Is Hopkins now better than the Hopkins that fought Taylor?

I don't think SO, he just haven't fought anybody as talented or as physically gifted as Taylor...up until now against Chad Dawson Taylor Speed and Athleticism gave B-Hop problems, but Taylor weak stamina allowed B-Hop to crawl back into both fights and finished strong and make them close fights

The one consistent thing about Hopkins, whether at age 35, 39, 47 etc,. Whether he is facing a fast, bigger opponent or not, HE ALWAYS MAKES IT CLOSE. These guys can never walk out and say they school the guy. How many fighters can say that, win or loss, to never get dominated or knocked out. And best case scenario, he exposes you like he did Pavlik, Tito and to some extent Tarver. B-Hop isn't the same physically, that's a given. Maybe the move up in weight is better for him. But overall, he is still the same fighter. Best case scenario, he exposes you and boxes the **** out of you. Worse case scenario, he takes into a close, controversial decision type of ending. The reason that nobody talks about B-Hop like they do about Roy Jones is, because he never had that period where he was a BEAST, considered unbeatable because of his physical abilities, while getting knocked out silly after his prime. He has always been consistent, at any age. As consistent as he is though, he's clearly not the same guy physically he was when he fought Taylor or fought Tito or was at his best. No matter how smart a fighter is, age and the effect it has made Hopkins a lesser fighter than he once was.

As one poster stated earlier, he has indeed stepped up his game since then. So physically he not be better but in terms of the tactics he utilizes in the ring he most certainly is better. hopkins has not improved with age or by going up in weight... the difference is that pascal is a 4 round fighter while JT at MW could go atleast 10 rounds at a decent pace before gassing.

Hopkins is clearly worse imo. Hopkins looked better against Pascal than Taylor because Pascal simply isn't as good as Taylor.

As one poster stated earlier, he has indeed stepped up his game since then. So physically he not be better but in terms of the tactics he utilizes in the ring he most certainly is better.

He extends himself a little more nowadays, because in the event of losing it’s a lot easier for him to fall back on the, ‘I’m an old man’ speech and save face. Also most of his recent opponents haven’t been that good anyway, so no -- he’s not improved with age.

impossible for him to be getting better at his age surely, but if he was to fight Taylor now he would win because Taylor just seem to turn to dust, Dawson should beat Hopkins, would be pretty shameful if he don't.

Hopkins always hydrated back to 169-170, very typical of a middleweight. Didn't really seem like he struggled making weight.

Is the Hopkins that fought Pascal better than the 1 that fought Jermain Taylor? no... taylor is a better athlete than pascal. taylor can fight for 12 rounds... pascal is a 4 round fighter

he is still the same in terms of skills, but healthier at the higher weight, I still think a guy with quick hands and a boxer style will always give him trouble. Dawson has the ability to pull it out, But Dawson has frozen in fights, I mean Pascal beat the **** out of Chad IMO, Chad just stood there like a deer stuck in the headlights and got his ass whipped. if those same headlights show up and I beleive Hopkins will bring them Chad will get knocked out. However I just rewatched the pascal rematch on HBO right now, Hopkins was rocked in that last round, if Dawson can get himself right he will win this fight. So it depends on which chad shows up the night of the fight, I am guessing he will be stuck in the headlights once again.

.. Likewise :fing02: The thing is, is that Dawson is one of the most versatile fighters in boxing. Yes he looked one dimensional against Pascal, but that was just one of those off days that we shouldn't really use to gauge how much skill or variety Chad actually has. He showed variety in both hands in the Johnson fights, Adamek, Tarver fights ect. And when you think about it though, Jermaine is a left hand dominant fighter. Everything he does, is set up off of his left hand and Hopkins could never fully solve that puzzle. I think it was a combo of all things. The jab, speed, movement, flurries ect. If he just had one of those things, then yes Hopkins would have cracked his code and schooled him the way he did Pascal but the fact that he showed variety in his arsenal, gave Hopkins more than one things to think about and had him confused as to what would happen next. The thing with Dawson, is that he brings more issues to the table because he has all of this, and is a very big 175 pounder. Yes he fades and the fact that he takes time off of rounds worries me, but that would mean Hopkins would have to come back late in the fight and what if Dawson corrected these issues? That's another thing you have to think about with these young fighters. They can correct their mistakes in training and this is the BIGGEST fight of Chad's career. He always showed up in his biggest fights (Adamek, Tarver ect). You know it..lol but yea i think hes just talking when he says he'll be extremely busy. I think it will be a tactical fight that is close, with Dawson piling up enough points in the early rounds to take something like majority or close unanimous decision. Hopkins has avoided him for years until he started to look vulnerable but if Chad clears up those mistakes, then this could be a horrible miscalculation that could end in disaster for Bernard. Dawson is one of the few well rounded young fighters. He is light years ahead of Taylor in terms of boxing ability. He's also bigger than Taylor.Hopkins must know something we don't know because I think this fight is going to be a tough one for him.

regardless of our different opinions on this one...you one of the dudes I respect alot on here...always dropping jewels!!....I understand your point completely about the big dude with solid skills...there's some truth to that....it is what it is....but Chad is a one handed fighter...take away his lead hand and then what?!?....this is right down B.Hop's lane....Chad is too right hand dominat...you know it, I know it so of course Team Hopkins knows this....Chad throwing 80-90 punches around sounds good....but we all know he aint built like that...Chad is not one of the best conditioned dude in the division...he tends to take too many breaks and fades late imo.....halla back Slick....I know you got a hot rebutal :lol1: See what i mean by the punch variety and him fighting young?

