Hopkins vs Toney, cruiserweight

This match was planned around 03-04. Toney had just won the cruiserweight title from Jirov and Hopkins was supposed to challenge him. It didn't happen, and instead Hopkins trashed Tarver for the light-heavy crown.

I believe everybody agrees that at their middleweight bests, Hopkins wins clearly. What happens at cruisers? Does Toney's size advantage pay off, or will Hopkins' smarts and footwork overcome the stationary target?

I'd pick Hopkins. He might have lost to Jirov, but Toney is stylistically much better for him

 

People do not all agree that Hopkins beats Toney clearly at 160. I for one am hesitant to pick either guy and for sure would not pick Hopkins to win "clearly."

 

I'm with Double.

There is NO agreement that Hopkins wins clearly at 160.

The Toney from the first McCallum fight (which he won, the draw was a robbery) might very well have beaten Hopkins at middleweight.

 

Ok, ok. It isn't unanimous but their middleweight fight has been done in the past.

Who wins at cruiser?

 

I think Toney, but I don't really care.

I'd be more interested in revisiting a 160 matchup, or maybe a catchweight matchup at 165 or something. When both were prime.

I don't care about what they would do against eachother as old men.

 

They were old, but they were #1 of cruiserweight and light heavyweight respectively so they were major players in the game.

In fact, I'd say cruiserweight might have been the best division for Toney. He had the edge in speed and reflexes there that made him near impossible to hit cleanly. The quick guys of middleweight were always going to be difficult for him

 

With a 200 pound limit, success for Hopkins at cruiserweight is a big question mark. He's not going to have the strength advantage he usually enjoyed. Have to go with Toney.

 

I think this would be at the old cruiserweight limit of 190 lbs

 

Still pick toney

 

Picked Toney then and still pick him now

 

Toney is too big for Hopkins in 03’ at 190.

 

Too bad we never got this one. Doubt it would have been a great fight, but pretty interesting. The increased weight might even be a plus as there would have been less movement.

 

At cruiser this could potentially be the worst fight of all time.
Toney liked to stand in one place, let guys come to him, and counter them. Hopkins is too smart to do that.
Hopkins, at that point, wasn't interested in fighting. He wanted guys that would stand and wait on him to work up to sneaking in a right hand. Toney is too smart for that.
Maybe Toney would be able to move to Hopkins and provoke a fight, which he would win.
Maybe the best part of the event would be the trash talk, which is a pick 'em.