkins. I think if Hopkins really felt he could beat Jones he would have taken a paycut or anything needed to make the fight happen. The bottom line is Hopkins played the system very well and marketed his avoidance of Roy very well.
The proof is when Hopkins made the fight with Roy when he was reduced to a corpse, knowing there was zero upside and a lot less of a payday. He knew he couldnt beat Jones at the time he was running his mouth, he just used Jones to help boost his status.

 

If you're referring to Sato, yes. You obviously haven't seen his robbery against Sturm. Worst robbery ever, Sato had the opportunity to be this era's defining 160lber cruelly taken from him.

 

No I just gave an answer to the thread title.

 

Sure he does. A prime Jones barely beat a green Hopkins. Hopkins of 1997-2001 beats any version of Jones - Roy knew that so he ducked the rematch

 

Jones still wins.

He was a phenom in his day and even with Bernard's tricks and savvy I still give the edge to Roy Jones.

 

Really?


Anyway, I dont feel the first fight was a domination I think I had it 8-4, but I think Hopkins was pretty near his prime at the time

 

I had it something similar, but most of the rds Hopkin's won was when Jones already had the fight in the bag and went on cruise control, just keeping safe. I think Jones was more superior than the actual score suggests.

 

Yes, he'd have beaten him. Probably would have won 8 or 9 rounds.

Roy was hurt in the fight in 93. That hand was useless. Hopkins savvy today would clinch, maul, and foul, staying on the side where Roy couldn't punch back. You don't beat a guy with Hopkins know-how at less than 100% when you're a talent fighter like Jones, no matter how great that talent, and Roy on that night was WAY less than 100%.

If Roy was 100% healthy? He pulls out a close, clear decision. Bad styles matchup for BHop.