Who fought the harder version of Hopkins?

Take age out of the question I bet most would vote differently, I mean it's not much space between Jones anyway. For me it was Joe, as Hopkins went out the most negative I've seen him, ruining the opponents style of chances for winning clearly, by clinching, holding, running, butting, time wasting and more.

Joe beat Hopkins pretty comfortable in reality. Watching that fight a 2nd time is like watching another fight. Hopkins was showing signs of age.

Hopkins wasn't fully primed when he faced Roy, and he was showin his age when he faced Joe C.

Glen Johnson and Tito Trinidad were unfortunate to face the best Hopkins there ever was (in my opinion from the late 1990's to the early 2000's). Out of those three options, Jermain Taylor faced the best Hopkins. Hopkins was capable of beating Taylor but he went into the fight with the wrong gameplan, gave up too many of the early rounds and could not finish Taylor in the late rounds. Against Joe, Hopkins looked every bit of his age. He could not unload punches even when he wanted to. Against Roy, Hopkins had only been active for 3 years as a pro and struggled with Mercado a year after. His style was completely different. Answer the question, homeboy :boxing:

Glen Johnson and Tito Trinidad were unfortunate to face the best Hopkins there ever was (in my opinion from the late 1990's to the early 2000's). Out of those three options, Jermain Taylor faced the best Hopkins. Hopkins was capable of beating Taylor but he went into the fight with the wrong gameplan, gave up too many of the early rounds and could not finish Taylor in the late rounds. Against Joe, Hopkins looked every bit of his age. He could not unload punches even when he wanted to. Against Roy, Hopkins had only been active for 3 years as a pro and struggled with Mercado a year after. His style was completely different.

i vote for taylor

Calzaghe fought a #4 P4P Hopkins. When Roy fought Hopkins, he was about 8 years short of appearing on a P4P. Also, he had just gone up two divisions to beat the undisputed champ, and beat another P4P fighter. Compare these two wins to the two wins he had before facing Jones - Tarver and Winky vs. Gilbert Baptist and Wayne Powell?! Come on , it's not even close. Today's version of Hopkins is petrified of fighting. I agree that it's not even close.

Calzaghe fought a #4 P4P Hopkins. When Roy fought Hopkins, he was about 8 years short of appearing on a P4P. Also, he had just gone up two divisions to beat the undisputed champ, and beat another P4P fighter. Compare these two wins to the two wins he had before facing Jones - Tarver and Winky vs. Gilbert Baptist and Wayne Powell?! Come on , it's not even close.

Glencoffe Johnson

WHat about Trinidad or De La Hoya? They're too small to be mentioned

WHat about Trinidad or De La Hoya?

Jones easily fought the better version of Hop. You can make a case for Taylor fighting the best version of the three.

Calzaghe fought the hardest version if Hopkins....Hopkins is the Randy Couture of boxing, he's like a fine wine that gets better with age...Calzaghe clearly beat a top p4p fighter that just came off a shutout win over the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champ in Tarver and a victory over one of the top p4p fighters in Winky Wright.

Roy fought the hungrier, fresher Hopkins.

My vote is for Taylor since that's an option. Bernard wasn't showing signs of stopping his 160 reign. He was starvin himself somewhat but he was still the man. I think he was the best out of the other choices. Bernard used the wrong gameplan against Jermain.

I would say the Hopkins of the Echols fights was very good. He had a lot of experience then but also still had the ability to have a good work rate. The Hopkins that RJJ beat won 20+ fights before and after RJJ. The one that fought Calz had lost 2 of his last 4. RJJ also fought Hopkins at his natural weight. So my vote is for RJJ.

Roy fought a Green Hopkins and Joe fought a Gray Hopkins, its a toss up. Exactly. The best version of Hopkins was around 2000-2004 and Trinidad got teaste of that Hopkins. He was just right at that time. Enough experience, great shape and in just the right prime....not too young not too old.

Roy fought a Green Hopkins and Joe fought a Gray Hopkins, its a toss up.