I know it is hard to compare athletes from different eras, but I would have loved to see these two fight. Both are favorites of mine. Bernard Hopkins holds the record for title defenses at 17 (and he is still going). Marvin Hagler defended his title 12 times before losing a controversal decision to Sugar Ray Leonard. I think that Bernard Hopkins is a better boxer than Hagler. However, Hagler is a stronger puncher than Hopkins. Both fighters are extremely tough (although I think Hagler has a better chin). While Hopkins has the greater amount of defenses, Hagler probably fought the better competition....

Who do you guys think would win if they went head-to-head? Who was the better middleweight?

i have to say Hagler in his era was bad to the bone
a strong hard puncher yeap it's Hagler by TKO...!

but also one of my great fighters was sugar
Ray Leonard very quick and light on the feet
love his rope a dope punch

i have to say Hagler in his era was bad to the bone
a strong hard puncher yeap it's Hagler by TKO...!

I can't see Bernard Hopkins getting knocked out. However, he was on SportsCenter last week, and was asked who would win between himself & Hagler. Hopkins himself couldn't give a definate answer. He just said it'd be a great fight, and neither would be the same afterwards. :fight:

yes i watch that and he didn't say he could win but it would be a great fight
but i strongly feel Hagler would beat him , I've watch Marvin fight some great
fights and i love his style of boxing ....again i say MARVIN HAGLER BY TKO !!

That's a good question. I really don't know which I would pick. Marvin Hagler was a BAD MUTHA.....shut your mouth!!! Bernard Hopkins is a good champ also. I agree, I think Hagler has the power, Hopkins has the skill. I think though Hagler would take him because I think he'd eventually catch him and hurt him and take him out. I think it would definately hit later rounds. It would be a great fight to watch. :fight:

Hey, when is Hopkins fighting Dela Hoya......or are they fighting at all. I thought I heard that they were going to get it on?

Hey, when is Hopkins fighting Dela Hoya......or are they fighting at all. I thought I heard that they were going to get it on?

The fight is tentatively scheduled for September. If it happens (both guys have to win their next fights), I predict Hopkins will add the WBO belt to his collection!!

if these two do have a bout i strongly lean toward Hopkins i think Dela Hoya
just don't have the skills and power to beat him i agree another Belt to the
collection

I hope they do fight. I want to see Hopkins knock him out. I don't like Dela Hoya. I think he beat Mosley though. I think this too will be a good entertaining fight and I think Hopkins will take him. September is too far away though. Us boxing fans need something to snack on in the meantime. Man, good fights are so far in between it's torturing.

I can't stand De La Hoya personally, so I am always happy to see him lose. Against Hopkins not only do I think he will lose, I believe he will be knocked out, so I can't wait. :grin:

There are a lot of good fights in the meantime though. This saturday Diego Corrales & Joel Casamayor are going to fight a rematch (their first fight was a classic slugfest) on Showtime. Next saturday Shane Mosley & Winky Wright are going to fight for the undisputed jr. middleweight championship. Don King has a big pay-per-view in April: Chris Byrd-Andrew Golota; John "Snore" Ruiz-Fres Oquendo; also Cruiserweight champs Wayne Braithwaithe, and Jean Marc-Mormeck will be on the card. There are also some decent matches on ESPN Friday Night Fights in between this time.

thankz for the update i'll be tuning in on a few

thankz for the update i'll be tuning in on a few

No problem rich, I forgot to add Dominick Guinn will be fighting on March 27th. He is a good up & coming heavyweight, considered by many to be the best of the young prospects. For any who care, here are two good boxing websites for news & interviews:

http://www.fightnews.com

http://www.boxingtalk.net

There is one more good boxing website:

http://www.boxingscene.com

This site not only has boxing news, it actually has downloads of classic & recent fights. :fight: You have to register, but the site is free. ESPN.com also has a boxing section.

i think hagler would bruise up hopkins...hagler was a beast back in the day and the fight he had with suger ray was really one of the first fights i remember seeing as a youth that i though was fixed...now the person that i think that would better both hopkins and hagler is suger ray robinson...the combination of his power and reach would be to much to overcome....this is just my humble opinion...in my eyes, the most over-rated middle weight of all time was ray "boom boom" mancini...he was horrible even before he killed that asian boxer...
one love
khasm

Bernard is an intelligent beast in the ring. He's a smart fighter and he is unstoppable once he gets in his zone. I don't see anyone knocking him out in the near future. Hagler is a strong fighter but he's not better than Bernard.

I agree Sayword. Hagler was a bad, bad man. But Hopkins is being seriously under-rated by the brothers in this room. This fight would be a pick-em, and I can't see anyone knocking Hopkins out. Hopkins has it all, he can box + he has a vicous inside game. He isn't a devasting puncher, but he can knock you out, and is relentless.

As far as the great Sugar Ray Robinson is concerned, he was at his best at Welterweight. As a Middleweight the original Sugar Ray had quite a few losses to not so great fighters (Randy Turpin, Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basillo). As a result I wouldn't automatically give him a victor over Hagler or Hopkins. I think both would give him all he could handle, an both could beat him.

