Could Eubank./Benn beaten Hopkins?

**JUYJUY** · 07-04-2005, 11:35 PM

Bernard Hopkins is the most grossly over-rated fighter in the world. As Emmanuel Steward (a fan of Benn and Eubank) said, here's what Manny said - "The last world-class, natural Middleweight that Hopkins fought was Roy Jones, and he lost every round." Trinidad and Oscar were just 'blown-up' Welterweight's so Hopkins has NEVER beaten a decent Middleweight because 160 has been empty for 10 years now and that's why he stands alone at 40 years old - a testiment to how poor 160 has been for atleast 10 years.

This sums it up nicely - Back in the 1980s and 1990s, a never-ending conveyorbelt of top fighters graced the division - Marvin Hagler, Roy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Mike McCallum, James Toney, Gerald McClellan, Iran Barkley, Sumbu Kalambay, Felix Trinidad, Michael Nunn, Julian Jackson, Bernard Hopkins, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Steve Collins to name just a few.

But nowadays the division has a distinctly shallow look and Hopkins stands alone.

Here's the link - http://www.secondsout.com/Legends/up...cs=233&cs=8560

To be honest with you, ALL of those names mentioned beat Hopkins! Yes Hagler, Jones, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, McCallum, Toney, McClellan, Barkley, Kalambay, Trinidad, Nunn, Jackson, Benn, Eubank, Collins - most of those guys are Younger than Hopkins and were all rated above Hopkins. It's just that they all either moved up in weight or retired, yet Hopkins remained.

**oldgringo** · 07-04-2005, 11:37 PM

No.

Benn was too raw and couldn't fight well at all when he was backing up. Bernard Hopkins makes free swingers pay.

Chris Eubank was a better fighter than Benn, but he wouldn't be able to deal with a guy like Hopkins who is probably a superior counter puncher and has quicker hands. I don't know what fights you've seen of Eubank, but he was susceptible to right hands and a good body puncher could really discourage him. Hopkins is very quick with the sneak right and right counter, is a deceptively good body puncher, and is one of the most crafty bastards to ever step in a ring. All of that being said, Eubank had a lot of good things going for him as well and would have made it a tough fight. He was an excellent finisher when he had his man hurt (before the second Watson fight of course). I see Hopkins winning by a close 12 round decision.

Oh and neither of them would be able to knock him out. Ever since Hopkins fought Mercado he's been able to take a punch with the best of em. Watch the second Echols fight for evidence of this.

**Sir_Jose** · 07-04-2005, 11:40 PM

In a word...NO

**Orange Sneakers** · 07-04-2005, 11:55 PM

benn at his best would of beaten hopkins by ud(steward said so),eubank would of gave him hell but hopkins would edge a decision over eubank.although hopkins has never fought anyone like eubank it must be noted.

steward said in january 05 interview "nigel (benn) had tonnes of natural talent,perpetual uppercuts when used,a beautiful left hook when used,a good bobber and weaver when used,good ability at cutting the ring off and he could hurt you to the body if he decided to too,but nigel's problem was his concentration.thats how watson and eubank bettered him,they remained in their concentration.with nigel he was mentally held back because he lacked patience and was prone to going ragged and abit wreckless rather than remain focused.but he could of beaten any middleweight of the past 15 yrs had he had concentration,had he used his best punches,actually bob and weave that he was good at and had he been patient.he would beat any middleweight of the past 15 yrs by unanimous verdicts as long as he paced himself and didnt waste punches early on by putting too much power and effort into punches that miss.if he got that right,he would beat them all."

roy jones said "you underestimate benn's boxing skills at your peril"

marvin hagler said in the late 80s that benn was his favourite prospect.

**JUYJUY** · 07-05-2005, 12:14 AM

Props to Manny

But Benn did have abit of a wild right hand, even though it was a killer right hand it was abit wide sometimes and could be countered with a straight left that would wobble Benn. Although I suppose that's more to do with Benn's lack of patience as Manny points out, especially in his early career he just wanted to kill you out with every single punch he threw.

You only have to watch Benn's fight against Nicky Piper in 1992 to see what a talented fighter Benn was. Now I know Piper's no world-beater (good fighter though), but Benn got on top off him and just totally dominated. Piper was competitive for two rounds before it was a one-sided beatdown and systematic beating. But it wasn't a wild Benn here, it was a mature Benn that we hadn't seen before. He was flawless that night, what he did was work the body all night long - his body shots were nice and accurate and his timing just seemed to be good, also Benn's upper body was moving from side to side constantly and Piper just couldn't land (due to being very apprehensive and hurt too) Benn looked so sharp and really did chop Piper down like a tree - he sapped him to the body until Piper's head finally fell in the latter rounds and what a good finisher Benn is - he finished him alright.

**JUYJUY** · 07-05-2005, 12:19 AM

Originally posted by jose

In a word...NO

Oh what a suprise

You've blatantly been hating on Benn, Eubank and Brit fighters in loads of threads, so it was no suprise you'd say that.

**sisforshaq** · 07-05-2005, 12:23 AM

Originally posted by JUYJUY

Oh what a suprise

You've blatantly been hating on Benn, Eubank and Brit fighters in loads of threads, so it was no suprise you'd say that.

My Aunt whos not a boxing fan what so ever and is from London was in town a few weeks back and I asked her if she knew who Ricky Hatton was (it was right after Hatton Tyszu) and she had no idea. She told me the only fighters that she knew from England were Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed and one she couldnt name. That one fighters name came back to her later and it was Nigel Benn. Im guessing they were real popular even to the casual fan?

**Parodius** · 07-05-2005, 12:28 AM

Marvelous Marvin Hagler would've destroyed them all. I think Hopkins would've beat both Benn & Eubank. Hopkins & Hagler would've been the fight I would've loved to see. I would've still picked Hagler over Hopkins. Jones fight was closer then you think. I had 7 rounds for Jones & 5 for Hopkins.

**JUYJUY** · 07-05-2005, 12:53 AM

Originally posted by sisforshaq

My Aunt whos not a boxing fan what so ever and is from London was in town a few weeks back and I asked her if she knew who Ricky Hatton was (it was right after Hatton Tyszu) and she had no idea. She told me the only fighters that she knew from England were Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed and one she couldnt name. That one fighters name came back to her later and it was Nigel Benn. Im guessing they were real popular even to the casual fan?

Your Aunt would know who Chris Eubank is but probably wouldn't know that he was once a boxer! She'd say "oh he's the guy with the monocle and the cane and the silly voice".

Lewis and Hamed not very well known to the general public to be honest, neither is Benn really. Michael Watson is because of his injuries.

Could Eubank./Benn beaten Hopkins?