#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!