Hagler or Hopkins era

[El Radar]

Who would you say fought in the better Middleweight divison when they were champions?

[JudgeDredd]

Hagler. He beat a lot of great fighters before he won the title, Bennie Briscoe, Ray Seales, Willie Munroe etc then Duran Hearns & Leonard, plus Mugabi, Hamsho,Sibson, to name a few. There's no comparison really

[GDG]

Ironically the era in between their respective reigns was the strongest IMO.

Nunn
Benn
Eubank
Toney
Jones
G-Man
Jackson
Norris
McCallum
Kalamby
Watson
Graham

That's one hell of a list of fighters!!! Neither prime Hagler nor Hopkins would have been as dominant in that period!!

On topic, Hagler...clearly!!! Hopkins MW reign was not full of great fighters, his most memorable win at the weight being over a WW. Of course you could say the same of Hagler, but the quality of natural MW's that Hagler beat was far superior!!

[turpinr]

Ironically the era in between their respective reigns was the strongest IMO.

Nunn
Benn
Eubank
Toney
Jones
G-Man
Jackson
Norris
McCallum
Kalamby
Watson
Graham

That's one hell of a list of fighters!!! Neither prime Hagler nor Hopkins would have been as dominant in that period!!

On topic, Hagler...clearly!!! Hopkins MW reign was not full of great fighters, his most memorable win at the weight being over a WW. Of course you could say the same of Hagler, but the quality of natural MW's that Hagler beat was far superior!!

you're right about that list,who tops it though.mccallum ??

[JudgeDredd]

Toney & Jones

[Holmes' Jab]

Hagler's era was better, though good post from GDG.

[quintonjacksonfan]

Great list How many total fights did they have against each other?
I counted 20

(1) Nunn-Kalambay
(2) Nunn-Toney
(3) Benn-G-Man
(4) Benn-Eubank
(5) Benn -EUbank 2
(6) Benn- Watson
(7) Toney -McCallum
(8) Toney-McCallum 2
(9) Toney-McCallum 3
(10) Toney-Jones
(11) G-Man -Jackson 1
(12) G-Man -Jackson 2
(13) Jackson-Norris
(14) Jackson-Graham
(15) Jackson-McCallum
(16) McCallum-Kalambay 1
(17) McCallum-Kalambay 2
(18) McCallum-Watson
(19) McCallum-Graham
(20) Jones-McCallum




Nunn
Benn
Eubank
Toney
Jones
G-Man
Jackson
Norris
McCallum
Kalamby
Watson
Graham

[essexboy]

Ironically the era in between their respective reigns was the strongest IMO.

Nunn
Benn
Eubank
Toney
Jones
G-Man
Jackson
Norris
McCallum
Kalamby
Watson
Graham

That's one hell of a list of fighters!!! Neither prime Hagler nor Hopkins would have been as dominant in that period!!

On topic, Hagler...clearly!!! Hopkins MW reign was not full of great fighters, his most memorable win at the weight being over a WW. Of course you could say the same of Hagler, but the quality of natural MW's that Hagler beat was far superior!!


This is a good point, Hagler and Hopkins fighting in this era would have made their reign far more interesting.

Great list How many total fights did they have against each other?
I counted 20

(1) Nunn-Kalambay
(2) Nunn-Toney
(3) Benn-G-Man
(4) Benn-Eubank
(5) Benn -EUbank 2
(6) Benn- Watson
(7) Toney -McCallum
(8) Toney-McCallum 2
(9) Toney-McCallum 3
(10) Toney-Jones
(11) G-Man -Jackson 1
(12) G-Man -Jackson 2
(13) Jackson-Norris
(14) Jackson-Graham
(15) Jackson-McCallum
(16) McCallum-Kalambay 1
(17) McCallum-Kalambay 2
(18) McCallum-Watson
(19) McCallum-Graham
(20) Jones-McCallum


Shame their wasnt more fights between them. Particularily between Jones, Toney and McCallum and Benn, Eubank and Graham (Graham and McCallum did face each other I know). Steve Collins can also be added to that list.

[Mantequilla]

A few of those guys were Hagler era men.Some of htem were just poorly managed and took ages to get anywhere like Kalambay and Graham, or opted to fight at light middle like McCallum and Jackson.

[GDG]

A few of those guys were Hagler era men.Some of htem were just poorly managed and took ages to get anywhere like Kalambay and Graham, or opted to fight at light middle like McCallum and Jackson.

They were but he never fought them and they came to prominence at 160 in the years after he was gone.

[he grant]

Hagler by far ..

[Flea Man]

I do think Hagler would still reign at the top of the 90's crowd. For B-Hop I always feel Prime Jones would be a bad stylistic matchup for him, he wouldn't be able to reign him in and dictate the pace like he would a lot of other fighters. I feel Hop would beat a lot of those guys mind.

Hagler though, whilst having scarier moments (I imagine a seriously cagey but massive punching Pre-Watson Eubank would be a tough proposition for him, though Marv's body punching would see him through as Eubank never liked it there, as well as Jones) and another fighter I feel would have a really good shot at Hopkins would be Mike McCallum, good workrate, jab, cool-headed and not going to allow Hop to be the supreme ring general he can be. I say McCallum is a very, very bad matchup for B-Hop.

I say, in answer to the first point, Hagler fought in a better era. I think Hopkins would've done well in Haglers era as well, barring Hagler.

[Bill Butcher]

Who would you say fought in the better Middleweight divison when they were champions?

Hagler

[Bill Butcher]

you're right about that list,who tops it though.mccallum ??

No, Jones jr.

[Boro chris]

Hagler.

Do wish he'd been around just a few years later though.

[IntentionalButt]

During their eras? Hagler beyond any shadow of doubt.

During their reigns? Still Hagler.

[Flea Man]

No, Jones jr.

Jones JR wasn't really that impressive at MW in terms of RESUME. No doubt on film he is one of the most gifted, explosive and amazing fighters ever to grace the division.

But his resume isn't up to much. I feel whilst he possibly never looked more complete then at Middle, and would hold his own with many (if not all ATG middles) it isn't enough to rank him in front of all of them. Toney trumps him with his win over Nunn IMO.

[frankenfrank]

Who would you say fought in the better Middleweight divison when they were champions?

Hagler.