Middleweight Fantasy Fight: Marvin Hagler vs Bernard Hopkins
Published: Feb 13 2009 by: Jake Emen
This is the first in a series of fantasy fight matchups that we will be taking a look at. The goal? Match up a fighter from this generation with a fighter in his weight class from a past generation and see who would have the edge. The fight is to be held at their common weight class, with both fighters in their prime. First up, is one of the classic weight divisions in boxing, the middleweight division, and two of the greatest to ever reign as champion there, Marvin Hagler and Bernard Hopkins.
The Fighters:
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
- Height: 5’9 ½” Reach: 75”
- Record: 62 (52) – 3 – 2
- Middleweight Title Reign: 7 years, 12 successful defenses, including wins over Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Mustafo Hamso, Vito Antuofermo and John Mugabi
Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins
- Height: 6’1’” Reach: 75”
- Record: 49 (32) – 5 – 1
- Middleweight Title Reign: 10 years, 20 successful defenses, including wins over Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Glen Johnson, Simon Brown, Antwun Echols and William Joppy
The Fight
Both men were great champions and both would have something in their game that could challenge the other one greatly. Hopkins reign was longer, but Hagler fought the far tougher opposition.
Whereas most fighters struggle against southpaws, Hopkins thrives against them. So he would surely have a sound game plan to counteract Hagler’s southpaw stance. However, Hagler often mixed it up as a righty and was nearly equally comfortable in either position.
Hopkins has a large height advantage, but does not have any reach advantage. What he does have in his favor is defensive ability, guile and all around boxing ability. Hagler on the other hand is a far superior puncher and a more aggressive fighter.
Hagler, knowing that Hopkins fares well against lefties, would undoubtedly open up the fight in an orthodox posture. Hopkins though would likely be prepared for this as well, and both men would start off the fight slowly. For Hopkins, this is his usual style of fighting, for Hagler, it’s a strategy that would cost him dearly against Ray Leonard.
As Hagler moves forward, Hopkins best chance of success is a lead right hand, whether Hagler is a southpaw or a righty. It’s one of Hopkins’ best punches, and he could land it as a counter shot while Hagler was working his way inside. Unfortunately for Hopkins, Hagler had a chin that could withstand thunderous blows from the likes of Tommy Hearns and would be undeterred by the comparatively weak shots of Bernard Hopkins.
Hopkins however would be able to make Hagler miss more than he is accustomed to, by using a combination of angles, head fakes and twists. When Hagler misses, Hopkins would capitalize by tying him up and trying to rough him up with short blows to the body during the clinch. This could potentially take Hagler out of his game plan as well.
Hagler though is not a man easily deterred. He defines the ability to power through obstacles while keeping on fighting and applying pressure. He would never land anything clean enough to seriously hurt the defensive Hopkins, but he would land enough shots and throw enough shots more to win the majority of the close rounds. Hagler by unanimous decision over Hopkins.
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Hello Jake. Good article! I’m surprized that more people haven’t commented on it. The one thing that I do have to disagree with is Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s boxing ability vs Bernard Hopkin’s. I’ll give you a list of advantages that I think Hagler had below…
#1. The jab. This is key to neutralizing hand speed and movement which were two of Bernard Hopkin’s best attributes. Hagler had a much stiffer and quicker jab than Hopkins did and he used it a lot more frequently as well which I think would have played a pivitol role in a match up between them.
#2. Marvin Hagler may have blown a round or two by coming out as a right hander to throw Bernard Hopkins off but then I think that his ambidextrous abilities would have served him well as the fight proceeded. He was able to switch stances right in the middle of a combination or change up when the other fighter would be gaining momentum so timing had a lot to do with the effectiveness of this particular ability that Hagler possessed over Hopkins.
#3. I think that the very best we ever saw out of Bernard Hopkins was his performance against Felix Trinidad. He was in amazing condition and was sharper than ever. On the other hand, you can take Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s performance against Mustafa Hamsho in their first bout and stake the same claim. Hagler landed about 65% of his punches in that fight, showed amazing footwork and exceptional hand speed as well so I wouldn’t be so quick to crown Bernard Hopkins as the more gifted fighter.
#4. As for defensive abilities, I agree that Bernard Hopkins would have had an edge there but not enough of one to create a major impact in the fight. Marvelous Marvin Hagler was a very underrated defensive fighter. He slipped punches well, he picked off a number of punches with his gloves and he rolled with punches better than most. He was dynamic and very difficult to hit flush even when he was the aggressor.
#5. Infighting. Sure Hopkins would have tried to rough Hagler up inside but he would have gotten the worst of it. Bernard Hopkins was a very cagey and clever fighter but he used most of his experience to manipulate with dirty tactics which would have back fired against him. Hagler was an outstanding infighter himself using short hooks and uppercuts along with body shots in combinations. He wouldn’t have put up with the cheap shots and he definately would have retaliated. The rougher Hopkins tried to make the fight, the rougher Hagler would get and he knew every trick in the book as well.
#6. Heart and determination go to Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Both athletes were superbly conditioned but Hagler’s unyeilding aggression in the later rounds would have made a big difference. Bernard Hopkins had a habit of “playing it safe” all the way until the end of a fight. Hagler would take chances.
Everyone remembers Marvelous Marvin Hagler from his performance against Sugar Ray Leonard but no one seems to take some seriously important factors into considerations such as: He was the older guy and past his prime in that fight, he overtrained and left most of his fight in the gym and that fight was a very close controversial split decision. Marvin Hagler in his prime would have chewed up Ray Leonard and I’m not taking anything away from the sugar man because I thought he was a great fighter himself. Also, what people don’t realized is that although Bernard Hopkins leads Marvelous Marvin Hagler by 20 to 12 in title defenses, Hagler got robbed of a couple of important fights early in his career and didn’t get a title shot for a long time. Don’t get me wrong, it would have been an outstanding fight between these two because styles make fights and they had the perfect blend that would have complimented each other. I just don’t think that Bernard Hopkins has superior skill. Hagler was a very sound all around fighter with no weaknesses and although I agree that it would have probably come to a decision in his favor, don’t count a knockout out!
Thanks for the great comment… very thorough with your points, and a lot of solid points too! The only thing we saw really bother Bernard Hopkins in his prime was the speed and raw talent of Roy Jones, which Hagler wasn’t coming with. Still, Hagler has all of the tools and I feel was a superior fighter to Hopkins.
i definatley think that hagler would have beat bernard hopkins i am a fan of both but hagler was unstoppable when he was primed beat alot of fighters that most avoided cut people with jabs and knocked people out something that hopkins hasnt done in years
I agree with the analysis (Hagler by decision) but I think the fight would be closer (maybe a split decision). Both fighters are tough as nails, skilled & have a lot of heart, but Hagler is (slightly) better all-around.