Joe Louis proved that size is overrated.

[butterfly1964]

Louis, Dempsey, Tyson, Marciano, and Holyfield all proved that size is ovverated.

[potatoes]

Louis, Dempsey, Tyson, Marciano, and Holyfield all proved that size is ovverated.

.....yeah, I've been saying that for months but these guys still believe in the "size advanatge" myth. If Hopkins gets the opportunity to face Maskaev, he too will be added to the list of boxers who proved that size is overrated.

[j]

.....yeah, I've been saying that for months but these guys still believe in the "size advanatge" myth. If Hopkins gets the opportunity to face Maskaev, he too will be added to the list of boxers who proved that size is overrated.

well, i'm not so certain that hopkins would beat maskaev. i mean, i like b-hop, and he's definitely one of the most talented middleweights over the last couple of decades, but i am really not sure how he would be able to cope with a true heavyweight punch.

also consider this - b-hop would have to put on weight, without being unfit, if he really wants to beat maskaev if they fought. that is a lot of work. i'm not the type of person who thinks adding on a bit of weight automatically slows you down, but putting on functional weight and playing with the big boys might be out of his grasp.

[potatoes]

well, i'm not so certain that hopkins would beat maskaev. i mean, i like b-hop, and he's definitely one of the most talented middleweights over the last couple of decades, but i am really not sure how he would be able to cope with a true heavyweight punch.

also consider this - b-hop would have to put on weight, without being unfit, if he really wants to beat maskaev if they fought. that is a lot of work. i'm not the type of person who thinks adding on a bit of weight automatically slows you down, but putting on functional weight and playing with the big boys might be out of his grasp.

Joe Louis won the title at 197 yet he is no taller than Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins can get to 200 without any excessive bulk. Maskaev is slow, and relatively inert. His superior strenght and power will most likely be neutralized by Hopkins speed and agility.

[Abe Attell]

Joe Louis won the title at 197 yet he is no taller than Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins can get to 200 without any excessive bulk. Maskaev is slow, and relatively inert. His superior strenght and power will most likely be neutralized by Hopkins speed and agility.

Louis had a bigger/thicker body frame than Bernard...200lbs on Louis was his "fighting" weight, after cutting the fat, but Bernard would have to bulk up...see the difference

[BigSlick]

Maskaev is relatively slow and does not work behind a jab. B-Hop will put on a boxing clinic using that flawless footwork and poking right hand.

[Kid Achilles]

Louis was much bigger than Hopkins. The only time Louis was Hopkin's size was when he was 15 years old. Hopkins is just a middleweight period, and will never be a natural heavyweight regardless of how much muscle he adds. Louis was a heavyweight because he had the skeletal structure of one.

Maskaev would put Hopkin's lights out. Even if Hopkins can get up to 200 lbs without it slowing down his performance, he is not going to have the power to hurt Maskaev, nor will he be able to take the punches to the body. Look at what happened to Bob Fostor when he put on weight and challenged the big guys, and he was bigger and MUCH stronger than Hopkins.

Hopkins fighting Maskaev will be an ugly mismatch. Maskaev has serious power in his right hand and will hurt Hopkins anywhere he hits him with it.

[Toddy]

i enjoyed that and i agree with jefe it doesnt matter to joe he'll still punish you

[potatoes]

Louis was much bigger than Hopkins. The only time Louis was Hopkin's size was when he was 15 years old. Hopkins is just a middleweight period, and will never be a natural heavyweight regardless of how much muscle he adds. Louis was a heavyweight because he had the skeletal structure of one.

Maskaev would put Hopkin's lights out. Even if Hopkins can get up to 200 lbs without it slowing down his performance, he is not going to have the power to hurt Maskaev, nor will he be able to take the punches to the body. Look at what happened to Bob Fostor when he put on weight and challenged the big guys, and he was bigger and MUCH stronger than Hopkins.

Hopkins fighting Maskaev will be an ugly mismatch. Maskaev has serious power in his right hand and will hurt Hopkins anywhere he hits him with it.

Billy Conn did alright against Joe Louis.

[Kid Achilles]

Billy Conn did very well for awhile but he was 1. bigger and stronger than Hopkins and 2. Quicker than Hopkins. In the end Louis got to him anyways, despite being one of the greatest light heavyweights in history.

Now if Hopkins were in his prime and in tip top form, maybe he'd have a chance against a Maskaev level heavyweight (never at any point did Hopkins have the style to hang with Louis with more than a few rounds- he was no Conn) but at this age, when he takes forever to get started in his fights, he will get blown out early.

I just don't see him having half a chance against Maskaev. Maybe a guy like Byrd or Toney, someone who lacks a heavyweight punch, would be a good opponent for an old Hopkins but Maskaev is one of the hardest hitters in the world at 200+ pounds, and will send Hopkin's head sailing into the press row should this fight be made.