Bernard Hopkins vs Gerald McClellan

[Saurfang]

12 rounds-Who wins.Middleweights

[punchy1]

G-Man wins a 12 round UD at middleweight. A bit tougher for him at 168 and up, however....

[Goodnight, Irene]

Hopkins on points. I'm not going to dismiss McClellan's absolutely awesome power, though --- I think it'd be interesting to see how Hopkins absorbed that kind of punch, & since he can't dent McClellan's simiarly impregnable jaw, he'd have to be careful for a long time.

Ultimately, Hopkins is a much smarter fighter, & he'd prevail, most likely.

[ts20743]

For the same argument I made for Toney over Hopkins, the same stands for McClellan over Hopkins...it took Hopkins a long-time to become the fighter he was earlier this decade...fighters like Toney & G-Man progressed much quicker than Hopkins--the 3 all started about the same time...that said, I'd like G-Man in a close but unanimous decision...
Hopkins didn't fight near the competition @ MW that Toney or the G-Man faced early in their careers, imo of course...all 3 had to grind their way to the top, until an opportunity to came...

Toney's came against Michael Nunn, scoring a miraculous late KO...
McClelland's came against Beast Mugabi, and later Julian Jackson, whom he KOed both...
Hopkin's came against Roy Jones, Jr...in which he dropped a bore of a UD to Jones...

[Goodnight, Irene]

For the same argument I made for Toney over Hopkins, the same stands for McClellan over Hopkins...it took Hopkins a long-time to become the fighter he was earlier this decade...fighters like Toney & G-Man progressed much quicker than Hopkins--the 3 all started about the same time...that said, I'd like G-Man in a close but unanimous decision...
Hopkins didn't fight near the competition @ MW that Toney or the G-Man faced early in their careers, imo of course...all 3 had to grind their way to the top, until an opportunity to came...

Toney's came against Michael Nunn, scoring a miraculous late KO...
McClelland's came against Beast Mugabi, and later Julian Jackson, whom he KOed both...
Hopkin's came against Roy Jones, Jr...in which he dropped a bore of a UD to Jones...

I could be mistaken, but it seems you are matching them in real-time, somewhere in the mid-90's? Again, I may be mistaken, but I presumed this was a prime-to-prime battle?

[El Raincoat]

This is an outstanding match up. Really anything could happen.

Difficult to know just how good McClellan could of been. He had unbelievable power. In a 34 bout career he only fought a total of 84 rounds. I wonder how "The G Man" would of dealt with the cunning and savvy of Hopkins who possess a very good chin. Only down once against Merchado in 1994 and that seems to of been something and nothing never seen him shaken since. Though none of his opponents hit like McClellan.

How good of a boxer was McClellan?

[Counter-puncher]

Hopkins wins this every time. name me one time McLellan managed to cope with an elite top level boxer, not just beating up on the shells of sluggers, and I may re-assess my view. but you can't, so i won't

[observer1]

Prime v Prime, imo Hopkins is better.

[Counter-puncher]

Hopkins on points. I'm not going to dismiss McClellan's absolutely awesome power, though --- I think it'd be interesting to see how Hopkins absorbed that kind of punch, & since he can't dent McClellan's simiarly impregnable jaw, he'd have to be careful for a long time.

Ultimately, Hopkins is a much smarter fighter, & he'd prevail, most likely.

hmm. not sure, G,I. a LHW sized Hopkins can't punch as hard as a natural middleweight who had to physically blow himself up to 168 as Benn did?

plus Hopkins being so much craftier with counters than Benn...

i see late stoppage rfor Hopkins all over this one

[BoxBuzz]

McClellan has a punchers chance....and that's about it. But you'd think BHOP's luck would have to give out at some point in his career....and if it was while facing off with a McClellan it could be a dream match for BHOP......and not the kind of dream match he would hope for.

[dr_devious]

Prime for prime Hopkins definitely takes McClellan to school. McClellan is a better version of Pavlik, I see a similar but slightly closer fight.
In 1994 however, McClellan may have had too much for BHop, who wasnt the fighter he was in 2001.

[I Feel Fine]

I think Hopkins is more well-rounded. McClellan has the big punch, but Hopkins' chin, heart and defense, I think, negates that in the long run. Some might say that Hopkins never beat anyone as good as McClellan, but I would argue that Hopkins is better than Jackson or Benn. Hopkins by a close, but clear decision.

