One thing that irritates me about Hopkins

[Azteca]

There is one thing that irritates me about Hopkins' growing legacy.

He DID NOT MAKE “20” DEFENSES. He made SIX successful defenses.

After becoming the undisputed champion he only made six defenses. The rest were meaningless alphabet defenses. He DID NOT break Monzon’s record. Monzon made 14 UNDISPUTED defenses. Hagler made 12 UNDISPUTED defenses. Joe Louis made 25 UNDISPUTED defenses.

He's barely in my top 10 MW's of all time. Roudning out at about number 8.

What say you guys?

[Easy-E]

So to you Joe C has never made any defenses?

[AntonTheMeh]

There is one thing that irritates me about Hopkins' growing legacy.

He DID NOT MAKE “20” DEFENSES. He made SIX successful defenses.

After becoming the undisputed champion he only made six defenses. The rest were meaningless alphabet defenses. He DID NOT break Monzon’s record. Monzon made 14 UNDISPUTED defenses. Hagler made 12 UNDISPUTED defenses. Joe Louis made 25 UNDISPUTED defenses.

He's barely in my top 10 MW's of all time. Roudning out at about number 8.

What say you guys?

henry armstrong made 19 welterweight defenses.i don't think highly of him cause he's a jerkand he beat tito

[Jim Jeffries]

henry armstrong made 19 welterweight defenses.i don't think highly of him cause he's a jerkand he beat tito

Henry Armstrong also held the title of 3 different weight classes (a span equivalent to 5 of todays) At the same time

[Vladimir303]

There is one thing that irritates me about Hopkins' growing legacy.

He DID NOT MAKE “20” DEFENSES. He made SIX successful defenses.

After becoming the undisputed champion he only made six defenses. The rest were meaningless alphabet defenses. He DID NOT break Monzon’s record. Monzon made 14 UNDISPUTED defenses. Hagler made 12 UNDISPUTED defenses. Joe Louis made 25 UNDISPUTED defenses.

He's barely in my top 10 MW's of all time. Roudning out at about number 8.

What say you guys?

I guess Joe Calzaghe never made any sucessful title defenses. But if you consider him the Undisputed champ after he defeated Lacy to unify the WBO & IBF belts.......then he only made 2 title defenses according to you logic........CORRECT?

[Azteca]

I guess Joe Calzaghe never made any sucessful title defenses. But if you consider him the Undisputed champ after he defeated Lacy to unify the WBO & IBF belts.......then he only made 2 title defenses according to you logic........CORRECT?

Correct.

If you notice I have never, ever referred to Zag as a 'legend'.

[eazy_mas]

well Monzon and there other MW you mention only had one belt to fight for and Hopkins have 4

[Vladimir303]

Correct.

If you notice I have never, ever referred to Zag as a 'legend'.

Unfortunately this is the era of sanctinoning body belts. You get yourself a belt and you defend it and they count as title defenses even if you're not the recognized champ. Then a couple years if you're lucky you beat the right guy and unify and become Undisputed and all the previous title defenses you had count into that Unisputed Championship.

That's just the way it works. With that said.....Hopkins defeated alot of solid Middleweight contenders during his time. They weren't great fighters but they were solid 160lb contenders.

Beating Tito & Delahoya is just an Iceing on the Cake. Two blown up welterweights but two great fighters. Hopkins got his recognition off of beating Tito.

He has also added on to his legacy beating Tarver, the guy who knocked out Roy and Hopkins lost to Roy so he considers it like avenging his Roy Jones loss years ago.

Beating Winky a Top 10 p4p fighter also enhanced his legacy.

[Azteca]

well Monzon and there other MW you mention only had one belt to fight for and Hopkins have 4

That's false....there was not only 'one' belt. There was two in both cases with hagler/monzon.

but I take your point.

[Azteca]

Unfortunately this is the era of sanctinoning body belts. You get yourself a belt and you defend it and they count as title defenses even if you're not the recognized champ. Then a couple years if you're lucky you beat the right guy and unify and become Undisputed and all the previous title defenses you had count into that Unisputed Championship.

That's just the way it works. With that said.....Hopkins defeated alot of solid Middleweight contenders during his time. They weren't great fighters but they were solid 160lb contenders.

Beating Tito & Delahoya is just an Iceing on the Cake. Two blown up welterweights but two great fighters. Hopkins got his recognition off of beating Tito.

He has also added on to his legacy beating Tarver, the guy who knocked out Roy and Hopkins lost to Roy so he considers it like avenging his Roy Jones loss years ago.

Beating Winky a Top 10 p4p fighter also enhanced his legacy.

He completely cleaned out the division. He was one the VERY FEW great fighters of the last 20 years.

I’m sorry about my rant earlier. But the “20” defenses garbage just blows my mind. I HATE it when hear or read people mention that. You would think these individuals didn’t know anything about boxing history. All of the great championship reigns were made by undisputed champions. I would never disrespect Hopkins. Any fighter that Roberto Duran respects is a fighter that deserves to be respected.