Its true and Hopkins is the first man in boxing history to hold all four of these belts at the same time in one weight division. And, he didn`t win like two titles at the same time, he beat the individual champions, a great feat in todays age where your stripped of the title for not fighting someone like Richard Frazier etc..

I did not know that, hmmm, interesting, I may have to look into that one! Thanks...

first man to have 5 belts if you include the Ring Mag title

Yes he is the first to hold all four of the dominant belts.

Wow...never realize that... thank for the info.

Its true and Hopkins is the first man in boxing history to hold all four of these belts at the same time in one weight division. And, he didn`t win like two titles at the same time, he beat the individual champions, a great feat in todays age where your stripped of the title for not fighting someone like Richard Frazier etc..

who is Richard Frazier?

who is Richard Frazier?

Blahahahaha

There have been dozens of fighters who could have easily won every belt in their division, but most of those fighters chose to win titles in multiple divisions. Is there any doubt that DeLaHoya could have won every meaningful belt at 130 or 135 if he had stuck around? Same goes for Morales at 122. Hopkins accomplished this feat by staying away from the elite 168 pounders while he was in his prime at 160 (ex Jones, Nigel Benn, even Charles Brewer!). Let's not make a big deal about a guy staying at 1 weight his whole career.

There have been dozens of fighters who could have easily won every belt in their division, but most of those fighters chose to win titles in multiple divisions. Is there any doubt that DeLaHoya could have won every meaningful belt at 130 or 135 if he had stuck around? Same goes for Morales at 122. Hopkins accomplished this feat by staying away from the elite 168 pounders while he was in his prime at 160 (ex Jones, Nigel Benn, even Charles Brewer!). Let's not make a big deal about a guy staying at 1 weight his whole career.
u make it sound like he soft, When your in a division and u dominate for your whole time there, that speaks for itself, being in diff divisions is good. Being dominant in your main division, division you start at and then end your career at when he chooses to, thats speaks for itself, Its dependant on how the fighter sees it, but its not for anybody but the fighter to really argue agaisnt it. You fight at the weight your comfortable in, he train hard, If thats the weight his body fights at optimally and naturally, thats what he's going fight at, and he know's that. Its good to know your opponents, Its better to know yourself, he does, Micky Ward did, he stayed at Jr. Welterweight his whole career. When you know where, how, and what your body is capable of, its a better advantage than knowing what your opponents capable of. Think bout it bruh

I never have liked Hopkins. His achievements dont impress me.

Bullying a welterweight around in DeLaHoya pi*sed me off.

Beating Tito broke my heart :(

If he can repeat the one and 'singular' meaningful achievement of his boring career, I'll pay him his dues.

oh ... and fight Calzaghe you old fart, be a fu*king man.

I never have liked Hopkins. His achievements dont impress me.

Bullying a welterweight around in DeLaHoya pi*sed me off.

Beating Tito broke my heart :(

If he can repeat the one and 'singular' meaningful achievement of his boring career, I'll pay him his dues.

oh ... and fight Calzaghe you old fart, be a fu*king man.

Fight Calzaghe, Toney, Tarver, Jones, etc, etc, etc!! Any of them will do for me, he's called everyone out from the higher weights but never fought one, he's knows these guys cant come down to fight him so he should move up or shut up, simple as.

I have more respect for him than you do but i definitly agree with your points :cool:

first man to have 5 belts if you include the Ring Mag title

those five belts i also hope to see on one guy in the featherweights...

