What IF: Marvin Hagler vs. Bernard Hopkins

[ProBox1]

In the last Quarter-century (1980-2005), there have only been two dominant middleweight champions. Marvin Hagler ruled the 160 pound division from 1980-87 and Bernard Hopkins has ruled it since 1995 and he's not through yet. Historically, the middleweight division is boxing's glamor division because of its deep and rich tradition of great fighters. Hagler and Hopkins are the last two links in the chain of middleweight greatness dating back to Bob Fitzsimmons in the early 1890s.
Career Capsule

These two greats missed fighting in the Olympics, but were both overshadowed by Olympic Gold Medalists during their career. Hagler won 54 amateur fights and turned pro shortly after winning the 1973 National AAU middleweight title. Hopkins was a reported 95-4 as an amateur, but missed his chance at the Olympic Trials due to being incarcerated for 56 months for strong-arm robbery. Without Olympic stardom, "The Marvelous One" and "The Executioner" started their career fighting for small purses in nondescript venues as they climbed the middleweight ranks.

Marvin Hagler turned pro at a time when the middleweight division was loaded with outstanding fighters. He went undefeated in his first 26 fights before losing 2 of his next 3, dropping a 10 round decision to top Philly contenders Bobby "Boogalo" Watts and Willie "The Worm" Monroe. Before he would win the title, Hagler stopped Watts and Monroe in rematches. [details]

[marvdave]

I think it would be a chess match with Hagler pulling away late and winning a comfortable decision.

[uncle_rico]

i think it would be a good fight, but hagler by knockout.
hagler was just too good and he beat so many solid guys.
he destroyed hearns and despite his loss to leonard (which was bull****, ****in leonard... awesome fighter, but what a little ****)
leonard never made a dent, never hurt him.
he should not have lost his title that way.
so, i take hagler by late ko.
since we're talkin hypothetical, i'd love to see
hagler vs. lamotta
that woulda been something...

[The Troll]

I think Hagler was just as good of a boxer as Bernard Hopkins and really had no serious flaws. Hagler I think is pretty much superior to hopkins in every single way, he is one of the most complete fighters I have ever seen, I think Hagler would stop Hopkins late in a 15 round fight and probably stop him late in 12 round fight.

If Hopkins by some freak chance ever was getting the best of Hagler boxing wise or even just keeping pace. Hagler might just go into brawl mode and I dont think that Hopkins can brawl with Hagler because for that matter nobody really can.

[uncle_rico]

I think Hagler was just as good of a boxer as Bernard Hopkins and really had no serious flaws. Hagler I think is pretty much superior to hopkins in every single way, he is one of the most complete fighters I have ever seen, I think Hagler would stop Hopkins late in a 15 round fight and probably stop him late in 12 round fight.

If Hopkins by some freak chance ever was getting the best of Hagler boxing wise or even just keeping pace. Hagler might just go into brawl mode and I dont think that Hopkins can brawl with Hagler because for that matter nobody really can.

agreed.

what's amazing is (and the younger guys on the board may not
remember or have been around to see it first hand) how little respect
hagler recieved until very late in his career.
he was really a great fighter, tons of heart and work ethic.
"stop running and fight me like a man" is what he said to ray leonard,
of all people.
if that's all you knew about hagler, that should be enough to
tell you what he was all about.
at 32 years old he drops mugabi in the 11th round of a brutal fight
for his last defense.
hopkins has 20 title defenses, you can't take that away from him,
but hagler was one of a kind.

[marvdave]

Hagler was a master Boxer who was ducked for years. He finally got his reconition when he bombed out the Hurt man, but he was past his real prime even then. Nothing but respect for the Marvelous one.

[Easy-E]

marvelous marvin, hands down

hopkins is great, but marvelous was the best