How would Bernard Hopkins do against the following fighters at 160?

[EARL]

Mike McCallum

Tommy Hearns

Gerald McClellan

Michael Nunn

Nino Benvenuti

Dick Tiger

Reggie Johnson

Rodrigo Valdez

[Thread Stealer]

He beats them all, except for McClellan and Hearns.. they rip his head off..

Neither of them "rip off Hopkins's head". Hopkins is not an easy guy to tag cleanly, and has a good chin as well.

Hearns might win, as his outside skills are hard for anyone to overcome, but G-Man loses to Hopkins.

[Thread Stealer]

Mike McCallum

Tommy Hearns

Gerald McClellan

Michael Nunn

Nino Benvenuti

Dick Tiger

Reggie Johnson

Rodrigo Valdez

I need to watch more of Tiger and Valdez to make an accurate assumption of them. I would pick Hopkins over the others, although Hearns might beat him and Nunn would give Hopkins problems as well.

Hopkins-McCallum is interesting. Mike was better @ 154 though.

[Sweet Pea]

Good thread.

Mike McCallum- I am of the mind that, while McCallum was still great at 160, he was at his best at 154, and that, while an excellent technical, versatile boxer, he's facing a naturally bigger, probably stronger one as well in Hopkins. I'd take Hopkins to win a close Decision in a fantastic fight, great technical affair.

Tommy Hearns- Forgive me if I underrate Hearns at 160 and above, due to durability reasons, but even though it's very possible he could outbox Hopkins, part of me thinks Hopkins would look to put the pressure on Hearns and wear him down late, or just rough him up enough to win the inside battle and win on points.

Gerald McClellan- Hopkins is too skilled technically for G-Man, despite the power. Decision win, wide.

Michael Nunn- I'll have to think about this one. It's very possible that this is the bad style matchup for B-Hop of the group.

Nino Benvenuti- Benvenuti was a good boxer, very good, but has some questionable decision wins over the course of his career due to biased judging in his favor, and while a skilled, tough overall boxer, he doesn't have the skills of a Hopkins. I see Hopkins clearly taking this.

Dick Tiger- Hopkins better be prepared to fight on the move, and I think he would, and has shown the ability to. I'd take him to outbox Tiger in a similar manner to how Griffith did.

Reggie Johnson- Good puncher, underrated fighter at his best, and it could be a rough fight for Hopkins at times, but again, I don't think Johnson poses any great stylistic advantages.

Rodrigo Valdez- This would be on the level of the last two bouts. A very good in-fighter and banger, but I wouldn't say he's versatile enough on the outside to box with Hopkins, and Hopkins was a master of gameplans.

[Sweet Pea]

He beats them all, except for McClellan and Hearns.. they rip his head off..Those are two he clearly beats in my opinion, Hearns having the better chance due to his far superior boxing skills(in comparison to G-Man). McClellan has little chance in this one the way I see it.

[brooklyn1550]

Mike McCallum: Hopkins UD

Tommy Hearns: Hopkins UD

Gerald McClellan: Hopkins UD

Michael Nunn: Nunn SD (honestly, I still have to think about this)

Nino Benvenuti: Hopkins UD

Dick Tiger: Hopkins UD

Reggie Johnson: Hopkins UD

Rodrigo Valdez: Hopkins UD

[EARL]

Tommy Hearns- Forgive me if I underrate Hearns at 160 and above, due to durability reasons, but even though it's very possible he could outbox Hopkins, part of me thinks Hopkins would look to put the pressure on Hearns and wear him down late, or just rough him up enough to win the inside battle and win on points.

I have a really hard time seeing Hopkins outpointing Hearns. If he's gonna beat Hearns I think he'd have to stop him.

[brooklyn1550]

I have a really hard time seeing Hopkins outpointing Hearns. If he's gonna beat Hearns I think he'd have to stop him.

I think Hopkins could pile up more rounds than Hearns by making him fight in close. That's where he would have a big advantage. From long-range, Hearns bests him.

[Sweet Pea]

I have a really hard time seeing Hopkins outpointing Hearns. If he's gonna beat Hearns I think he'd have to stop him.You don't have to neccessarily "outpoint" someone to win a Decision. If the fight is strictly on the outside, Hearns likely wins. I think Hopkins would put the pressure on him, taking him out of his game, and win the decision based on effective aggression. A much lesser skilled fighter in Barkley was able to do the same.

[booradley]

Good thread. As much as I like Tommy Hearns I think Hopkins would turn this into an ugly brawl, and pretty much take away Hearns' biggest advantages.

Boo

[EARL]

I think Hopkins could pile up more rounds than Hearns by making him fight in close. That's where he would have a big advantage. From long-range, Hearns bests him.

