rocky marciano vs bernard hopkins

[slicksouthpaw16]

In terms of achievements Hopkins would only hold a slight edge over Walcott; and you also have to take into account that he never had to face fighters like Marciano, Charles, and Joe Louis multiple times over short periods of time. Calzaghe and Taylor are excellent fighters but seriously...this is very arguable. There is also much more to Walcott than being the bigger and stronger man, again I would point to his footwork. Hopkins doesn't have anything on the "Walcott Shuffle" which few have come close to even duplicating.

Nice post but what achievements does Walcott have that's even close to being what Bernard has accomplished? Hopkins is a two division champion, he defended his title about 20 times, unified and didn't lose for many years. From what i remember, Joe only won the heavyweight title once and didn't have it for that long. You should revisit Hopkins. And if this is including the fighters that he lost to as well, then it would be pretty clear that Bernard would have the edge.

I have to agree about Walcott having the better foot work but as far as craftiness, i think Hopkins was the better thinker and a lot better as neutralizing his opponents best weapon, and Rocky was not exactly multi dimensional but as i have stated , we don't know how effectively Hopkins would have carried up the extra weight.

Also the thread starter said "PRIME" Hopkins who was a middleweight. Hopkins is an elite Light Heavy today but I can't see him doing anything that Charles, Walcott, or Moore couldn't even if he packed on a few more pounds and went up to 180 in a hypothetical situation. I think he would get overwhelmed just the same and the fact that he doesn't carry threatening one punch KO power at 170 and up like those men isn't going to do him any favors either; even when the cautious Charles loaded up he could stop fighters cold with his left hook. Anything can happen in boxing but there are some things I certainly wouldn't bet on, regardless how fast or how slick nobody made peak Marciano miss all night and when he hit you bad things happened.

I agree that Charles, Walcott and Moore would have a good shot at beating Hopkins, but on the other hand i wouldn't completely count out Hopkins. Lets not think for a minute that they would just out muscle Bernard. Hopkins was really a light heavyweight his entire career, that just ate so healthy and ran so much that it allowed him to make middleweight. Moore actually fought Charley Burley( a great who is from my hometown actually) at middleweight and lost by wide decision and was almost stopped. I'm not comparing the two styles, but Hopkins is much bigger than Burley which shows that weight wouldn't be much of a problem. Just something to think about.

Also, Bernard was never that big of a puncher( he did have pop though). He was always known as a crafty, consistent ring smart boxer and never relied on his power. Against the above mentioned names, he would try to out box and out muscle them and use his foot speed.

Than again I remember you tried to argue Marciano didn't have a high punch output cause he was so slow when there is plenty of tape evidence of him throwing 70-100 bad intention punches in late rounds against Charles and Moore if you want to count.

I don't remember, but i think that's the thread where you tried to convince me he would beat Ali, which i couldn't see in any way.

[slicksouthpaw16]

good post, I agree Liston would bust Rocky up.

Might want to check your grammar though on "wronger". Normally I'm not one to care but that's just..erm...wrong

-apples

I went through it with spell check( which i do with all of my posts) and it didn't seem to mind. I just have my own ways of using words.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Why would anyone match a Middleweight versus a Heavyweight unless its a
p4p matchup?

Poet

Yeah that's why we really can't get a clear view on what would happen, because there are so many questions like will Hopkins bring up his speed, and reflexes which he would need in order to have a chance? It would be better if it was asked at a pacific catch weight or like you said, a pound for pound match up.

[Knighte]

Anyone who thinks for a second that B-Hop has a chance in hell against the legendary Brockton Blockbuster knows **** all about boxing.

[them_apples]

I went through it with spell check( which i do with all of my posts) and it didn't seem to mind. I just have my own ways of using words.

I guess i was wrong bro lol

[them_apples]

Yeah that's why we really can't get a clear view on what would happen, because there are so many questions like will Hopkins bring up his speed, and reflexes which he would need in order to have a chance? It would be better if it was asked at a pacific catch weight or like you said, a pound for pound match up.

Hopkins makes weight at 175, I'm sure he comes to fight at almost 180, that's only 6 lbs, since they had same day weigh ins back in the day.

[j.razor]

this cant be a serious question...Hopkins would make him look like an amature. marciano is only white-hype so git it right.

[TheGreatA]

Hopkins makes weight at 175, I'm sure he comes to fight at almost 180, that's only 6 lbs, since they had same day weigh ins back in the day.

I think he came in at nearly 190 lbs against Calzaghe. He was lighter at 180 lbs against Pavlik and looked better.

The size difference isn't as big a factor as some people are making it out to be but I just can't see a 40+ year old Hopkins keeping up with Rocky. I also do not think that it would be a one-sided fight.

I doubt Marciano could've fought at 220+ lbs, maybe 200 lbs with today's 12 round distance but anything higher than that weight would've taken away from his amazing conditioning which is what made him as great as he was.

[them_apples]

I think he came in at nearly 190 lbs against Calzaghe. He was lighter at 180 lbs against Pavlik and looked better.

The size difference isn't as big a factor as some people are making it out to be but I just can't see a 40+ year old Hopkins keeping up with Rocky. I also do not think that it would be a one-sided fight.

I doubt Marciano could've fought at 220+ lbs, maybe 200 lbs with today's 12 round distance but anything higher than that weight would've taken away from his amazing conditioning which is what made him as great as he was.

It depends, Hopkins wasn't supposed to keep up with the 100 punch per round Pavlik ether.

Both Pavlik and rocky are very one Dimensional imo

[Thunder Lips]

"Nice post but what achievements does Walcott have that's even close to being what Bernard has accomplished? Hopkins is a two division champion, he defended his title about 20 times, unified and didn't lose for many years. From what i remember, Joe only won the heavyweight title once and didn't have it for that long. You should revisit Hopkins. And if this is including the fighters that he lost to as well, then it would be pretty clear that Bernard would have the edge."

Well your not going to get official credit for losing to Louis, Charles, and Marciano and that is just the way it is and I won't try to argue otherwise. I will point out that long title reigns and defining wins are not why Walcott is so highly regarded by writers, trainers, and other boxers. He is a fighter you just have to watch but in all fariness I understand why others would disagree. In the ring, I think he's just as great if not better than Hopkins P4P but he certainly can't match his overall resume.

"I agree that Charles, Walcott and Moore would have a good shot at beating Hopkins, but on the other hand i wouldn't completely count out Hopkins. Lets not think for a minute that they would just out muscle Bernard."

You lost me. That argument is neither here nor there. My point was that I can't see Hopkins bringing anything to new to the table against Marciano. If middleweight Hopkins from say the Trindad fight magically came in at 200 lbs it would certainly be an interesting fight I guess....., but Light Heavy Hopkins doesn't stand anymore of a chance than Rockys' three most famous Hall of Fame victims.