[ts20743]

Hopkins wins this every time. name me one time McLellan managed to cope with an elite top level boxer, not just beating up on the shells of sluggers, and I may re-assess my view. but you can't, so i won't

If I had to assess McClelland and Hopkins' careers...McClelland would be Kobe & Dewayne Wade...early career success...Hopkins would be KG/Paul Pierce...late career success...due to his unfortunate fate against Nigel Benn...G-Man was on the brink of his prime...so we'll never know how good who could have been...
And I know the G-Man's resume isn't being called into question, by fighting shells of sluggers......isn't that what Paul Williams is doing currently???
On top of that, Williams isn't even fightin' sluggers...

Last I checked, Hopkins never really beat a top-flight MW in all his defenses of the crown...when he faced one in Jermaine Taylor, he lost both times...his late career success came mostly against fighters moving up in weight to challenge him, that being Trinidad and De la Hoya...

Hopkins has no Beast Mugabi or Julian Jackson or Nigel Benn in any of his record setting MW defenses... :idea:

[observer1]

Yeah but his two "losses" against Taylor were right at the end of his MW career. I mean looked how old he was. 40 ? Not to mention he was struggling to make the weight at the point.

Not to mention they were very very close, and many had Hopkins winning.

Prime v Prime though, I.e. Hopkins around 2001 is another story.

[ts20743]

Fair enough...I actually had Hopkins winning the 1st fight with Taylor, and Taylor taking the rematch...and someone said G-Man faced no real or true elite boxer before...again, fair enough...but G-Man did face dangerous punchers...Hopkins didn't fair so well against elite boxers himself...he lost to Jones, Jr., Calzaghe and Taylor 2xs...

The MW division, after Toney and Jones moved up to SMW and higher, looks pretty much like todays HW division when Hopkins took it over--dried up, short on talent...to sum up, G-Man couldn't get fights as MW champ because nobody wanted to fight him...Hopkins didn't get fights because no one knew who he was, and when he had the chance danced a 12/rd waltz with Jones in their IBF MW title-fight...

Lastly, I like BHop, I just don't think he faced the caliber of opposition his MW champ predecessors faced...I mean the dude fought Robert Allen 2 or 3 times...Antuan Echols 2 or 3 times...I take nothing away from my hometown fighter's William Joppy and Keith Holmes, but they were both overrated MW champs...Hopkins handled them both with ease...

Gimmee McClelland over Hopkins each day of the week and twice on Sunday... 8)

[observer1]

His loss to Roy Jones was in 1993 lol....

As for Joe, that was at LH, and he was 43 then. Not to mention many had Hopkins winning the bout. I mean it's not exactly he lost it, it was nothing but a dodgy SD.

Prime Hopkins is just more well rounded and better than the mcclelan imo

[Evander]

Hopkins

Probably one of the smartest fighters of all time.
The man is a genius.

The fight maybe boring.
But BHOP will come through,he's that clever.

[Evander]

The argument for Bernard Hopkins beats ...

Pernell
Jones Jr
Tyson
Holyfield
Hagler
Leonard
Hearns

If it doesn't I'd like to hear it.
I could argue BHOP'S case easily.

That's how good Bernard Hopkins is.

[I Feel Fine]

Yeah but his two "losses" against Taylor were right at the end of his MW career. I mean looked how old he was. 40 ? Not to mention he was struggling to make the weight at the point.

Not to mention they were very very close, and many had Hopkins winning.

Prime v Prime though, I.e. Hopkins around 2001 is another story.

[dempseyfire]

Prime for prime Hopkins would dismantle McClellan in a fairly easy fight for him. Gerald was the type of stand-up, fairly slow guy Hopkins always just ate for breakfast.

[Joey Calzone]

Hopkins progressed at the same rate as every star during the era, he just began his career later.

RJJ was an amateur star and Olympian. G-Man turned pro 3 or 4 years earlier than Hopkins did, age-wise.

[Flump]

I suspect prime for prime that B-Hop would find a way to fiddle and fartarse his way to a decision.

Evander....apologies if I'm getting the wrong end of the stick, but are you saying that you could make a case for Hopkins to beat Mike Tyson?

[ts20743]

That's why I hate what if questions...bottom-line is, we'll never know... 8)

[Evander]

Flump

Yes in terms of being a greater fighter.