I think Tarver is just too big for Hopkins. The old saying "A good little guy can't beat a good big guy" pretty much holds true. Tarver, for all his mouth, is a pretty good fighter. The only thing that would cause him to lose would be conditioning (he wasn't in great shape against Glen Johnson)....but if he came into the ring in good shape, I'd look for a late KO in his favor against Hopkins. In boxing, size does matter.
I think Tarver is very overated as a boxer and alot of people forget he is 36 years old. I think alot of people think of Tarver as this new yuong star but really he is at the end of his career just like the guys he make jokes about.
I would disagree that Hop is a "big" middleweight. Strong, yes, but thats conditioning. He has the perfect midleweight frame which is one of the reasons he never moved up or down. He walks around at about 170 when not in training...certainly not a big guy.
I also don't think it would be boring. You saw
Tarver cautious against Jones, but he can bang when he isn't intimidated....example: the Harding rematch. Tarver might think beating a smaller guy would be easy and open up. Remember, he knows he has to prove he isn't a one hit wonder. He should try to take Hopkins out in a decisive way if he wants to gain the reputation he wants, otherwise he just beat up on a smaller guy. The question is, will Hopkins allow him to?
This fight would be very interesting to me.
maybe i should have said Hopkins/Tarver @168
Hopkins advantage at middleweight is that he is bigger and stronger than his opponents. With Tarver he'd be fighting somebody bigger and stronger than him. Hopkins has better defensive skills but Tarver would have height and reach advantage so it would be interesting, but I'd have to go with Tarver. I would hope this fight didn't go to decision because I'd love to see either one of these guys get knocked out. Hopkins is pretty boring and Tarver can be too cautions as he showed the first time against Jones. This fight would probably be boring as hell.
I would disagree that Hop is a "big" middleweight. Strong, yes, but thats conditioning. He has the perfect midleweight frame which is one of the reasons he never moved up or down. He walks around at about 170 when not in training...certainly not a big guy.
I also don't think it would be boring. You saw
Tarver cautious against Jones, but he can bang when he isn't intimidated....example: the Harding rematch. Tarver might think beating a smaller guy would be easy and open up. Remember, he knows he has to prove he isn't a one hit wonder. He should try to take Hopkins out in a decisive way if he wants to gain the reputation he wants, otherwise he just beat up on a smaller guy. The question is, will Hopkins allow him to?
This fight would be very interesting to me.
Hopkins advantage at middleweight is that he is bigger and stronger than his opponents. With Tarver he'd be fighting somebody bigger and stronger than him. Hopkins has better defensive skills but Tarver would have height and reach advantage so it would be interesting, but I'd have to go with Tarver. I would hope this fight didn't go to decision because I'd love to see either one of these guys get knocked out. Hopkins is pretty boring and Tarver can be too cautions as he showed the first time against Jones. This fight would probably be boring as hell.
i dont know..hopkins has great ability and his style would have a better chance then jones against tarver..i would hope a hokins win..cuz tarver became a a-hole after his one good wins....
i say if jones made it 12rounds in first fight..hopkins can also and get a UD over tarver...if tarver gets dessperate he's gets ko'ed