P4P is stupid, at middleweight Hopkins dominates with his size advantage and stops late Duran who can't really harm him
He knocked Barkley down twice but can't hurt Hopkins? I agree that Hopkins wins but not because Duran wouldn't be able to hurt him. I think Duran at 160 would've been too slow to beat Hopkins and would get out-boxed. But he'd certainly be a formidable opponent - especially considering the level of opposition Hopkins faced at 160. Duran probably would've been his best win.
Sure, if Hopkins gave him free shots then Duran would hurt him but Duran would have no chance to get in position to land anything meaningful. Duran would be outboxed, outmauled, outmuscled, outlanded and outknocked
you're telling me the legendary Duran would not land a single punch? is Hopkins suddenly Willy Pepp here? when did Hopkins become a defensive genius? Because Trinidad couldn't knock him out? Did you "see" Trinidad vs. Wright? Even sloppy Echols connected on Hopkins and you're telling me the clever and unpredictable, not to mention counter-punching Duran wouldn't land a single punch against Hopkins? Ridiculous. Hopkins is not nearly as good a fighter as you and so many others make him out to be. He's over-rated as hell in fact.
I never said Duran would not land single punch. He wouldn't land anything that would get him close of winning it though.
Hopkins by decision. Duran wouldn't be able to outmuscle Bernard and he didn't have the hand and footspeed at 160 to bounce in and out. Duran would have some moments but nothing more.
WTF does that mean? A fighter can be over-rated and still be absolutely superior to one who is underrated. Use your brain and quit sniping me you prick.
It's not like Barkley had a chin of steel. He had a lot of heart, but he was hurt, dropped and/or stopped on multiple occasions. Getting KOed by Robbie Sims is not a sign of a fighter with a great chin. Sims was a pretty good fighter, but he wasn't much of a puncher.
No doubt Hopkins wins. My point in bringing Barkley up is to demonstrate that Duran, even at 160, could indeed muster some punching power. For example, do you think Hagler would've gone 15 with Duran if he didn't respect his power? I was simply responding to the suggestion that Duran would not have been able to hurt Hopkins at 160. I disagree with that. Again, not to say Duran would've beaten him, but he surely could've and probably would've hurt him on occasion during the fight if not frequently. And by hurt I don't mean Hopkins would be wobbled, but he'd have respect for Duran's power and would fight accordingly.