I for one respect any man who steps in the ring and can become a true champion. Hopkins has done that. I do feel he is overated and has accomplished most of his record against weak competition and his greatest victories have come against smaller men. The only man he fought in his weight class that I considered a legitimate challenge at middleweight was Roy Jones and he lost that fight. Beating Tito and Oscar does not prove Hopkins is a great fighter, it proves he can beat smaller fighters. He never fought Toney, Jackson, Benn, or any other top notch middleweight in their prime, unless you consider Holmes, Allen top notch. Hopkins has been fortunate to have fought in the middleweight dulldrums for most of his career and has not fought a current middleweight great and won. So I can't put BHOP on that pedestal.

he definitely has my respect, but he'll hav it even more so if he goes up in weight and takes on the bigger fighters. (i think he said after defence #20 then he'll do that)

Its true and Hopkins is the first man in boxing history to hold all four of these belts at the same time in one weight division. And, he didn`t win like two titles at the same time, he beat the individual champions, a great feat in todays age where your stripped of the title for not fighting someone like Richard Frazier etc..
Interesting info.:)

first man to have 5 belts if you include the Ring Mag title

Nobody outside Ring Magazine does though.

He has my respect for sure, and I don't think he ever consciously ducked anyone.

He's the most solid player in the game right now, and easily top 3 pfp.

Yes, Hopkins earned my respect. Hey, wouldn't you respect a fighter who has defended his title 19 times.

Listen to Hopkins' press conferences, "Trinidad this, Trinidad that." The only truly worthwhile thing he ever did was defeat a favored Felix Trinidad.

In response to the public's accusations of him beating up on smaller men, his fans treat the Vanderpool's, Echols' fights as if he had just beaten natural heavyweights just because they *might have been* physically bigger middleweights than him, when they were probably only slightly bigger than him at best, and mostly lacking in skill.
Hell, De La Hoya can probably kick the butt of a fighter of Yory Boy Campas' caliber's 20 times in a row; after all, Campas is bigger and stronger than De La Hoya, right?

He cemented his legacy by letting a former Jr.Lightweight in De La Hoya hang around for 9 rounds and even win a few rounds. He wants 20 middleweight defenses, he says. Not the legacy of having won against inside-the-ring adversity, but title defenses, and he chooses either mediocre middleweights, or much smaller champions moving up in weight.

Can you say, paper champion? hahaha. As in has the tangible credredentials and nothing of intangible legacy?

If he doesn't live up to his promise to move up in weight after the Eastman fight [his 20th defense], I will lose the little respect I've had for him as a boxer.

I did not know that! Good info!!

Interesting. Thanks for the info!

Hopkins earned Tito's respect, and he's got mine too.

It doesn't matter what division it is - if you have one fighter who has completely dominated that division, for that many years, and has defended the title that many times, you have to respect that fighter.

If you have ever tried to maintain a weight that is below your natural weight, then you have to realize just how hard it is to stay at or rather "in" that weight division.

Imagine you are a kid wrestling in Jr. High at 136lbs, then as you began wrestling in High School, you were walking around at 150lbs, but you can't weigh that much for wrestling season, you have to diet back down and stay at 136lbs - now imagine trying to stay at 136lbs through 4 years of High School, but you're not done, you have to stay at 136 through all 4 years of college too - still think you have what it takes?! --- I sure didn't.

Hopkins has done it.

I like Hopkins but i think he will run into a wall against Taylor. (a bigger true middle weight) Taylor is still young and has a few fights before he is ready but if he continues to improve i think he could dethrone the champ.

I have love for Hopkins. If the only knock on him that people can find is that he never moved up in weight, then I think he'll be able to live with that. The man has accomplished a lot in his career and continues to dominate the sport today AT THE AGE OF 40! I think a lot of people overlook that. He's maybe lost about 10 rounds in the last 5 years...he's simply a freak of nature. I mean, we aren't going to haul off and call Marvin Hagler a ***** for never moving up in weight and for staying a middleweight are we?

As for Hopkins vs. the lot of Middle's today...I cannot see anyone beating him this year. He's too strong and rough for Taylor and Sturm...who are in many ways still very raw. He would duplicate what he did to Tito. His discipline and savvy are what keeps him going strong. I just hope I don't eat my words if Eastman hands him his ass(which he won't of course).

hopkins has earned the respect of many. But he'll earn mine if he could put an end to the curse of the EA sports..

b hop is the man

Another question could be: Has Hopkins done enough to gain Hagler's respect? I believe the answer is a resounding: Yes, he has! :cool:

hopkins has earned the respect of many. But he'll earn mine if he could put an end to the curse of the EA sports..
:D Although I am aware that this may be a really dumb question, I'm going to risk asking it anyway. What is "the curse of EA Sports"??? :confused:

Let's not make a big deal about a guy staying at 1 weight his whole career.

