Is Hopkins Really an All Time Great

[Truth]

For some reason in boxing, your only as good as your last fight. When you lose, your legacy and greatness is automatically put into question. Is it fair? No. Make all the excuses and "but..." statements you want...Hopkins dominated the a division for 10 years and 82 days. I remember Pedro Fernandez once said, "I don't care if he beat up 20 grandmothers, thats still impressive." 20 defenses is impressive no matter who he was fighting. And Bernard's opposition was solid for the most part. He should get credit for taking tough challenges such as a 25 yr. old Jermain Taylor and top p4p fighters like Winky and Joe at 40 + years old. Taylor was like 15 years younger when he beat Hopkins, he should win. Hopkins almost won that one. Bernard is an ATG for his longevity, 20 defenses, work ethic and his old school skills.

[CLubberLang]

If that is your problem with Hopkins then you should go watch his older fights when he could still throw more than 30 punches a round. Age got to him but he knew how to deal with it by pacing himself.

It's not really an option to stand & trade with someone like Calzaghe or even Taylor at age 43. I do think he could've beaten Taylor but against Calzaghe he was too far gone.



I wouldn't bring up Sugar Ray Leonard as a great middleweight either. His best work was done in the lower weight divisions aside from the split decision win over Hagler.

Your right about Sugar Ray too. I was using him as an all time great vs a all time MW. I mis spoke on that one.

[Truth]

I have seen his older fights and what not. The Echols fights were pretty good. I'm just saying he didn't fight like that against the quaility fighters that he faced. If he fought Taylor or Calzaghe the way he fought Echols or RJJ I believe he would have beat both. I'm just on the fence a little with him being an ATG.

I hate to use this excuse but its just the truth. The reason he didn't Echols Calzaghe or Taylor is because he was old, he was 40 and 43 when he faught them. Hopkins doesn't have the stamina anymore to have that kind of workrate. But Calzaghe and Taylor still deserve credit for their wins. He was 35 when he faught Echols.

[CLubberLang]

I hate to use this excuse but its just the truth. The reason he didn't Echols Calzaghe or Taylor is because he was old, he was 40 and 43 when he faught them. Hopkins doesn't have the stamina anymore to have that kind of workrate. But Calzaghe and Taylor still deserve credit for their wins. He was 35 when he faught Echols.

I'll buy the old excuse for everything but the 1st Taylor fight. If he was that old he wouldn't have come on the way he did in the 8th and almost KO JT. I think he used the wrong strategy in that one. Dont get me wrong I think he is a great fighter and he has got some stellar accomplishments but I am just not on the ATG side just yet.

[KingTito]

Yes, you can make an argument that he is. I don't know if he's in Hagler's class, but like I said. You can argue that.

[Truth]

I'll buy the old excuse for everything but the 1st Taylor fight. If he was that old he wouldn't have come on the way he did in the 8th and almost KO JT. I think he used the wrong strategy in that one. Dont get me wrong I think he is a great fighter and he has got some stellar accomplishments but I am just not on the ATG side just yet.

Thats true.

[Scott9945]

what an idot !!

Is that better than an ipod?

[hypeassasian]

Hopkins is way more of an all time great then Calzaghe. He couldn't even really beat a shot version of Hopkins. He would have got his ass handed to him if Hopkins was in his hey day! That was obvious to everybody though!

[Boxinguru]

IMO Hopkins is a LEGEND! Definitely in the top 5 MW of all time...20 title defenses at MW...moved up to LHW at 40 & captured the LINEAL belt...still in the p4p discussions... never been DECISIVELY beaten (minus the in-experienced Jones fight)...1st ballot Hall of Famer...All-Time Great NO QUESTION!!

[CLubberLang]

Hopkins is way more of an all time great then Calzaghe. He couldn't even really beat a shot version of Hopkins. He would have got his ass handed to him if Hopkins was in his hey day! That was obvious to everybody though!

I'm definitely not sold on Calzaghe being an ATG but you do have to admit he beat more fighters in his weight class that were in their prime and "real" threats to beat him than Hopkins did. I thought he easily won the fight because B-hop just wouldnt punch and kept running. But I agree whole heartedly that Hopkins in his hey day beats and probably KO's Calzaghe.