Prime Bernard Hopkins in today's MW-SMW Landscape.How will he do?

[1sballotHOF]

keep in mind hopkins was 40 years old when he fought Taylor and not still in his prime.

people always forget that.

Prime Hopkins was probably between 1998-2003, reaching his absolute peak around 2001 against Trinidad.

Agree. 01' Hopkins was absolutely PERFECT.

[ИATAS]

Agree. 01' Hopkins was absolutely PERFECT.

Yep.

In 2004, just before fighting Oscar, Hopkins fought Robert Allen again since Allen was made his mandatory fight. After the fight Allen said Hopkins wasn't quite the same, not as fast or strong. Allen would know, as he was KO'd in 7 in 1999 but went the distance in 2004.

[1sballotHOF]

Yep.

In 2004, just before fighting Oscar, Hopkins fought Robert Allen again since Allen was made his mandatory fight. After the fight Allen said Hopkins wasn't quite the same, not as fast or strong. Allen would know, as he was KO'd in 7 in 1999 but went the distance in 2004.

Yeah, I remember seeing the fight with Allen in 99' live. That was PRIME Hopkins. When he fought Oscar, I felt like he was cashing out, and maybe looking for a few more pay days after that.

Never watched the 04' Allen fight, but I'd trust the man that got KO'd by him though. LOL.

[Cutthroat]

He absolutely ****S the MW division which is pretty weak, he runs through SMW but idk about him beating Ward. Ward is a beast and to be fair he still hasn't peaked, he won't be at his absolute best until he's around 31 which is 3 years away, he's got plenty of time to become better.

[ИATAS]

He absolutely ****S the MW division which is pretty weak, he runs through SMW but idk about him beating Ward. Ward is a beast and to be fair he still hasn't peaked, he won't be at his absolute best until he's around 31 which is 3 years away, he's got plenty of time to become better.

How do you think Ward would deal with Hopkins and what kind of game plan do you see him trying to implement?

It's a curious matchup. One of the things that makes me think Hopkins would take it is that I don't think Ward has the power to bother Hopkins much at all. Ward's most powerful shots in his career to date have been real sneaky shots (like on Dawson) that the opponents never saw coming. Hopkins was nearly impossible to land clean on in his prime days. Hell, even now at his advanced age it's a difficult task. So imo, Hopkins would have been able to impose his will and make ward fight his kind of fight, whether that's on the inside or the outside, a fast paced fight or a slow paced fight. I think Hopkins has the edge in those categories. Like I said earlier, I think Hopkins could do everything Ward can do but better.

But I've always thought Ward is the closest thing in boxing to a modern day hopkins. Similar in a lot of ways but some obvious differences as well.

[RichCCFC]

Ward would probably beat him

Martinez would give him some trouble, as would Golovkin

[WolfGirl]

I think Martinez will definitely put up a very good fight early on mainly because of his
Jab/lateral movement/athleticism . The issue with Sergio is that Hopkins dominated southpaws, I currently don’t have the record of Bernard vs South Paws but I remembered it was some really shocking stats. Hopkins has become very underrated in terms of his offensive abilities and people forgot just how explosive a Prime Hopkins was. He would have caught Sergio against the ropes from time to time and dish out ample punishment on the smaller man. Prime Hopkins was really good at adapting mid way through fights and figuring out his opponents. Martinez’s movements would have been broken down by the 6th or 7th. Hopkins never did have issues with movements, young Hops struggled against Roy’s hand speed, that’s what really killed him and Sergio don’t have anywhere near the hand speed of Roy.


As for Hopkins vs Ward
I don’t really want to get too much into it, so I will shorten it up:
Comparisons have been made in regards to Broner/Ward to Floyd/Hopkins.
The reality of the matter is that Broner didn’t fight like a PRIME Floyd, he fights like a more aggressive version of old Floyd. Ward does not fight like a PRIME Hopkins. He fights like a old Hopkins.

Prime Hopkins could do everything Ward can do (or close enough to nullify Ward) + he have more explosive power along with the much better chin. Hopkins will beat Ward down. Ward is a really special talent and could very well get better but he's not in Prime Hopkin's league yet.

[Miburo]

At 160 he'd dominate. At 168, at this point no one could count out Ward against him. Very odd, somewhat similar style match-up.

[WolfGirl]

How do you think Ward would deal with Hopkins and what kind of game plan do you see him trying to implement?

It's a curious matchup. One of the things that makes me think Hopkins would take it is that I don't think Ward has the power to bother Hopkins much at all. Ward's most powerful shots in his career to date have been real sneaky shots (like on Dawson) that the opponents never saw coming. Hopkins was nearly impossible to land clean on in his prime days. Hell, even now at his advanced age it's a difficult task. So imo, Hopkins would have been able to impose his will and make ward fight his kind of fight, whether that's on the inside or the outside, a fast paced fight or a slow paced fight. I think Hopkins has the edge in those categories. Like I said earlier, I think Hopkins could do everything Ward can do but better.

But I've always thought Ward is the closest thing in boxing to a modern day hopkins. Similar in a lot of ways but some obvious differences as well.

Very good post. I been watching a lot of Young/Prime Bernard's fights recently and I am pretty certain Ward does not have anywhere near the explosive offensive abilities Prime Bernard had. I am DEFINITELY certain that Ward does not have the chin Bernard have/had.

Forget Prime Hopkins. I think the Kelly Pavlik Version of Hopkins will dominate every SMW outside of Ward. And that was a 42 year old version.

[ИATAS]

As for Hopkins vs Ward
I don’t really want to get too much into it, so I will shorten it up:
Comparisons have been made in regards to Broner/Ward to Floyd/Hopkins.
The reality of the matter is that Broner didn’t fight like a PRIME Floyd, he fights like a more aggressive version of old Floyd. Ward does not fight like a PRIME Hopkins. He fights like a old Hopkins.

you're spot on with these comparisons. Ward fights more like an older Hopkins (and same with Broner fighting like an older Mayweather). People seriously underestimate Hopkins offensive abilities. Probably because they never seen it and only watched Hopkins post Oscar or maybe it's just been so long they've forgot. Hopkins could really turn it on when he wanted to. Look at his fights with Glen Johnson, Echols, etc.