IMO Staying in one weight is Fine. I dont remember anybody asking Marvin Hagler to move during his Prime. Its shows how dedicated and desciplined guys like hagler and Hopkins are.

Nobody can question their legacy just because they didnt invade the heavier division. :cool:

:D Although I am aware that this may be a really dumb question, I'm going to risk asking it anyway. What is "the curse of EA Sports"??? :confused:


It's not a dumb question.

The EA curse is a series of unfortunate events that have continuously happened to athletes who have appeared on the covers of EA brand sports video games. This includes injuries and just flat out bad seasons.

This has happened to Daunte Culpepper, Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony, Roy Jones Junior...among others.

If you look at the season of the year that they were placed on the cover, or the next years season, it is true for all of these guys. So what is being implied is that theres a curse and if you are on the cover of an EA sports game (Hopkins is this year) then you will have a bad season. In Hopkins case, people are expecting him to get knocked out or lose a couple of decisions thus breaking his record for consecutive title defenses.

Its true and Hopkins is the first man in boxing history to hold all four of these belts at the same time in one weight division. And, he didn`t win like two titles at the same time, he beat the individual champions, a great feat in todays age where your stripped of the title for not fighting someone like Richard Frazier etc..


Wow that's really something.
Especially when you're the first to do it...

I have love for Hopkins. If the only knock on him that people can find is that he never moved up in weight, then I think he'll be able to live with that. The man has accomplished a lot in his career and continues to dominate the sport today AT THE AGE OF 40! I think a lot of people overlook that. He's maybe lost about 10 rounds in the last 5 years...he's simply a freak of nature. I mean, we aren't going to haul off and call Marvin Hagler a ***** for never moving up in weight and for staying a middleweight are we?

As for Hopkins vs. the lot of Middle's today...I cannot see anyone beating him this year. He's too strong and rough for Taylor and Sturm...who are in many ways still very raw. He would duplicate what he did to Tito. His discipline and savvy are what keeps him going strong. I just hope I don't eat my words if Eastman hands him his ass(which he won't of course).
:D Right On Dude Cat :D You're hittin' all the nails right on the head :cool:

Hopkins is unbeatable at this point in time.
There's no one out there right now who can post a serious threat to the man.

It's not a dumb question.

The EA curse is a series of unfortunate events that have continuously happened to athletes who have appeared on the covers of EA brand sports video games. This includes injuries and just flat out bad seasons.

This has happened to Daunte Culpepper, Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony, Roy Jones Junior...among others.

If you look at the season of the year that they were placed on the cover, or the next years season, it is true for all of these guys. So what is being implied is that theres a curse and if you are on the cover of an EA sports game (Hopkins is this year) then you will have a bad season. In Hopkins case, people are expecting him to get knocked out or lose a couple of decisions thus breaking his record for consecutive title defenses.
Wow~that's some really heavy **** man~that is truely bizarre~DAMN~I don't know what to say to that, except that IT SUCKS!!!~What the hell is that about???

I have love for Hopkins. If the only knock on him that people can find is that he never moved up in weight, then I think he'll be able to live with that. The man has accomplished a lot in his career and continues to dominate the sport today AT THE AGE OF 40! I think a lot of people overlook that. He's maybe lost about 10 rounds in the last 5 years...he's simply a freak of nature. I mean, we aren't going to haul off and call Marvin Hagler a ***** for never moving up in weight and for staying a middleweight are we?

As for Hopkins vs. the lot of Middle's today...I cannot see anyone beating him this year. He's too strong and rough for Taylor and Sturm...who are in many ways still very raw. He would duplicate what he did to Tito. His discipline and savvy are what keeps him going strong. I just hope I don't eat my words if Eastman hands him his ass(which he won't of course).

