Joe Louis proved that size is overrated.

That's because George unloaded cannons on his ass in the first fight and he was never the same George was also the first, and only person to ever Knockout Frazier

then again, size can matter if the guy that is "big" has some talent ......or if the small guy is completely shot......

then again, size can matter if the guy that is "big" has some talent

But also much smaller. For Tarver or Taylor to hurt him they needed to land clean, flush blows. I bet Maskaev could hurt him through his guard. He's 240 lbs and hits with a good deal of it. Even if he hits glove he's gonna send a jolt through Hopkin's body. If he lands to the body, he will do some serious damage. Hopkins is a skinny 160 lber moving up in weight for the first time in his life. He's used to fighting smaller opponents, with the lone exceptions being Tarver and Taylor. This isn't Toney who's had years to put on muscle (and a shitload of fat) and get used to being at heavyweight. Who knows if Hopkins will even be able to move very well at 200 lbs. He needs to answer a lot of questions at heavyweight and Maskaev is a risky venture for his first time in the division. Maskaev is no joke for any middleweight in history to take on, he's a solid heavyweight contender with great power and pretty damn good skills. His only weakness is his chin and I don't think Hopkins has the power to exploit it. I really think it's close to impossible for him to win against Maskaev. Better chance with Byrd or Toney. If I was Hopkins' friend, I would beg him to think twice about this fight. If I was Hopkins friend I would advise him not to gain much weight, just concentrate on speed. Billy Conn gave Joe Louis a boxing lesson for 12 rounds and nearly knocked out Louis in the 12th. Conn lost because he got stupid and decided he could give Louis a slugging lesson as well! Turned out to be a bad idea. It is true that Conn was a better boxer than Hopkins, but Hopkins would not have to deal with Louis's super talent, all he has to do is outpoint very mediocre beltholder who isn't even in the same league as Louis. I see Calzaghe or Kessler as a much bigger risk than Maskaev.

But also much smaller. For Tarver or Taylor to hurt him they needed to land clean, flush blows. I bet Maskaev could hurt him through his guard. He's 240 lbs and hits with a good deal of it. Even if he hits glove he's gonna send a jolt through Hopkin's body. If he lands to the body, he will do some serious damage. Hopkins is a skinny 160 lber moving up in weight for the first time in his life. He's used to fighting smaller opponents, with the lone exceptions being Tarver and Taylor. This isn't Toney who's had years to put on muscle (and a shitload of fat) and get used to being at heavyweight. Who knows if Hopkins will even be able to move very well at 200 lbs. He needs to answer a lot of questions at heavyweight and Maskaev is a risky venture for his first time in the division. Maskaev is no joke for any middleweight in history to take on, he's a solid heavyweight contender with great power and pretty damn good skills. His only weakness is his chin and I don't think Hopkins has the power to exploit it. I really think it's close to impossible for him to win against Maskaev. Better chance with Byrd or Toney. If I was Hopkins' friend, I would beg him to think twice about this fight.

Billy Conn did very well for awhile but he was 1. bigger and stronger than Hopkins and 2. Quicker than Hopkins. In the end Louis got to him anyways, despite being one of the greatest light heavyweights in history. Now if Hopkins were in his prime and in tip top form, maybe he'd have a chance against a Maskaev level heavyweight (never at any point did Hopkins have the style to hang with Louis with more than a few rounds- he was no Conn) but at this age, when he takes forever to get started in his fights, he will get blown out early. I just don't see him having half a chance against Maskaev. Maybe a guy like Byrd or Toney, someone who lacks a heavyweight punch, would be a good opponent for an old Hopkins but Maskaev is one of the hardest hitters in the world at 200+ pounds, and will send Hopkin's head sailing into the press row should this fight be made. It is true, Maskaev might just knock Hopkins out of the ring if he hits him............IF! Taylor and Tarver had a problem hitting Hopkins, and they are so much more agile, skilfull and faster than Maskaev.

Billy Conn did very well for awhile but he was 1. bigger and stronger than Hopkins and 2. Quicker than Hopkins. In the end Louis got to him anyways, despite being one of the greatest light heavyweights in history. Now if Hopkins were in his prime and in tip top form, maybe he'd have a chance against a Maskaev level heavyweight (never at any point did Hopkins have the style to hang with Louis with more than a few rounds- he was no Conn) but at this age, when he takes forever to get started in his fights, he will get blown out early. I just don't see him having half a chance against Maskaev. Maybe a guy like Byrd or Toney, someone who lacks a heavyweight punch, would be a good opponent for an old Hopkins but Maskaev is one of the hardest hitters in the world at 200+ pounds, and will send Hopkin's head sailing into the press row should this fight be made. Well Byrd is actually a good example of a naturally smaller guy holding his own in the heavyweight division. Admitidly, Byrd started his heavyweight career early on. As we all know, these heavyweights in todays era are far from great, Roy Jones moved up and beat Ruiz, and an overweight James Toney has held his own. These smaller men can neutralise the the power advantage with their speed and ring savvy, it's been done before, and it will surely happen again. Also, this nonsense about Conn being stronger etc, is pure hearsay, even if it may be true. Maskeav is a talented heavyweight, with a powerful right hand, but I personally don't buy this nonsense about it being a suicide mission on Hopkins' part. The only heavyweight, in the past seven or eight years, who I believe would have been too dangerous for these smaller guys to take on, was Lennox Lewis. These are calculated risks, not mindless endeavors without the knowledge of not knowing what they're taking on. These heavyweight champions are ''lame ducks'' with the exception of Klitschko, who is lame in another sense.

