By Doug Hattier: I’d like to start by saying that even though I am no longer hyper-opinionated; I would be negligent if I failed to mention that real Philly Boxing fans couldn’t give a shit about World Boxing History. Humbly speaking Philadelphia is an animal all to itself in the world of Boxing, but that argument I will save for another blog. Anyway this little exercise is going to attempt to place Hopkins in his rightful place amongst the Philly Titans.
In order to do this I have put together for your viewing pleasure a less subjective scale in order to try an objectively rate fighters from different eras. I am going to use the five point must system to rate what I think are the most relevant issues. Multiply era, record, quality of opposition and punch. I suppose we should call this system Doug’s Quotient or DQ for short, which is appropriate since if you can follow my logic you would be DQ’d for sure! Now comes the hard part, which is who should I compare and contrast him with, since I didn’t wait to the very last minute, for a change. I choose “Bad Bennie” Briscoe, “Smokin Joe” Frazier, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Joey Giardello and “Terrible Tim” Witherspoon..
ERA RECORD QUALITY PUNCH TOTAL
Schmokin Joe 5.5 4.44 5 5 611
Saad 5 3.55 5 5 444
Joey Giardello 5 3.97 4.5 4 393
Terrible Tim 4 4.04 4 5 323
Bernard 3.5 4.56 5 4 319
Bad Bennie 4 3.67 4 4 264
I would also like to add some other relevant data such as from December of 1992 thru June of 2006 Nard hasn’t fought nothing but titles fights, save one, winning 26, losing one to a prime Roy Jones and two to a prime Jermain Taylor questionable draw with 18-2 Segundo Mercado in Ecuador and NC with 22-2 Robert Allen.
Now what would be the instructions if Willie “Reds” Reddish, or Ron Aurit, or Sonny McCord or Frank Kubash or Eddie Mustafa Muhammad were in their corners. Hopkins would be told that Dawson doesn’t really believe in himself, otherwise he would commit with his punches instead of laying on his back foot and skeedaddling. So when he punches, you punch, one for one, that is your mantra and that will bring you a “W”. Patiently walk him down, cover and counter. Dawson would be told Hopkins gonna trip over his own beard so push him back from the first to the last bell, oh and if you’re concerned about being hit you’re in the wrong business. When he throws his overhand right Hail MARY punch he is wide open for a left uppercut. So what gonna happen, Dawson ain’t gonna run as much as he usually does, but still ain’t gonna commit. Hopkins gonna fire that overhand right, hold and unleash some back-a-the head-ppercuts. Good thing it ain’t PPS pay-per-spew! Now I add divisor to rate fan friendly:
ERA RECORD QUALITY PUNCH TOTAL GAZANGAS TOTAL
Schmokin Joe 5.5 4.44 5 5 611 .75 814
Saad 5 3.55 5 5 444 .5 888
Joey Giardello 5 3.97 4.5 4 393 1.25 314
Terrible Tim 4 4.04 4 5 323 1.0 323
Bernard 3.5 4.56 5 4 319 1.5 213
Bad Bennie 4 3.67 4 4 264 .5 528
Gots to go!