Hopkins: First man to hold WBC,WBA,IBF & WBO TITLES

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 . 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.

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 bitch. Everyone in the world should respect Hopkins. He is a legendary and accomplished champion.

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 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 . 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.

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 pussy. 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.

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."

I mean, we aren't going to haul off and call Marvin Hagler a pussy 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 pussy. 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.

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 pussy 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!

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 shit 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???

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.

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 pussy 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:

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...

: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.

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:

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:

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

b hop is the man

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..

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 pussy 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 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.