good one. I would be inclined to pick Hop, but I think pressure fighters were a bit of his kryptonite. Sure he was an old man at that point, but I rebember how mediocre Murat gave him hell fighting that way. Gun to my head, I think Bhop manage to sneak a close one, but wouldn't be surprised if Lamotte edges him
I go Hopkins. Despite a high amount of power, he was extremely good at lowering a pressure fighter's output, and he had a real retard workrate of his own. LaMotta seemed to always get off to a slow start, which means he'd be losing rounds to Hopkins. He lost to a lot of the top stylists he fought, like Marshall, Bolden, Dauthuille and Robinson. As well as close (somewhat controversial) wins over Williams and Lytell, who both took to out-boxing him. It seems to be a clear style weakness IMO, and I know all of the above were brilliant fighters - some indisputably great - but Hopkins would fit right in that group, but he'd also be the grittier fighter in there. To me, he seems stronger, he's a dirtier fighter, just as good in the clinch, etc. I like Jake's jab, which should be a big factor on how he works inside when he gets his motor going. His defence is very underrated, with good parries and Basilio-esque head-movement. He would be able to get inside quite often, where he'll undoubtedly do his best work. He was a brilliant body puncher who excelled over fifteen. But even still, with all of these routes to victory for Jake, I just feel like Hopkins would have an answer to all of them. Hopkins' cross-counter would find home over the jab, which along with his master positioning would lower LaMotta's output, and he'd tie him up on the inside, not giving him the ability to body punch. He has the workrate to match - or beat - LaMotta's, and easily has the stamina and endurance to go over the fifteen round distance. One thing which I like about this fight is how it'd play out in the late rounds.
Fritzie Zivic has always reminded me of a WW version of Hopkins, and he was able to beat LaMotta once and give him hell in 3 other fights despite disadvantages in age and especially weight. I think Hopkins with his combined footwork, boxing skill, and physical advantages should be able to win this on points.
