Hopkins can make 170lbs easy, but would drop 5lbs. GGG would go up 10lbs.
Hopkins last fought at 170lbs vs undefeated power puncher Kelly Pavlik, he schooled him easy in the underdog role. Prior to Pavlik, Hopkins had fought Winky Wright at 170lbs as well in 2007, he won a tough, ugly fight.
Golovkin advantages: Power and age (17 years younger), going up is better than going down in weight, especially at 49 for Hopkins.
Hopkins advantages: Size, height, reach, defense, pro experience.
Advantages not counted in the ring:
Bernard Hopkins - Pre-fight antics/talk/mind games. Confidence from fighting all kinds of power punchers from all levels at 160-175 and beating them (Trinidad, Tarver, Pavlik, Eastman, Cloud, Joppy, Allen, Echols)
Gennady Golovkin - Hype, fans would probably be on his side, undefeated record makes fighters feel invincible, confident.
Who wins?
Hopkins has the weight advantage if it was at 170 pounds. He weighed in at 172.5 for his last 2 fights after eating porridge oats on the morning of the weigh in
Easy win for Hopkins. When does Hopkins lose to power punchers?
Well, you see that is the thing about GGG and Kovalev that these guy aren't just freakish punchers who only go for the home run, but have tons of skills. I mean GGG has 350 ish amateur bouts and an Olympic Silver. So, it won't be easy, but Hopkins is too exp for GGG and will win a clear decision.
Andre Ward didn't say he would fight anyone from 154 to 175.......Golovkin did which is why I give Ward a pass
GGG never said that, sanchez his trainer did.
I didnt give Hopkins Crap about defending his belts at 160 and not moving up either, it's hard to stay the man once you are the man. Be great and fight EVERYBODY at 160 then I'll complain about him not moving up.
Why?? if GGG believe he already clean the division he should move-up another weight class like every great fighter always do.
C'mon go challenge ward at 168, he's not gonna get killed probably schooled or azzraped
GGG hasn't cleaned out 160 though.
And doesn't what you're saying about GGG apply to Ward who has cleaned out his division but refuses to move up and fight Kovalev or Stevenson.
Why?? if GGG believe he already clean the division he should move-up another weight class like every great fighter always do.
C'mon go challenge ward at 168, he's not gonna get killed probably schooled or azzraped
Well in case you didnt know GGG hasnt cleaned out the division yet, he wants to unify belts and still hasnt had a crack at the lineal title.
Then if he wants he can move up to 168 then he would need at least 2 fights at that weight before taking on the champ ward.
You say that GGG should move up but the exact same thing could be said about ward (who is already the lineal champ), why does he get a pass for waiting for smaller men to move up or weight draining lhw fighters.
Can we have a GGG v Wlad thread next?
And after that I want to have a GGG v Ali fantasy fight.
Why?? if GGG believe he already clean the division he should move-up another weight class like every great fighter always do.
C'mon go challenge ward at 168, he's not gonna get killed probably schooled or azzraped
This is pro boxing. Guys make the mistake of trying to match Golovkin with footwork like they want to box when he's a fantastic long range to medium range fighter. B-Hop fights inside and no one makes people fight outside of their comfort zone more than Hopkins, so I pick Hopkins. He will make Golovkin fight shoulder to shoulder and off the back foot which I strongly suspect he can't do. If you smoother GGG's punches you neutralize his power and Hopkins having boxing acumen will do that.
The Hagler argument is getting old. Hagler is respected because of how his resume ended up. Golovkin is not there yet, no where near. Leave Hagler in his era.
In this era, if Hagler fought Mayweather, Pacquiao, Cotto, Canelo, he would be called a cherrypicker and accused of only fighting former Welters, Lightweights, and Featherweights. He would be pushed by fans to move up to 168. If anyone disagrees with that, they are lying. Hagler would be called a cherrypicker today if he did what he did in his era now.
Yes there would be a lot of so called "boxing fans" that would call hagler a cherry picker if he did what he did today.
Im a realistic GGG fan, he probably wont get all these big names on his resume, he is 32 and doesnt have one as of yet, its probably too late for him.
Maybe coming in at 172lbs in his most recent fight, when the limit was 175, is a good indicator.
170lbs is nothing new to Hopkins, he can make it easy, especially to accommodate for a hyped up Middleweight coming up in weight.
DLH wanted a 157 CW for Hopkins, Hopkins came in at 156lbs. He obviously has a good diet, nutrition program that let's him be in control of his weight easier than others.
172.5 was his precise weight for the Shumenov fight. It may be very possible that he can lose the extra weight but at his age, I think this will affect his body too much.
Like an earlier poster said, Hopkins will need to use every dirty trick from his book :lol1:
Who cares if he dislikes him or not?
You act like this is some farfetched impossible match.....who do you think would win?
I think that GGG would probably be too much for Hopkins at this stage in his career but with the weight in Hopkins' favor and his craftiness I wouldnt count him out.
How sure of that are you, has Hopkins stated this in the media, are you a part of his team?
Given his age and loss of weight, I can't see B-Hop being anything other than a zombie.
Maybe coming in at 172lbs in his most recent fight, when the limit was 175, is a good indicator.
170lbs is nothing new to Hopkins, he can make it easy, especially to accommodate for a hyped up Middleweight coming up in weight.
DLH wanted a 157 CW for Hopkins, Hopkins came in at 156lbs. He obviously has a good diet, nutrition program that let's him be in control of his weight easier than others.
It would be an embarrassing night for GG fanboys and I would love every bit of it.
Call it Lucas vs Garcia part 2. Fanboys getting chopped down from state to state.
Except the fact that it wouldn't. Completely two different scenarios. That fight is always brought up when someone doesn't know any other way to debate. It's ****ing stupid.
Hopkins can make 170lbs easy, but would drop 5lbs. GGG would go up 10lbs.
How sure of that are you, has Hopkins stated this in the media, are you a part of his team?
Given his age and loss of weight, I can't see B-Hop being anything other than a zombie.
The fight would be irrelevant. Hopkins should take on Kovalev if he wants to prove himself but Hopkins being nearly 50 is just insanity. Prime Hopkins would beat either one by decision.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Hopkins wants a piece of Kovalev. Some people think it's just Hopkins talking sh*t, but any one who has followed his career knows he's dead serious. He really does want Kovalev or Stevenson, which ever fight is easier to make. He's made it pretty clear when asked, he does not beat around the bush, he has directly said he wants Kovalev.
Who cares if he dislikes him or not?
You act like this is some farfetched impossible match.....who do you think would win?
Funny thing is, I am actually defending Golovkin's last opponent vs Hopkins last opponent. But they still cry that I am a hater.
Even at 49/50 I just can't see B-Hop losing to somebody that slow and limited.
He thrives against guys who come forward and makes them gunshy after a few.
The odd times B-Hop has struggled have been against speedsters. Winky, Dawson, Calzaghe, Roy, Pascal all have great speed and counter punching ability, something I haven't really seen from GGG.
I'd have to take B-Hop surviving a few rough patches early and taking decision.
Even at 48-49 he still moves exceptionally well and his ring I.Q is second to none. GGG no matter what anyone says did not look spectacular against Rosado or Adamu when shown movement.