I agree with Stix, you said it man!

I mean, we aren't going to haul off and call Marvin Hagler a ***** for never moving up in weight and for staying a middleweight are we?

Hagler was one of a kind. He actually did fight bigger men especially bigger men with skills: Thomas Hearns, John Mugabi, or simply better fighters overall: Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, who both won titles at SuperMiddleWeight.

Other than kicking Tito Trinidad's butt, and going undefeated for 11 years against smaller men/mediocre middleweights, what else has Hopkins done?

If that's the measure of which we can regard a boxer as great, then yes, we can call Hopkins a *****.

I respect the man for how he's turned his life around, but damn, he needs to face true in-ring adversity more than once-a-decade to be considered one of the greats. And adversity happens to be north of 160lbs.

Imagine you are a kid wrestling in Jr. High at 136lbs, then as you began wrestling in High School, you were walking around at 150lbs, but you can't weigh that much for wrestling season, you have to diet back down and stay at 136lbs - now imagine trying to stay at 136lbs through 4 years of High School, but you're not done, you have to stay at 136 through all 4 years of college too - still think you have what it takes?! --- I sure didn't.

You "didn't have what it takes" because what happens between Jr.High and College is adolesence and growth spurts. Hopkins has neither working against him, and I think people give him too much credit for "working to stay at one weight."

Hagler was one of a kind. He actually did fight bigger men especially bigger men with skills: Thomas Hearns, John Mugabi, or simply better fighters overall: Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, who both won titles at SuperMiddleWeight.

Other than kicking Tito Trinidad's butt, and going undefeated for 11 years against smaller men/mediocre middleweights, what else has Hopkins done?

If that's the measure of which we can regard a boxer as great, then yes, we can call Hopkins a *****.

I respect the man for how he's turned his life around, but damn, he needs to face true in-ring adversity more than once-a-decade to be considered one of the greats.

You have valid points, and I love Marvin Hagler, but he wasn't so much different from Hopkins. If you are using the argument that he fought bigger men then you CANNOT use Hearns as an example as he's a nautral 140/147 pounder who moved up...much like Trinidad. Duran was a natural lighweight who moved up because of his cajones...much like DLH.

Hopkins has fought bigger guys such as Antwun Echols. Echols had one of the biggest punches in the sport and Hop shut him down.

Theres no doubt that Hagler's quality of competition was much higher than that of Hopkins...but that's not what is in question. A fighter should only be able to stay in his weight class for his career if he only fights top notch comp all of the time? That doesn't make much sense to me.

If you cannot see dominating your division for a decade and thwarting anybody who stepped up to fight you as great...then nothing anyone says is going to change your mind about him. Just the fact that he's controlled the division and has almost set the record for title defenses is amazing enough. You can't only measure worth by a fighter moving up in weight and seeking out every hard fight possible. Hell, its not 'Nards fault that he hasn't had a live opponent in the last decade. It's not so impressive that he's sat at 160 and won...it's how he won. He's ruled with an iron fist.

Hopkins has all-time skills. That's undeniable. He would stack up competitively with ANY past great middleweight. The fight he had with Jones would have been much closer had he been the Hopkins of today. Hopkins should be seen as being great in anyone's book...unless of course you just don't like him or his demeanor.

I respect your opinion, but many have stepped up to fight Hopkins: Antonio Tarver, James Toney, Roy Jones Jr. rematch, Joe Calzaghe....guys like these were willing to fight Hopkins after he called them out and what does he do? Continue fighting the Hakkars, Joppys, etc. and in laughable fashion, fight a former Jr.Lightweight champion in De La Hoya. Whose the only man of worth he has beaten? Trinidad?

Echols had a big punch but little else. Many will say he fought bigger guys in Echols, Vanderpool, Johnson etc. but in reality, these guys were only sightly bigger if not the same size, and Hopkins could effortlessly take his large, 6'1" frame into the higher weights just as easily as they did. Remember, his first pro bout was at LightHeavy, and he lost that bout.

