Mike McCallum versus Bernard Hopkins

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Underdog hopkins jumps 2 divisions and blanks antonio tarver

"Not impressive"

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

For certain, M.M was a body body puncher than Hopkins.

Did he stop a hall of famer fighter with a left hook to the body?

[gilgamesh]

People think that Mike McCallum was Felix "Tito" Trinidad.

I can't see Bernard Hopkins out boxing a guy like McCallum who was an extremely complete boxer. He was in another level than Hopkins.

In this fight, whoever gets outboxed is The Executioner.

He wasn’t on another level than Hopkins. Absolutely ridiculous.

Bernard Hopkins never impressed me. He only achieved great wins against overrated superstars like Felix "Tito" Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya who were his best wins.

When he beat the great Roy Jones Jr, Jones was already shot.

Mike McCallum was in another level. It was that in his prime, he didn't had that opponent nor the opportunity to showcase his extraordinary skills.

He achieved several extremely good wins as he aged too. Antonio Tarver, Kelly Pavlik, Winky Wright, Jean Pascal 2x.

All those wins came in his 40's, and they're all really good ones.

[gilgamesh]

Also I can't see Hopkins losing to Sumbu Kalambay or Fabrice Tiozzo.

He's 1-1 with Roy so I know he could, and did lose to him in his prime. It's 50/50 how a fight with him and James Toney may have gone in my mind depending on what time in their career that matchup may have theoretically taken place.

I also couldn't see Herol Graham holding Hopkins to a Split Decision. I think Hops would've stopped him.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

There is no metric or universe where mike is better than bernard. None.

[Expug]

In fact, when you get right down to it, Hopkins had an extremely impressive career by any standards. Little to no amateur experience. Aside from prison fights when he’s incarcerated. Comes out of the joint, dedicates himself to becoming a fighter, wins world titles. I don’t know if he’s in the hall, but he will be. Fights into his fifties, arguably a top twenty middleweight of all time, multiple title defenses, and yet , hes deemed unimpressive? Comical

[goose 5]

Hopkins had 99 amateur bouts prior to going to prison, according to Wiki.

[witherspoon]

I'd make Hopkins the favourite. His "ring iq" always seemed to exceed what you'd expect of a fighter at any particular stage of his career.

Mike was no slouch but in my opinion he gained the cunning of a seasoned pro just about when he started to diminish physically, whereas Hopkins always seemed to have a certain mental and cerebral edge.

But I have to say I'm a huge fan of both, two of my favourite fighters easily.

[witherspoon]

I also couldn't see Herol Graham holding Hopkins to a Split Decision. I think Hops would've stopped him.

As a Herol Graham sympathiser, I want to present a counter argument here.

Herol was a world class fighter, better than many who actually became world champs and he was pretty feckin unlucky to find McCallum standing between him and a world title.

I think it's a fair assumption that the version of McCallum he took to a split decision was a superior version to the one who fought James Toney to a draw, in my opinion Herol gives Hopkins a tough fight.

[Expug]

Hopkins had 99 amateur bouts prior to going to prison, according to Wiki.

Maybe. Hard to figure that prior to his time away.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Hopkins wasnt soundly beaten until kovalev beat him when he was nearly 50

Roy beat him but he stilled pulled 4 rounds off him

He aguably beat taylor twice and calazaghe (arguably - i think cal nicked him)

Hes undeniably an all time great. Boring at times? No doubt. A bs artist and dirty fighter? You bet. But unimpressive and overrated? Not a chance. Hes an all time great fighter

He knocked out tito when tito was in his prime not coming from a ko loss against lloyd honeyghan. He moved up in weight and shut out the champ at 175, he didnt get his ass kicked and dominated.

[gilgamesh]

Hopkins wasnt soundly beaten until kovalev beat him when he was nearly 50

Roy beat him but he stilled pulled 4 rounds off him

He aguably beat taylor twice and calazaghe (arguably - i think cal nicked him)

Hes undeniably an all time great. Boring at times? No doubt. A bs artist and dirty fighter? You bet. But unimpressive and overrated? Not a chance. Hes an all time great fighter

He knocked out tito when tito was in his prime not coming from a ko loss against lloyd honeyghan. He moved up in weight and shut out the champ at 175, he didnt get his ass kicked and dominated.

Longest reigning Middleweight Champion ever. 3x Light Heavyweight Champion. Oldest Champion ever in Boxing in any weight class.

Any one of those by itself is a Hall of Fame worthy accomplishment.

[Expug]

Hopkins wasnt soundly beaten until kovalev beat him when he was nearly 50

Roy beat him but he stilled pulled 4 rounds off him

He aguably beat taylor twice and calazaghe (arguably - i think cal nicked him)

Hes undeniably an all time great. Boring at times? No doubt. A bs artist and dirty fighter? You bet. But unimpressive and overrated? Not a chance. Hes an all time great fighter

He knocked out tito when tito was in his prime not coming from a ko loss against lloyd honeyghan. He moved up in weight and shut out the champ at 175, he didnt get his ass kicked and dominated.

