Bernard Hopkins vs Roy Jones Jr

[LondonRingRules]

We know what the official result was, Jones easily handling the rushes by Poppy and picking his shots in spite of a broken hand.

There is no reason to think an immediate rematch would be any different given all the problems the Mercado series gave Poppy that he was quite fortunate not to be nicked with another loss in.

We also know that he backed out of fighting Super Joe and Roy under Dibella and lost a judgement brought by Dibella for a couple of million, perhaps not fancying his chances against them.

At what point can Poppy be said to be able to beat Roy, or could he even beat Roy now?

He can't KO anyone anymore, doesn't have a workrate that Super Joe has though he kept a solid pace against Pavlik, but Kelly was always moving in. Roy will be outside picking shots or on the ropes covering up which is what Poppy wants to be doing, so how is he ever gonna beat Roy?

[slicksouthpaw16]

Hopkins would beat Roy now by simply out smarting him and bringing the power late. Jones is just not a world class fighter anymore, and when a fighter like him that has relied on his speed and reflexes for his whole career no longer has them, that would spell trouble against someone with the ring smarts of Hopkins( that still obviously has plenty left, is still elite and is very crafty). I see it being a tactical fight earlier on until Bernard slowly starts to up the pressure and gets Roy out late with power punches when hes faded. Honestly i think Hopkins last 4 opponents would beat Jones at this point.

[slicksouthpaw16]

He can't KO anyone anymore, doesn't have a workrate that Super Joe has though he kept a solid pace against Pavlik, but Kelly was always moving in. Roy will be outside picking shots or on the ropes covering up which is what Poppy wants to be doing, so how is he ever gonna beat Roy?

Trinidad and Hanshaw were winning rounds just by throwing punches. Hopkins would throw punches but he would be smarter and is actually bigger/punches hard enough to hurt Jones, unlike Joe, Trinidad and Hanshaw because they were not as big as them and Roy only fought them because they weren't knock out threats. If he wanted to, Bernard could walk Jones down just as he did Winky( who is a better fighter than Roy at this point).

[them_apples]

he'd knock Jones out now. When he called Jones out in 2000(?) I'd give him a good chance to, that was his peak.

Still, prime Jones is almost too quick for anyone. Aside from Hearns, based on a styles make fights standpoint, Hearns could probably KO a prime Jones. If Jones didn't get to him first.

[LondonRingRules]

If he wanted to, Bernard could walk Jones down just as he did Winky( who is a better fighter than Roy at this point).

** Winky pushed Poppy hard and had him stunned with a big punch mid rounds. Poppy had to butt Wink to distract him and take the edge off his game. He won a political decision. The past few years Popkins has had 3 losses, 3 wins, and only comprehensive wins he had was over a weight drained Tarver almost as old as him and Pavlik which I give him credit for an outstanding fight, a true masterclass, but a young middleweight, not LH.

You still haven't made a case for when he starts to beat Roy. You don't turn down big money fights if you're worried about winning. Lets not forget that Roy beat a younger, much more motivated Tarver already. Roy is easy to pile on these days and he has lost something, but so has Poppy.

I know Roy can't beat Dawson, Johnson, or Erdei, but Popkins couldn't beat the above save maybe Erdei who's a very unrrated boxer, but also fairly untested.

Roy has only been beaten by 2 very big, strong, offensive oriented fighters with good chins and one offensive dynamo, not an elderly defensive 10 punch a round fighter. The last legit middle Poppy knocked out is what, Hakkar some 6 yrs ago? Criminy, Hakkar, that's who he fought after turning down Roy and Joe.

Obviously never KOed anyone at LH, so I'm at a loss as to the logistics of how he beats Roy when on paper he's just as doddering. Hasn't fought but a single legit LH to say he's got a better chin than Roy either. He may currently have the higher Ring ranking and better recent competition, but he's not that much higher than Roy who's still a ranked fighter. Both overrated at this point, but the rankings always reflect the past, not the current or future which is why the upsets.

[Brockton Lip]

he'd knock Jones out now. When he called Jones out in 2000(?) I'd give him a good chance to, that was his peak.

Still, prime Jones is almost too quick for anyone. Aside from Hearns, based on a styles make fights standpoint, Hearns could probably KO a prime Jones. If Jones didn't get to him first.

I actually agree on all accounts.

[andrewcuff]

he'd knock Jones out now. When he called Jones out in 2000(?) I'd give him a good chance to, that was his peak.

Still, prime Jones is almost too quick for anyone. Aside from Hearns, based on a styles make fights standpoint, Hearns could probably KO a prime Jones. If Jones didn't get to him first.

I think B-Hop would have been to smart for Jones in 2000. It was quite funny when he called him out on live TV. Poor Roy looked stumped for words!