In 2005 both Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) and Arthur Abraham (42-4, 29 KOs) were 160 pound world champions. Hopkins would lose his title to unbeaten Jermain Hopkins that same year. Abraham would win the world title that Taylor vacated at the end of that year. Ironically Hopkins failed in his attempt to become champion again in the rematch versus Taylor in the same month that Abraham won his world title. Hopkins went straight to the light heavyweight division following the losses to Taylor in back to back fights. Abraham would remain at 160 for another 4 years eventually vacated his world title to enter the famed Super 6 super middleweight tournament.
Timing more than anything seems to have stopped this fight from happening in years past. The timing seems right now. Abraham is coming off of a victory over former world champion Robert Stieglitz. Abraham defeated Stieglitz for the third time in four fights. Hopkins is coming off of a one sided but gallant effort in defeat to unbeaten light heavyweight champion Sergei Kovalev. Hopkins skipped over the super middleweight division and the idea of winning a world title there has his interest. Abraham did not fare well at all in the super middleweight tournament. He has not beaten any high profile names of note since the tournament. Hopkins is 50 but still very crafty and would be the biggest game Abraham would have defeated thus far in his career.
The fight itself would sell much better in Germany than it would in the U.S. as both are known to boxing fans in Germany. Hopkins has shown that he has no fear of challenging for a world title on foreign soil. He showed this most recently in two fights in Montreal, Canada against local favorite and defending world champion Jean Pascal. The first fight was a draw and Hopkins defeated Pascal to become champion in the rematch. A win over Abraham would be a nice way for Hopkins to close out his hall of fame career. A win over Hopkins would give Abraham some credit that he may not have been giving thus far from some critics. This fight alluded some fans 10 years ago so hopefully we can get the answer of who would have beaten the other real soon.