regardless of our different opinions on this one...you one of the dudes I respect alot on here... Likewise :fing02: always dropping jewels!!....I understand your point completely about the big dude with solid skills...there's some truth to that....it is what it is....but Chad is a one handed fighter...take away his lead hand and then what?!?....this is right down B.Hop's lane....Chad is too right hand dominat...you know it, I know it so of course Team Hopkins knows this... The thing is, is that Dawson is one of the most versatile fighters in boxing. Yes he looked one dimensional against Pascal, but that was just one of those off days that we shouldn't really use to gauge how much skill or variety Chad actually has. He showed variety in both hands in the Johnson fights, Adamek, Tarver fights ect. And when you think about it though, Jermaine is a left hand dominant fighter. Everything he does, is set up off of his left hand and Hopkins could never fully solve that puzzle. I think it was a combo of all things. The jab, speed, movement, flurries ect. If he just had one of those things, then yes Hopkins would have cracked his code and schooled him the way he did Pascal but the fact that he showed variety in his arsenal, gave Hopkins more than one things to think about and had him confused as to what would happen next. The thing with Dawson, is that he brings more issues to the table because he has all of this, and is a very big 175 pounder. Yes he fades and the fact that he takes time off of rounds worries me, but that would mean Hopkins would have to come back late in the fight and what if Dawson corrected these issues? That's another thing you have to think about with these young fighters. They can correct their mistakes in training and this is the BIGGEST fight of Chad's career. He always showed up in his biggest fights (Adamek, Tarver ect). Chad throwing 80-90 punches around sounds good....but we all know he aint built like that...Chad is not one of the best conditioned dude in the division...he tends to take too many breaks and fades late imo.....halla back Slick....I know you got a hot rebutal :lol1: You know it..lol but yea i think hes just talking when he says he'll be extremely busy. I think it will be a tactical fight that is close, with Dawson piling up enough points in the early rounds to take something like majority or close unanimous decision. Hopkins has avoided him for years until he started to look vulnerable but if Chad clears up those mistakes, then this could be a horrible miscalculation that could end in disaster for Bernard.

So Hopkins was drained and that's why he lost to Taylor? You people, sometimes. Of course Hopkins isn't better now. He just hasn't fought anyone as good as Jermain Taylor since, except Calzaghe.

No he is just more exciting..Not as conscious...

Yes he is. He has more hunger, more balls and even more tricks up the sleeve than he did at that time which where still something to behold. Absolutley amazing what he's doing and even moreso when you consider his age.

I guess he out grew 175 when he was decisioned by Calzaghe and will out grow it again in 2 weeks when he loses to Dawson as well. Styles makes fights. Taylor was a boxer by nature who fought young. He threw flurries, used his feet, countered a little bit, jabbed ect and that is Hopkins kryptonite. He doesn't react well to a bigger (or at least the same size) boxers that has speed and good fundamentals because it gives him too much to think about. Hes at his best when hes exposing a flawed fighter that has either a dominant hand that he can neutralize or horrible defense. I mean he looks great doing it and i root for him a lot, but he didn't have that luxury against good boxers such as Jones, Jermaine, Joe and he won't have it against Dawson. He moved to light heavyweight because he seen one of those flaws in Tarver and the division was absolute crap at the time. Hopkins was always the type that kept himself in tip top shape and in all of his middleweight fights, I've never seen him show any physical signs of weight drain. regardless of our different opinions on this one...you one of the dudes I respect alot on here...always dropping jewels!!....I understand your point completely about the big dude with solid skills...there's some truth to that....it is what it is....but Chad is a one handed fighter...take away his lead hand and then what?!?....this is right down B.Hop's lane....Chad is too right hand dominat...you know it, I know it so of course Team Hopkins knows this....Chad throwing 80-90 punches around sounds good....but we all know he aint built like that...Chad is not one of the best conditioned dude in the division...he tends to take too many breaks and fades late imo.....halla back Slick....I know you got a hot rebutal :lol1:

I guess he out grew 175 when he was decisioned by Calzaghe and will out grow it again in 2 weeks when he loses to Dawson as well. Styles makes fights. Taylor was a boxer by nature who fought young. He threw flurries, used his feet, countered a little bit, jabbed ect and that is Hopkins kryptonite. He doesn't react well to a bigger (or at least the same size) boxers that has speed and good fundamentals because it gives him too much to think about. Hes at his best when hes exposing a flawed fighter that has either a dominant hand that he can neutralize or horrible defense. I mean he looks great doing it and i root for him a lot, but he didn't have that luxury against good boxers such as Jones, Jermaine, Joe and he won't have it against Dawson. He moved to light heavyweight because he seen one of those flaws in Tarver and the division was absolute crap at the time. Hopkins was always the type that kept himself in tip top shape and in all of his middleweight fights, I've never seen him show any physical signs of weight drain.

Now that hes on peds he is

JT gets beat up by B.Hop today....making 160 was becoming a problem for B.Hop....he's a dude who prides himself on staying in shape so he'll NEVER admit it.....he fought good enough to win the first fight imo.....I can't stand the way he fought the rematch...just so dam stubborn...smh....with JT you have to take chances....those chances have been proven to pay off...IMO. B.Hop wasn't strong enough to fight the fight needed....you have to grind JT down...and NOONE in the game grinds cats down better than a prime B.Hop....so IMO, B.Hop today, is MUCH stronger, which makes him better imo