He has the titles, but nothing of intangible legacy to go along with all them pretty belts. He has ducked true in-ring adversity. His fight with Trinidad was incredibly brilliant, a perfect fight if I've ever seen one, and an all time effort. But one all-time battle does not make a legend.

There is still hope. In a Hopkins vs. Allen conference he promised to move up in weight after his 20th MW defense [Howard Eastman]. If he does this and flourishes against the likes of Jeff Lacy, Paul Briggs, Calzaghe, Tarver etc. then I will recognize him as an all-time great and boxing legend.

Hopkins is a very good to great fighter but not all-time....I believe he would not stack up to the likes of Marvin Hagler. In my opinion, he is not a boxing legend.

I feel if he wins his next two fights he will go down as a legend. Otherwise he will just go down as a really good fighter. (Hopkins Vs Taylor in 05 is my hope)

I never have liked Hopkins. His achievements dont impress me.

Bullying a welterweight around in DeLaHoya pi*sed me off.

Beating Tito broke my heart :(

If he can repeat the one and 'singular' meaningful achievement of his boring career, I'll pay him his dues.

oh ... and fight Calzaghe you old fart, be a fu*king man.


so he has to move up in weight (to fight Calzaghe) to be a man? Are you sick? By the way, he didnt beat Tito, he made Tito his *****. Everyone in the world should respect Hopkins. He is a legendary and accomplished champion.

I respect your opinion, but many have stepped up to fight Hopkins: Antonio Tarver, James Toney, Roy Jones Jr. rematch, Joe Calzaghe....guys like these were willing to fight Hopkins after he called them out and what does he do? Continue fighting the Hakkars, Joppys, etc. and in laughable fashion, fight a former Jr.Lightweight champion in De La Hoya. Whose the only man of worth he has beaten? Trinidad?

Echols had a big punch but little else. Many will say he fought bigger guys in Echols, Vanderpool, Johnson etc. but in reality, these guys were only sightly bigger if not the same size, and Hopkins could effortlessly take his large, 6'1" frame into the higher weights just as easily as they did. Remember, his first pro bout was at LightHeavy, and he lost that bout.

He has the titles, but nothing of intangible legacy to go along with all them pretty belts. He has ducked true in-ring adversity. His fight with Trinidad was incredibly brilliant, a perfect fight if I've ever seen one, and an all time effort. But one all-time battle does not make a legend.

There is still hope. In a Hopkins vs. Allen conference he promised to move up in weight after his 20th MW defense [Howard Eastman]. If he does this and flourishes against the likes of Jeff Lacy, Paul Briggs, Calzaghe, Tarver etc. then I will recognize him as an all-time great and boxing legend.

Hopkins is a very good to great fighter but not all-time....I believe he would not stack up to the likes of Marvin Hagler. In my opinion, he is not a boxing legend.


No one would call Hagler's win over Duran laughable. Isn't it alright for Hopkins to seek out a big pay day once in awhile? He already fought Roy Jones and lost. There would be no rematch because neither wanted to see eye to eye on money issues. James Toney hasn't even been at supermiddle since '94....you really think that he could have come all the way down to fight Hop? Hopkins is the undisputed champ at 160...guys like Calzaghe should come to him not vice versa.

You simply place to much emphasis on moving up in weight. It's really not all it's cracked up to be. What's more important?...staying at one weight and dominating or moving up several weight classes and being slaughtered or winning in controversial fashion (ala DLH, SRL, etc...)

If Hopkins moves up and beats Calzaghe or Lacy or Briggs...what makes that enough to be seen as great? None of these guys are all-time greats. None of these guys will probably ever be top ten best in their respective division all-time, besides maybe Lacy who could still be great. Beating a green Lacy, an ordinary Briggs or an overrated Calzaghe doesn't make someone great.

I guess we'll agree to disagree aero...but Hopkins has the old-school savvy and dominating presence that would certainly stack him among the top 4 or 5 middleweights all-time.