Toney was inconsistent and still a little green @ 160. Put him up against the late 90s Hopkins @ 160 and Hopkins should win. Hopkins is a smart fighter and does things to take away his opponents' best assets. Hopkins wouldn't come forward into Toney the way Toney likes it, on the inside, so he'd probably use his legs more and use lateral movement. Toney prefers guys coming at him so he could launch his brilliant counters, not following an opponent.
168 would be a better matchup. Toney was better there. Hopkins didn't fight there, but said he could've moved up to 168 years before he went to LHW. Given how Hopkins looked at 40+ at 175, I think he would've handled the weight jump alright. I'll say that's a close decision win for B-Hop.
Toney is one of my favorite fighters, but prime Hopkins is too smart, defensive, and mobile for Toney. JT banks on making fighters miss, Hopkins would jab his way in, hold, hit, and intelligently smother him which is what you do against shoulder rollers. Toney is great though so the prime in shape version would take it to him and make it close.
Toney was inconsistent and still a little green @ 160. Put him up against the late 90s Hopkins @ 160 and Hopkins should win. Hopkins is a smart fighter and does things to take away his opponents' best assets. Hopkins wouldn't come forward into Toney the way Toney likes it, on the inside, so he'd probably use his legs more and use lateral movement. Toney prefers guys coming at him so he could launch his brilliant counters, not following an opponent.
168 would be a better matchup. Toney was better there. Hopkins didn't fight there, but said he could've moved up to 168 years before he went to LHW. Given how Hopkins looked at 40+ at 175, I think he would've handled the weight jump alright. I'll say that's a close decision win for B-Hop.
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