Age is nothing : Hopkins is at his prime now

[tyson]

It's also 2008 where 43 is the new 33, especially in Hopkins case with the shape he stays in

And 33 is the new 23, so it's all irrelevant.

[Dick-Sucker]

Also Ulitimateboxa, up to this fight you were saying how ****ty Bernard and Winky were, but now you demand that Joe gets respect for it?

Hypocrisy much?

Its just weird. Hopkins looked quick and powerful when exchanging last night. If he was more open i think the outcome could have been different.

But he looked good last night. Better than i have seen him for years.

You didn't see the best of Joe C last night.

[Mozza]

Answer me this , how old are you ? just I can get a line on what your perspective of age is in the context of what we are talking about .

Put it this way what ever you can do physically as an older man you could do easier at a faster rate and have more endurance as a younger man and the big slide really starts at about 35 , you dont get physically better as you get past 35 , thats whats laughable .

I'm not saying that he has become fitter as he has got older but it has to be said that people age at different rates and considering the way Hopkins fights workrate is not the biggest factor anyway.

[Dick-Sucker]

Sure his offense is limited.

But that is because he chooses to fight so defensive.

Being P4P number 4 on a lot of peoples lists speaks for itself.

This is a good debate. No right or wrong answer.

Keep it going. Im off to get some chicken.

[Mozza]

You are actually closing in on my point

Didn't see that one coming...

Hopkins making p4p list at this stage of his career speaks volumes of two things;

1. The state of boxing today.

2. The greatness of Hopkins in his prime.

See, even if Hopkins is ranked among the top 5 p4p4p4p when he performs at 50% of what he was capable in his prime, it doesn't mean he is in his prime.
It means he was a freakin' beast in his prime.

It is not debatable that Hopkins is way over his prime.

Him being competitive at this point shows his intelligence and dedication.
And gives you an indication at how good he used to be.

I'm sorry, Calzaghe is nowhere near the level of Hopkins' greatness.

Okay let's presume I agree Hopkins is not in his prime. At what percentage of his prime is he currently operating at and in what areas is he struggling in most that previously would have made a significant difference last night?

[Dick-Sucker]

Okay let's presume I agree Hopkins is not in his prime. At what percentage of his prime is he currently operating at and in what areas is he struggling in most that previously would have made a significant difference last night?

I have never seen his defence being as good as it was last night. His improved defence could possibly make up for his more limited offence.

Purely hyperthetical but worthy of a good discussion.

[tyson]

I'm not saying that he has become fitter as he has got older but it has to be said that people age at different rates and considering the way Hopkins fights workrate is not the biggest factor anyway.

Go watch his older fights.

Watch the one against Trinidad since that's a fighter you probably know of.
It is hard to watch fights when you don't know the opponent.



This is the last round of that fight.

Tell me, does this look like the Hopkins you saw last night?

[RodBarker]

I'm not saying that he has become fitter as he has got older but it has to be said that people age at different rates and considering the way Hopkins fights workrate is not the biggest factor anyway.

Work rate not the biggest factor , mate thats the reason he got beat , its his biggest problem , he cant work at the rate he did 10 yrs ago , you just shot yourself in the foot .

[warp1432]

Its just weird. Hopkins looked quick and powerful when exchanging last night. If he was more open i think the outcome could have been different.

But he looked good last night. Better than i have seen him for years.

You didn't see the best of Joe C last night.

Because maybe if you actually watched Bernard in his prime you would be more amazed. It's obvious you haven't watched Bernard in his prime and it was a shell of his former self.

Bernard is still great for 43, but he isn't as good as he was when his prime was (1997-2003 was pretty much it. The glen johnson performance is when he really started to become a boxer puncher.

[Mozza]

Work rate not the biggest factor , mate thats the reason he got beat , its his biggest problem , he cant work at the rate he did 10 yrs ago , you just shot yourself in the foot .

Hopkins has never had a great work rate.