That's the thing though, as good as Hopkins was at making people fight his fight, I don't think he'd have such an easy time doing so against Hearns. Especially seeing that Hopkins has trouble with jabbers, and top that off with the power that Hearns possessed even at 160. I think Hearns would be making it an outside fight and Hopkins would have to work to make it an inside fight.

[EARL]

You don't have to neccessarily "outpoint" someone to win a Decision. If the fight is strictly on the outside, Hearns likely wins. I think Hopkins would put the pressure on him, taking him out of his game, and win the decision based on effective aggression. A much lesser skilled fighter in Barkley was able to do the same.

Barkley was successful in doing so, albeit against a faded version.

[Amsterdam]

Hopkins close UD McCallum

Hopkins KO 8 Thomas Hearns

Hopkins wide UD McCllelan

Nunn close UD Hopkins

Hopkins wide UD Benevuti

Hopkins wide UD Tiger

Hopkins close UD Johnson

Hopkins wide UD Valdez

[Sweet Pea]

Hopkins close UD McCallum

Hopkins KO 8 Thomas Hearns

Hopkins wide UD McCllelan

Nunn close UD Hopkins

Hopkins wide UD Benevuti

Hopkins wide UD Tiger

Hopkins close UD Johnson

Hopkins wide UD ValdezWhat does Johnson offer stylistically that Valdez doesn't?

[brownpimp88]

Nunn's faster, more athletic and the superior slick boxer with better handspeed. He beats hopkins and i wouldnt have any doubts about it. I guess hopkins can get lucky and ko him if he gets sloppy, but other than that its nunn all the way.

[PH|LLA]

I think Hopkins dominates Hearns nutralizing that jab and getting inside over and over again with clinches and inside work and sapping Hearns energy

[Eubank]

Lose

[brooklyn1550]

Lose

To whom? All of them?

[BlueApollo]

To whom? All of them?

To Eubank, of courthe! :yep

Nunn, huh? I can never get the image of Toney coldcocking him out of my head.

No one gives Benn a shot?

[sues2nd]

He beats them all, except for McClellan and Hearns.. they rip his head off..

:huh

Well....ummmm, as for me...he beats the whole list.

:good

[sues2nd]

Good thread.

Mike McCallum- I am of the mind that, while McCallum was still great at 160, he was at his best at 154, and that, while an excellent technical, versatile boxer, he's facing a naturally bigger, probably stronger one as well in Hopkins. I'd take Hopkins to win a close Decision in a fantastic fight, great technical affair.

Tommy Hearns- Forgive me if I underrate Hearns at 160 and above, due to durability reasons, but even though it's very possible he could outbox Hopkins, part of me thinks Hopkins would look to put the pressure on Hearns and wear him down late, or just rough him up enough to win the inside battle and win on points.

Gerald McClellan- Hopkins is too skilled technically for G-Man, despite the power. Decision win, wide.

Michael Nunn- I'll have to think about this one. It's very possible that this is the bad style matchup for B-Hop of the group.

Nino Benvenuti- Benvenuti was a good boxer, very good, but has some questionable decision wins over the course of his career due to biased judging in his favor, and while a skilled, tough overall boxer, he doesn't have the skills of a Hopkins. I see Hopkins clearly taking this.

Dick Tiger- Hopkins better be prepared to fight on the move, and I think he would, and has shown the ability to. I'd take him to outbox Tiger in a similar manner to how Griffith did.

Reggie Johnson- Good puncher, underrated fighter at his best, and it could be a rough fight for Hopkins at times, but again, I don't think Johnson poses any great stylistic advantages.

Rodrigo Valdez- This would be on the level of the last two bouts. A very good in-fighter and banger, but I wouldn't say he's versatile enough on the outside to box with Hopkins, and Hopkins was a master of gameplans.

Good post.

:good

[djrock247]

I thought I'd be in the minority on Michael Nunn but it's good to see others giving him the nod as well. I think Nunn handles Hopkins easily. A focused and clean Nunn is a DANGEROUS man!

[Boom_Boom]

:huh

Well....ummmm, as for me...he beats the whole list.

:good

:good

[Marnoff]

Hopkins wins all the matches. Nunn is possibly the biggest threat.

I really don't see Hearns presenting that great of a problem for Hopkins. Hopkins would be on the inside of Hearns, roughing him up and wearing him out. Not unlikely to see Hopkins stop Hearns in this one.

[Marnoff]

Good thread.

Mike McCallum- I am of the mind that, while McCallum was still great at 160, he was at his best at 154, and that, while an excellent technical, versatile boxer, he's facing a naturally bigger, probably stronger one as well in Hopkins. I'd take Hopkins to win a close Decision in a fantastic fight, great technical affair.

Tommy Hearns- Forgive me if I underrate Hearns at 160 and above, due to durability reasons, but even though it's very possible he could outbox Hopkins, part of me thinks Hopkins would look to put the pressure on Hearns and wear him down late, or just rough him up enough to win the inside battle and win on points.

