How would the top 2 current middle weights fair against the Top 3 of the past 50 years.
Gennady Golovkin (27-0), the WBA Middleweight Champ with 3 title defense's as the "Full" WBA Champion.
Sergio Martinez (51-2), The WBC Middleweight Champ & The Ring Middleweight Champ. With 6 defense's as The Ring Middleweight Champ.
Top 3 Ring Middleweight Champs of the past 50 years:
#3: Bernard Hopkins (53-6) (active)
Former Undisputed Middleweight Champ, With 20 title defenses.
Defensive specialist, and Ring General.
#2: Marvelous Marvin Hagler (62-3)
Former Undisputed Middleweight Champ, With 12 title defenses, and highest KO% at 78% for middleweight.
Boxer Puncher, Ring General, Great Chin and Ambidextrous
#1: Carlos Monzon (87-3)
Former Undisputed Middleweight Champ, With 14 title Defenses.
Great Chin, Boxer Puncher and Ring General.
Southpaws Chad Dawson, Joe Calzaghe, and Winky Whright all gave Hopkins his toughest fights outside of Roy Jones (who's style Martinez mimics). I think Martinez's style (a fast counter-puncher with good footwork and stamina) is probably the one that would naturally give Hopkins the most trouble. I think prime vs prime a fight between the two would be very competitive and would probably go the distance. Hopkins would be more easily able to hurt Martinez though as he has the harder chin and is good at picking his punches.
I agree, Martinez-Hopkins is the closest matchup. Hopkins always looks sh1t against guys with speed and athleticism.
Martinez is only the 3rd best MW from Argentina and i wouldn't be suprised if Jorge Castro could beat him so possibly 4th. Castro was like a poor mans Duran a good pressure fighter, very good in the inside with great power and a iron chin.
Roña Castro had a natural talent, but he was crude and didn't even care about it. This was his limit. After he KOd John David Jackson in pure Rocky Balboa style, he could have become a star, but came up short. I don't know who you would consider the 2nd Argentinian best MW. Maybe Juan Martillo Roldán? I think the prime Martínez would have beaten Castro and possibly also Roldán, although Martillo (The Hammer) hit too hard and could have KOd him in any moment.
Golovkin has simply still to prove that he can beat an elite fighter.
I need to see more of him against good fighters but I think GGG might be a great middleweight on a par with those three past greats and have a good chance to win. Martinez is not on their level and I think all three of them would KO Martinez and GGG would also KO Martinez.
I think the prime version of Hopkins at middleweight (1999-2002) would have found a way to shut down Martinez over the 12-round distance (probably with a lot of holding and mugging whenever he got in close to the Argentine, but also by using the right counter punches), but I bet it would have been a competitive fight. I gotta go with B-Hop, though. His record against southpaws is amazing.
Southpaws Chad Dawson, Joe Calzaghe, and Winky Whright all gave Hopkins his toughest fights outside of Roy Jones (who's style Martinez mimics). I think Martinez's style (a fast counter-puncher with good footwork and stamina) is probably the one that would naturally give Hopkins the most trouble. I think prime vs prime a fight between the two would be very competitive and would probably go the distance. Hopkins would be more easily able to hurt Martinez though as he has the harder chin and is good at picking his punches.
Martinez is only the 3rd best MW from Argentina and i wouldn't be suprised if Jorge Castro could beat him so possibly 4th. Castro was like a poor mans Duran a good pressure fighter, very good in the inside with great power and a iron chin.
I think the prime version of Hopkins at middleweight (1999-2002) would have found a way to shut down Martinez over the 12-round distance (probably with a lot of holding and mugging whenever he got in close to the Argentine, but also by using the right counter punches), but I bet it would have been a competitive fight. I gotta go with B-Hop, though. His record against southpaws is amazing.
How would the top 2 current middle weights fair against the Top 3 of the past 50 years.
Gennady Golovkin (27-0), the WBA Middleweight Champ with 3 title defense's as the "Full" WBA Champion.
Sergio Martinez (51-2), The WBC Middleweight Champ & The Ring Middleweight Champ. With 6 defense's as The Ring Middleweight Champ.
Top 3 Ring Middleweight Champs of the past 50 years:
#3: Bernard Hopkins (53-6) (active)
Former Undisputed Middleweight Champ, With 20 title defenses.
Defensive specialist, and Ring General.
#2: Marvelous Marvin Hagler (62-3)
Former Undisputed Middleweight Champ, With 12 title defenses, and highest KO% at 78% for middleweight.
Boxer Puncher, Ring General, Great Chin and Ambidextrous
#1: Carlos Monzon (87-3)
Former Undisputed Middleweight Champ, With 14 title Defenses.
Great Chin, Boxer Puncher and Ring General.
Are we assuming Martinez is healthy with no nagging injuries?
I see Bernard probably beating Golovkin by late stoppage around the 10th or 11th. Golovkin will chase Hopkins around the ring but B. Hop. will pot shot then grab and hold. He'll also use his physique to tire down GGG in the mid to late rounds. Hopkins' iron chin and ring smarts will probably allow him to handle GGG's power.
Against Martinez (assuming Sergio is 100%) he would have a tougher stylistic match-up. If Sergio, who's known for having good speed and stamina, can use the Jones/Calzaghe blueprint, he could make it a tough fight for Bernard. Hopkins could also use his strong physique and dirty tactics to wear down Sergio though. I see this fight going the full 12 with a close decision going either way. If anyone get's the stoppage though, it would probably be Bernard late in the fight.
Hagler definitely stops GGG somewhere in the middle rounds but he might get hit with some shots which I figure his strong chin would handle. Hagler could probably box with Martinez and possibly even stop him.
Monzon would probably box GGG and stop him late as GGG begins to tire. Monzon would probably beat Martinez to a UD and probably stop him late in a 15 rounder.
Personally I think there are possibility's that Martinez could give Hopkins early problems, while I would see Hagler knocking him out early!
Triple G, since his extensive amateur career could possibly give many problems to all 3, but far from a guaranteed win.
GGG's best opponent to date is Macklin and you want to compare him to these guys?
I like him too but pump your brakes.
Not comparing at all but asking how they would Fair against those opponents. Not just Golovkin but Martinez as well!