[Danny]

I use the term 'elite' loosely but you know what I mean, the guys at the top of the tree. There's plenty of interesting fights between the likes of Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson, Mikkel Kessler, Lucian Bute, Jean Pascal, Arthur Abraham and Andre Dirrell that could still materialize or could have materialised at a point, say Bute-Pascal before he got destroyed by Froch, or Kessler-Hopkins a couple of years ago.

So what fights involving these guys would you have liked to have seen or would still like to see happen? And what are your thoughts on fights such as:

Froch vs Dawson now at a 170 catchweight.
Froch vs Hopkins now, let's say again 170 or 172.
Kessler vs Hopkins in 2010 - 170.
Kessler vs Dawson at a 170 catchweight.
Froch vs Pascal rematch in 2010, 170/172.
Bute vs Hopkins before he got destroyed by Froch, 170.
Bute-Abraham now.
Ward-Hopkins at 170 in 2009.
Dirrell vs Hopkins 2010 - 170.
Dirrell vs Kessler 2010.

Feel free to chip in with any thoughts on those match-ups or as mentioned, any that intrigue you that you'd like to discuss.

 

[Back to Bill]

The only fights that stand out from that weight range, both involve Froch in rematches, Pascal and Kessler, I suppose you could add Ward v Hopkins if you was struggling to sleep ?

 

[Danny]

The only fights that stand out from that weight range, both involve Froch in rematches, Pascal and Kessler, I suppose you could add Ward v Hopkins if you was struggling to sleep ?

I think it would be interesting if you did it a few years ago though. Say 2009 after Hopkins came off his Pavlik win and just before Ward entered the Super 6 and beat Kessler. Would he be wiley enough back then to convincingly beat the veternan? Would he be able to correctly handle the pressures of fighting somebody like Hopkins in his first world-level fight, who's coming off an excellent win too?

 

[Roe]

Froch vs Dawson now at a 170 catchweight - Froch overpowers him IMO, Dawson could frustrate and win a few rounds but I'd fancy Froch 8-4/7-5 kinda thing if he doesn't manage to stop him.

Froch vs Hopkins now, let's say again 170 or 172 - Froch might drop a couple of rounds early on but the longer it goes on the more Froch would dominate as Hopkins would just do nothing. Froch probably doesn't stop him though but wins 9 or 10 rounds.

Kessler vs Hopkins in 2010 - 170 - Kessler edges decision, something like 116-112.

Kessler vs Dawson at a 170 catchweight - Very close if Dawson's on form IMO. I think Kessler may just do the better work. Tight decision.

Froch vs Pascal rematch in 2010, 170/172 - Another war, Froch wins again though.

Bute vs Hopkins before he got destroyed by Froch, 170 - A good stylistic matchup for Bute IMO. I think it'd be close but Bute could just nick it. Wouldn't be surprised if Hopkins made him look silly.

Bute-Abraham now - I haven't seen Abraham's last fight but I'd still fancy him to stop Bute.

Ward-Hopkins at 170 in 2009 - Horrible fight to watch. Ward outhustles him 8-4/9-3.

Dirrell vs Hopkins 2010 - 170 - Another dull fight. Hopkins would spoil, Dirrell would be too fast and just outpoint Bernard widely.

Dirrell vs Kessler 2010 - Interesting one this. I think it could be a bit similar to Dirrell/Abraham but with Kessler being better. I think either Kessler knocks him out or edges a very close decision.

 

[Back to Bill]

I think it would be interesting if you did it a few years ago though. Say 2009 after Hopkins came off his Pavlik win and just before Ward entered the Super 6 and beat Kessler. Would he be wiley enough back then to convincingly beat the veternan? Would he be able to correctly handle the pressures of fighting somebody like Hopkins in his first world-level fight, who's coming off an excellent win too?

I agree there, I would think Hopkins may have won back then, although Ward was very much an unknown quantity and seems too perform to the level of the opponent, it's not unreasonable to think he could have beaten Hopkins?

Interesting fight at that point, both very intelligent and have a unique way of nullifying the opponents strength.

 

[Michael]

Fucking hate catchweights.

 

[Chatty]

Froch would smash Dawson 9 in the first half of the fight imo, would just drag him out of his comfort zone and dawson wouldn't handle it.

Froch-Hopkins would be interesting, I think Hopkins would frustrate the hell out of him and score the better shots a bit like what Johnson did but better. It would go 12 and froch would probably get the nod but it would be close enough for people to cry robbery.