Gerald McClellan- Hopkins is too skilled technically for G-Man, despite the power. Decision win, wide.

Michael Nunn- I'll have to think about this one. It's very possible that this is the bad style matchup for B-Hop of the group.

Nino Benvenuti- Benvenuti was a good boxer, very good, but has some questionable decision wins over the course of his career due to biased judging in his favor, and while a skilled, tough overall boxer, he doesn't have the skills of a Hopkins. I see Hopkins clearly taking this.

Dick Tiger- Hopkins better be prepared to fight on the move, and I think he would, and has shown the ability to. I'd take him to outbox Tiger in a similar manner to how Griffith did.

Reggie Johnson- Good puncher, underrated fighter at his best, and it could be a rough fight for Hopkins at times, but again, I don't think Johnson poses any great stylistic advantages.

Rodrigo Valdez- This would be on the level of the last two bouts. A very good in-fighter and banger, but I wouldn't say he's versatile enough on the outside to box with Hopkins, and Hopkins was a master of gameplans.

Yep.

[cuchulain]

I'd give Tiger the best chance of that bunch at, say 40-45 %.

The others would have less chance.

If we're talking prime Bernard, I think he beats all of them.

[brownpimp88]

I thought I'd be in the minority on Michael Nunn but it's good to see others giving him the nod as well. I think Nunn handles Hopkins easily. A focused and clean Nunn is a DANGEROUS man!
Very easily in fact, only thing hopkins can rely on is being dirty and clinching.

[SugarRay]

You don't have to neccessarily "outpoint" someone to win a Decision. If the fight is strictly on the outside, Hearns likely wins. I think Hopkins would put the pressure on him, taking him out of his game, and win the decision based on effective aggression. A much lesser skilled fighter in Barkley was able to do the same.

I assume you are talking about the 2nd Barkley fight, which probably wasn't the best version of Hearns at that weight as he was weary of getting tagged again. In the 1st fight Barkley was getting busted up bad so, don't understand why you used Barkley as an example.

Hearns's combination of speed, skills and power will give Hopkins a lot to think about. Lesser fighters have put Hopkins down or given him very close fights. Hearns UD for me. Hearns could possibly get KOd if Hopkins go all out.

[sues2nd]

I assume you are talking about the 2nd Barkley fight, which probably wasn't the best version of Hearns at that weight as he was weary of getting tagged again. In the 1st fight Barkley was getting busted up bad so, don't understand why you used Barkley as an example.

Hearns's combination of speed, skills and power will give Hopkins a lot to think about. Lesser fighters have put Hopkins down or given him very close fights. Hearns UD for me. Hearns could possibly get KOd if Hopkins go all out.

Only one fighter has ever put Hopkins down...and it wasnt so much the fighter as it was the situation.

As for Hearns...you could say the same...MUCH MUCH MUCH lesser fighters than Bernard have put him down...or given him close fights. And dont forget, Tommy was nowhere near the fighter he was at or above 160.

[Sweet Pea]

I assume you are talking about the 2nd Barkley fight, which probably wasn't the best version of Hearns at that weight as he was weary of getting tagged again. In the 1st fight Barkley was getting busted up bad so, don't understand why you used Barkley as an example.

Hearns's combination of speed, skills and power will give Hopkins a lot to think about. Lesser fighters have put Hopkins down or given him very close fights. Hearns UD for me. Hearns could possibly get KOd if Hopkins go all out.I used Barkley as an example because that was also not Barkley at his best, and no version of Barkley is as skilled or versatile as Hopkins, so when using a deteriorated version of Hearns, we're also using a deteriorated, less skilled version of Hopkins in Barkley. Pressure was the way to get to Hearns, and I think Hopkins's steady pressure would be perfect to take Hearns out of his game for the most part, though it wouldn't be one-sided.

[EARL]

I used Barkley as an example because that was also not Barkley at his best, and no version of Barkley is as skilled or versatile as Hopkins, so when using a deteriorated version of Hearns, we're also using a deteriorated, less skilled version of Hopkins in Barkley. Pressure was the way to get to Hearns, and I think Hopkins's steady pressure would be perfect to take Hearns out of his game for the most part, though it wouldn't be one-sided.

Another thing about the Barkley fight was he pretty much just caught Hearns with a lucky shot. He had a little bit of success pressuring Hearns, but it didn't look to me like he was particularly troubled by it.

[Sweet Pea]

Another thing about the Barkley fight was he pretty much just caught Hearns with a lucky shot. He had a little bit of success pressuring Hearns, but it didn't look to me like he was particularly troubled by it.We're talking about the rematch, where Barkley won by SD.

[EARL]

We're talking about the rematch, where Barkley won by SD.

Oh okay.