Around what fight did Bernard Hopkins switch styles?

Most people seem to believe it was around the time of the Eastman fight. I would agree with that. He showed signs of becoming a bit more tactical at times in the final Allen fight and the Joppy fight, but I don't think he fully settled into it until Eastman. Hopkins was still in his prime in the Joppy fight, it was in 2004 that he was past his prime.

I would agree with this. While age became a factor; opponent quality also played a large part and people don't talk about it. Hopkins fought a stream of decent/mediocre competition through much of his title holding years and then in the early 2000's age and opponents caught up with him. When he stepped in the ring against Taylor he was old whereas his opponent was young and undefeated. From there he kept up against good opponents he couldn't too often freely open up against even if he wanted to. Yet he was able to completely school Trinidad who I think is a much better boxer than Taylor.

He was definitely much more defensive with Tito, but like you said ; I think that had more to do with Tito's power. That was a defensive and offensive clinic. He was trying his damndest to get Joppy the hell out of there before the final bell because he made a $100,000 side bet with Joppy that Joppy wouldn't last the distance. :lol1: oh yeah ahha I completely forgot about that bet. haha

here is the fight hopkins v eastman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqlPY746k2A

I think it might have even happened before the tito fight but then again maybe he just respected trinidads power He was definitely much more defensive with Tito, but like you said ; I think that had more to do with Tito's power. That was a defensive and offensive clinic. he just destroyed Joppys face in that one. He was trying his damndest to get Joppy the hell out of there before the final bell because he made a $100,000 side bet with Joppy that Joppy wouldn't last the distance. :lol1:

Most people seem to believe it was around the time of the Eastman fight. I would agree with that. He showed signs of becoming a bit more tactical at times in the final Allen fight and the Joppy fight, but I don't think he fully settled into it until Eastman. he just destroyed Joppys face in that one.

When he started getting old I think. I think it might have even happened before the tito fight but then again maybe he just respected trinidads power

I never even bothered watchin the Eastman fight...heard it was bad... I'd probably say around that fight... He was agressive against JT but only after the first half of the fight... The Eastman fight was a counterpunching master piece. I do not find technicians boring.

I never even bothered watchin the Eastman fight...heard it was bad... I'd probably say around that fight... He was agressive against JT but only after the first half of the fight...

I would agree with this. While age became a factor; opponent quality also played a large part and people don't talk about it. Hopkins fought a stream of decent/mediocre competition through much of his title holding years and then in the early 2000's age and opponents caught up with him. When he stepped in the ring against Taylor he was old whereas his opponent was young and undefeated. From there he kept up against good opponents he couldn't too often freely open up against even if he wanted to. Completely agree with this. The 1st fight I had seen him in was the Keith Holmes fight and he fought similar to the way he usually does now in that fight, as opposed to older fights I had seen later where he took more chances and tried to get guys out of there. Throughout his career he always had those technical defensive skills, but more often than not he opted to make it a firefight like he did against guys like Hall and Echols. But even in those head to head scraps that he was famous for during his Middleweight reign he would break out some of the defensive maneuvers that he's become more famous for now.

Most people seem to believe it was around the time of the Eastman fight. I would agree with that. He showed signs of becoming a bit more tactical at times in the final Allen fight and the Joppy fight, but I don't think he fully settled into it until Eastman. I would agree with this. While age became a factor; opponent quality also played a large part and people don't talk about it. Hopkins fought a stream of decent/mediocre competition through much of his title holding years and then in the early 2000's age and opponents caught up with him. When he stepped in the ring against Taylor he was old whereas his opponent was young and undefeated. From there he kept up against good opponents he couldn't too often freely open up against even if he wanted to.

Most people seem to believe it was around the time of the Eastman fight. I would agree with that. He showed signs of becoming a bit more tactical at times in the final Allen fight and the Joppy fight, but I don't think he fully settled into it until Eastman.

I'm looking through my Hopkins fights and trying to fight the time when he switched from an aggressive power puncher to a more defensive counter puncher. When he started getting old I think.