Billy Conn did very well for awhile but he was 1. bigger and stronger than Hopkins and 2. Quicker than Hopkins. In the end Louis got to him anyways, despite being one of the greatest light heavyweights in history. Now if Hopkins were in his prime and in tip top form, maybe he'd have a chance against a Maskaev level heavyweight (never at any point did Hopkins have the style to hang with Louis with more than a few rounds- he was no Conn) but at this age, when he takes forever to get started in his fights, he will get blown out early. I just don't see him having half a chance against Maskaev. Maybe a guy like Byrd or Toney, someone who lacks a heavyweight punch, would be a good opponent for an old Hopkins but Maskaev is one of the hardest hitters in the world at 200+ pounds, and will send Hopkin's head sailing into the press row should this fight be made.

Louis was much bigger than Hopkins. The only time Louis was Hopkin's size was when he was 15 years old. Hopkins is just a middleweight period, and will never be a natural heavyweight regardless of how much muscle he adds. Louis was a heavyweight because he had the skeletal structure of one. Maskaev would put Hopkin's lights out. Even if Hopkins can get up to 200 lbs without it slowing down his performance, he is not going to have the power to hurt Maskaev, nor will he be able to take the punches to the body. Look at what happened to Bob Fostor when he put on weight and challenged the big guys, and he was bigger and MUCH stronger than Hopkins. Hopkins fighting Maskaev will be an ugly mismatch. Maskaev has serious power in his right hand and will hurt Hopkins anywhere he hits him with it. Billy Conn did alright against Joe Louis.

i enjoyed that and i agree with jefe it doesnt matter to joe he'll still punish you

Louis was much bigger than Hopkins. The only time Louis was Hopkin's size was when he was 15 years old. Hopkins is just a middleweight period, and will never be a natural heavyweight regardless of how much muscle he adds. Louis was a heavyweight because he had the skeletal structure of one. Maskaev would put Hopkin's lights out. Even if Hopkins can get up to 200 lbs without it slowing down his performance, he is not going to have the power to hurt Maskaev, nor will he be able to take the punches to the body. Look at what happened to Bob Fostor when he put on weight and challenged the big guys, and he was bigger and MUCH stronger than Hopkins. Hopkins fighting Maskaev will be an ugly mismatch. Maskaev has serious power in his right hand and will hurt Hopkins anywhere he hits him with it.

Maskaev is relatively slow and does not work behind a jab. B-Hop will put on a boxing clinic using that flawless footwork and poking right hand.

Joe Louis won the title at 197 yet he is no taller than Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins can get to 200 without any excessive bulk. Maskaev is slow, and relatively inert. His superior strenght and power will most likely be neutralized by Hopkins speed and agility. Louis had a bigger/thicker body frame than Bernard...200lbs on Louis was his "fighting" weight, after cutting the fat, but Bernard would have to bulk up...see the difference

well, i'm not so certain that hopkins would beat maskaev. i mean, i like b-hop, and he's definitely one of the most talented middleweights over the last couple of decades, but i am really not sure how he would be able to cope with a true heavyweight punch. also consider this - b-hop would have to put on weight, without being unfit, if he really wants to beat maskaev if they fought. that is a lot of work. i'm not the type of person who thinks adding on a bit of weight automatically slows you down, but putting on functional weight and playing with the big boys might be out of his grasp. Joe Louis won the title at 197 yet he is no taller than Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins can get to 200 without any excessive bulk. Maskaev is slow, and relatively inert. His superior strenght and power will most likely be neutralized by Hopkins speed and agility.

.....yeah, I've been saying that for months but these guys still believe in the "size advanatge" myth. If Hopkins gets the opportunity to face Maskaev, he too will be added to the list of boxers who proved that size is overrated. well, i'm not so certain that hopkins would beat maskaev. i mean, i like b-hop, and he's definitely one of the most talented middleweights over the last couple of decades, but i am really not sure how he would be able to cope with a true heavyweight punch. also consider this - b-hop would have to put on weight, without being unfit, if he really wants to beat maskaev if they fought. that is a lot of work. i'm not the type of person who thinks adding on a bit of weight automatically slows you down, but putting on functional weight and playing with the big boys might be out of his grasp.

Louis, Dempsey, Tyson, Marciano, and Holyfield all proved that size is ovverated. .....yeah, I've been saying that for months but these guys still believe in the "size advanatge" myth. If Hopkins gets the opportunity to face Maskaev, he too will be added to the list of boxers who proved that size is overrated.

Louis, Dempsey, Tyson, Marciano, and Holyfield all proved that size is ovverated.

The best defense is a good offense. That was the main principle behind the Joe Louis stalking style.

Billy Conn fucked up, he got brave with Lewis and payed for it. 2nd fight he had even less luck. I've seen some of Louis fight clips, he has some very nice/fast combos. ....yeah, that was Joe Louis's style. Way back in the 1930's they called it the "ol' one-two." He could hit a man so fast if you blinked you would miss it! But to put together a knockout combination he had to sit down on his punches. You may have noticed that Louis didn't have much head movement nor much lateral foot movement, consequently he wasn't all that difficult to hit. But as it happened he usually hit them first!

Watch his fight with Nathan Mann in 1938 and you will see all of Joe Louis's flaws. As It happens Mann was not the right man to exploit those flaws. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D-NRxdcKaE&mode=related&search= ...but Billy Conn was..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9-mUhhU9N0&mode=related&search= Billy Conn fucked up, he got brave with Lewis and payed for it. 2nd fight he had even less luck. I've seen some of Louis fight clips, he has some very nice/fast combos.