Ward would win a lop sided decision over Hopkins in what would be a slow sleepful fight. i wouldn't want to watch it.

Not sure where I stand on kessler, I think he's on the slide but its hard to tell how much as he has been destroying inferior competition. Green put him down and it was fairly close come the knockout so i think he gets beat of Froch and Hop and would have a close fight with Dawson although he may have the power to stop Chad.

I dunno where to begin with dirrell, quality boxer but his heart doesn't seem to be in it, not sure he has the mentality to beat any of the above.

 

[w;dkm ckeqfjq c]

I use the term 'elite' loosely but you know what I mean, the guys at the top of the tree. There's plenty of interesting fights between the likes of Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson, Mikkel Kessler, Lucian Bute, Jean Pascal, Arthur Abraham and Andre Dirrell that could still materialize or could have materialised at a point, say Bute-Pascal before he got destroyed by Froch, or Kessler-Hopkins a couple of years ago.

So what fights involving these guys would you have liked to have seen or would still like to see happen? And what are your thoughts on fights such as:

Froch vs Dawson now at a 170 catchweight.
Froch vs Hopkins now, let's say again 170 or 172.
Kessler vs Hopkins in 2010 - 170.
Kessler vs Dawson at a 170 catchweight.
Froch vs Pascal rematch in 2010, 170/172.
Bute vs Hopkins before he got destroyed by Froch, 170.
Bute-Abraham now.
Ward-Hopkins at 170 in 2009.
Dirrell vs Hopkins 2010 - 170.
Dirrell vs Kessler 2010.

Feel free to chip in with any thoughts on those match-ups or as mentioned, any that intrigue you that you'd like to discuss.

Frock KO Dawson
Hopkins - Froch is the most interesting one IMO. Can't really decide.
Hopkins beats Kessler. You saw how frustrated Kessler got by Wards dirty tactics, Hopkins is the king of dirt.
Kessler KO Dawson
Froch UD Pascal probably
Hopkins would do his thing and expose Bute, wouldn't stop him though, just rough him up.
Bute probably decisions this Abraham.
Ward - Hopkins would be boring as shit. Probably a TD either way with it being stopped from cuts by headbutting.
Not seen enough of Dirrell to say for either of these fights.

IMO

 

[adamcanavan]

Froch vs Dawson now at a 170 catchweight - Froch overpowers him IMO, Dawson could frustrate and win a few rounds but I'd fancy Froch 8-4/7-5 kinda thing if he doesn't manage to stop him.

Froch vs Hopkins now, let's say again 170 or 172 - Froch might drop a couple of rounds early on but the longer it goes on the more Froch would dominate as Hopkins would just do nothing. Froch probably doesn't stop him though but wins 9 or 10 rounds.

Kessler vs Hopkins in 2010 - 170 - Kessler edges decision, something like 116-112.

Kessler vs Dawson at a 170 catchweight - Very close if Dawson's on form IMO. I think Kessler may just do the better work. Tight decision.

Froch vs Pascal rematch in 2010, 170/172 - Another war, Froch wins again though.

Bute vs Hopkins before he got destroyed by Froch, 170 - A good stylistic matchup for Bute IMO. I think it'd be close but Bute could just nick it. Wouldn't be surprised if Hopkins made him look silly.

Bute-Abraham now - I haven't seen Abraham's last fight but I'd still fancy him to stop Bute.

Ward-Hopkins at 170 in 2009 - Horrible fight to watch. Ward outhustles him 8-4/9-3.

Dirrell vs Hopkins 2010 - 170 - Another dull fight. Hopkins would spoil, Dirrell would be too fast and just outpoint Bernard widely.

Dirrell vs Kessler 2010 - Interesting one this. I think it could be a bit similar to Dirrell/Abraham but with Kessler being better. I think either Kessler knocks him out or edges a very close decision.

Do you think there's anyone at all Hopkins could beat?

 

[Roe]

Do you think there's anyone at all Hopkins could beat?

I'd probably back him to beat Pascal once more if they ever fought again. I think he has a decent chance against Tavoris Cloud as well.

 

[scribbs]

I would like to see Dawson - Ward II at Dawson's proper weight limit instead of him going into a fight handicapped with all the deck stacked for Dawson. Ward would probably win but would be a more even fight, maybe not great but still curious how it would play out. Froch vs Anyone listed especially Ward, Kessler & Pascal

 

[w;dkm ckeqfjq c]

Nobody else thing Hopkins beats Kessler in 2010?