McCallum knocks out a surprisingly faded Donald Curry with a right hand to the body, left hook to the head combination, and he’s the most complete fighter ever seen.
Zale knocks out Graziano with the same combination and yet, it’s primitive skills.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Hopkins wasnt soundly beaten until kovalev beat him when he was nearly 50

Roy beat him but he stilled pulled 4 rounds off him

He aguably beat taylor twice and calazaghe (arguably - i think cal nicked him)

Hes undeniably an all time great. Boring at times? No doubt. A bs artist and dirty fighter? You bet. But unimpressive and overrated? Not a chance. Hes an all time great fighter

He knocked out tito when tito was in his prime not coming from a ko loss against lloyd honeyghan. He moved up in weight and shut out the champ at 175, he didnt get his ass kicked and dominated.

McCallum knocks out a surprisingly faded Donald Curry with a right hand to the body, left hook to the head combination, and he’s the most complete fighter ever seen.
Zale knocks out Graziano with the same combination and yet, it’s primitive skills.

My favorite thing is his top 100 thread. At the beginning toney doesnt make it. But he really wanted to include mccallum. But even he realizes toney is better and thats absurd. So he includes mike then includes toney. After saying toney doesnt make the cut at the start. Hahahaba

[goose 5]

I agree that Graham gives Hopkins a very tough bout . I thought Taylor and Calzaghe deserved their wins against Hopkins.

[elmersalsa]

He wasn’t on another level than Hopkins. Absolutely ridiculous.

Bernard Hopkins never impressed me. He only achieved great wins against overrated superstars like Felix "Tito" Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya who were his best wins.

When he beat the great Roy Jones Jr, Jones was already shot.

Mike McCallum was in another level. It was that in his prime, he didn't had that opponent nor the opportunity to showcase his extraordinary skills.

He achieved several extremely good wins as he aged too. Antonio Tarver, Kelly Pavlik, Winky Wright, Jean Pascal 2x.

All those wins came in his 40's, and they're all really good ones.

Still, he ain't in Mike McCallum's league. He may achieve more than McCallum, and deservedly so he is way ahead of The Body Snatcher in the all time pound per pound rankings in my view, but skill wise, McCallum was in another level.

[elmersalsa]

Hopkins wasnt soundly beaten until kovalev beat him when he was nearly 50

Roy beat him but he stilled pulled 4 rounds off him

He aguably beat taylor twice and calazaghe (arguably - i think cal nicked him)

Hes undeniably an all time great. Boring at times? No doubt. A bs artist and dirty fighter? You bet. But unimpressive and overrated? Not a chance. Hes an all time great fighter

He knocked out tito when tito was in his prime not coming from a ko loss against lloyd honeyghan. He moved up in weight and shut out the champ at 175, he didnt get his ass kicked and dominated.

McCallum knocks out a surprisingly faded Donald Curry with a right hand to the body, left hook to the head combination, and he’s the most complete fighter ever seen.
Zale knocks out Graziano with the same combination and yet, it’s primitive skills.

Look at the film. It's a total difference in the way both fighters punch. One did it with precision and accuracy. The other one did it with wildness and desperation. Two different levels.

[Expug]

Hopkins wasnt soundly beaten until kovalev beat him when he was nearly 50

Roy beat him but he stilled pulled 4 rounds off him

He aguably beat taylor twice and calazaghe (arguably - i think cal nicked him)

Hes undeniably an all time great. Boring at times? No doubt. A bs artist and dirty fighter? You bet. But unimpressive and overrated? Not a chance. Hes an all time great fighter

He knocked out tito when tito was in his prime not coming from a ko loss against lloyd honeyghan. He moved up in weight and shut out the champ at 175, he didnt get his ass kicked and dominated.

McCallum knocks out a surprisingly faded Donald Curry with a right hand to the body, left hook to the head combination, and he’s the most complete fighter ever seen.
Zale knocks out Graziano with the same combination and yet, it’s primitive skills.

Look at the film. It's a total difference in the way both fighters punch. One did it with precision and accuracy. The other one did it with wildness and desperation. Two different levels.

Wrong. Zale landed that combination repeatedly. Early in the fight he fainted with the right hand and landed the left hook dropping Rocky. Later he’d throw the right hand to the body following it with a left hook to the head. He’d get Rocky to throw that right hand of his and counter with the combination. Nothing wild about it. I’ve seen the film. And, I know what I’m looking at.

[GordonChen]

What if both fought at LHW?

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

What if both fought at LHW?

At lhw id say hopkins beats him easier than mw. Hopkins was the better lhw

[elmersalsa]

What if both fought at LHW?

Mike McCallum wins. Just look at his fight with Jeff Harding. A total master class.

[gilgamesh]

What if both fought at LHW?

Mike McCallum wins. Just look at his fight with Jeff Harding. A total master class.

Basically your reason for picking McCallum is that you prefer watching him?

You think Hopkins couldn't have thoroughly outboxed Jeff Harding?

[GordonChen]

imagine if they fought in a series?

[GordonChen]

Anyone?

[GordonChen]

What if both fought at LHW?

At lhw id say hopkins beats him easier than mw. Hopkins was the better lhw

Now in a series I wonder how it would have gone