P.S. Ray Mancini was a lightweight, not a middleweight.

For those who have not had an opportunity to witness Hopkins in action...he will fight next saturday on pay-per-view (the replay will be the saturday after that on HBO). This is an opportunity to see a master at his craft....one of the greatest fighters in the last 10 years at work!

in his next fight, i hope bernard murders de la hoya...
in an interview de la hoya said his wife did not want him to fight bernard
because he(benard) is too ugly...smh...bernard, mash his pretty lil face...
one love
khasm

De LaToya....will be lucky to escape from the fight alive. :x: The last thing in the world he needs to do is trash talk. Hopkins: Boomayaa!!!

Right now Bernard is the fearsome beast at that weight
De LaHoya is mouth he's not a contender too me at all
Hopkins we kill him in the ring

I think we are all in agreement that Bernard Hopkins is going to kill De LaToya in September. Hopkins is a master trash talker as well....I don't see De LaToya winning either wars (the war of words, or the war in the ring). De LaToya couldn't even beat Sugar Shane Mosley, who is smaller & less versatile than Bernard Hopkins. What does he think he'll do against Hopkins?

Bernard Hopkins defeated Robert Allen by decision, to extend his record setting number of middleweight title defenses to 18!!

is it any body in his class that can even compare to his skillz or talent
do anyone see him getting beat anyway soon I know he is one of the most
fearsome fighter in this class of middleweight he's a smart fighter can he
keep the stroke going way past 18 and will he lock in 25 defense titles
i wonder but feel he can sure pass it .......PanAfrica can you share more
i know you are the true one of boxing this been on my mind ?

is it any body in his class that can even compare to his skillz or talent do anyone see him getting beat anyway soon I know he is one of the most fearsome fighter in this class of middleweight he's a smart fighter can he keep the stroke going way past 18 and will he lock in 25 defense titles i wonder but feel he can sure pass it .......PanAfrica can you share more i know you are the true one of boxing this been on my mind ?

The fight is officially on! Bernard Hopkins v Oscar De LaHoya (de LaToya) in September. Bernard took care of business last night, and Oscar just barely....and I mean just barely defeated his opponent, Felix Strumm (many people though De LaHoya lost, and got a gift decision). If De La Toya looks the same way in September as he looked last night...he won't last 4 rounds against Hopkins!!

To answer Rich's question, Hopkins has basically cleaned out the middleweight division. However there is one good young middleweight named Jermaine Taylor, who most boxing experts feel will inherit the "throne" when Hopkins retires. I don't know if these two will ever fight, as I think the young lion is waiting Hopkins out (for him to either retire, or age a couple of years), this is a wise move on his part.

Do I think Hopkins will ever reach Joe Louis' legendary mark of 25 title defenses? No I don't, and here is the reason. Bernard's only real opponent is fathertime. He has been described as ageless; however, he is 39 years old. A fighter performing at his level, at this age is basically unheard of (only the legendary Archie Moore, and George Foreman did the same). For Hopkins to tie or beat 25 defenses he will have to win 7-8 more times. Hopkins only fights about 2 times a year (sometimes less than that). At this rate it would take Hopkins 4 more years to accomplish that feat, and he would be either 43 or 44 years old. Despite his greatness, it is hard to believe he could still perform at this level into his mid-40s. In addition to this Bernard has said himself that he will not fight past 42 (although boxers change their minds about retirement pretty regularly).

My opinion is that Bernard doesn't need to chase Joe Louis' record. He already own's the record at middleweight....he set it 3 years ago, and is adding to it with every win. He has unified the middleweight division, and at this point is only chasing himself for greatness. I encourage everyone to watch him will you can, because it is not often people get to see a great fighter (Roy Jones, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield..10 years ago) perform.

Thank you very much for this , it show that Bernard is headed to the end
of his career and i'm sure he will add a few more to the record i never saw
this young guy Taylor before but look forward to see what style fighter he is
is he rank as a contender ???

i never saw this young guy Taylor before but look forward to see what style fighter he is is he rank as a contender ???

Taylor is a boxer-puncher, and is ranked #3 in the world. I have been watching him for a couple of years now, and he looks very impressive (he gets better with every fight). He is one of the best young fighters out there today, and might beat Hopkins (however if he does, it will be because Bernard got old).

let's say if they did meet in one within the next year can Bernard take Taylor
or will this young thunder quickness and power out due Bernard , just me thinking
i say Bernard can out do any fighter he face for the next 3 years this guy is the
KING of the ring in his weight division at this point can't see anyone coming alone
to defeat him he will go out a champion and title holder ..

let's say if they did meet in one within the next year can Bernard take Taylor or will this young thunder quickness and power out due Bernard.

Right now Bernard is to skilled & versatile for Jermaine Taylor, and I think the same will be true 1 year from now. The fighter that Bernard beat this past saturday (Robert Allen) fought Hopkins 5 years ago (he was TKO'd in the 7th round). According to Allen, Bernard doesn't hit as hard as he used to. Now fighters are notorious for not giving credit to an opponent. However if this was a legitimate statement, then B-Hop is starting to slow down some. This shouldn't be bad in a year....but in two years, who knows.