Respecting Hopkins as a champion and a fighter

[FistFest]

FistFest .... but, you did say "A champ needs prove his armor and sword not just in one place alone but also in other levels as well". If you think that Hopkins needs to move-up to "prove" something, then you are definitely belittling his accomplishments. Very subtly, but definitely.

I have disagreed with you. Hopkins doesn't have to "prove" anything to anybody. He's a Champion, without moving-up.

Nope. I aint belittling anybody and I sure think you're putting words in my mouth. Anyway, I respect your opinion but let me just say that I want to see BHop silence all his critics. By the way, I intended the word "prove" to have a broad meaning in that statement.

Why am I not the only one saying that he needs to go up in weight and challenge someone from up there? Do I mean anything bad or disrespectful to Hopkins when I feel that way? HECK NO! It's the only thing missing. He's close to it, we know he can do it, and it's a loss if he doesnt even attempt it when it's an arms length away. I like BHop and if he settles the going-up-in-weight issue, wouldnt you be completely happy to see a big number of his fans and critics admit that they were proven wrong and they finally lay the issue to rest?

[psychopath]

Nope. I aint belittling anybody and I sure think you're putting words in my mouth. Anyway, I respect your opinion but let me just say that I want to see BHop silence all his critics. By the way, I intended the word "prove" to have a broad meaning in that statement.

Why am I not the only one saying that he needs to go up in weight and challenge someone from up there? Do I mean anything bad or disrespectful to Hopkins when I feel that way? HECK NO! It's the only thing missing. He's close to it, we know he can do it, and it's a loss if he doesnt even attempt it when it's an arms length away. I like BHop and if he settles the going-up-in-weight issue, wouldnt you be completely happy to see a big number of his fans and critics admit that they were proven wrong and they finally lay the issue to rest?

Hey that's a very realistic and acceptable arguement . . .AMEN!

[FistFest]

Thank you PSO. Mighty nice of ya.

[WillieW]

This could be veiwed a different angle. He never moved, but who was there to fight at 168lbs? What would he have accomplished? 168lbs has been dead for a long time, what would it have proved? Say he did beat Calzac for instance. Would this really suprize most? I would hope not.

I don't think B-Hop has a good frame for 175lbs, so I understand his reasons for not going that far up.

The question could also be posed....why haven't more 154lbers moved up to fight Hop? It was supposed to be one of the premere divisions with Wright, Mosely, ODH, Vargus ect ect.

His legacy is intact, he is one of the great middleweights. We will never know how great due to the lack of competition at 160lbs and 168lbs, but he still deserves much credit.

[FistFest]

This could be veiwed a different angle. He never moved, but who was there to fight at 168lbs? What would he have accomplished? 168lbs has been dead for a long time, what would it have proved? Say he did beat Calzac for instance. Would this really suprize most? I would hope not.

I don't think B-Hop has a good frame for 175lbs, so I understand his reasons for not going that far up.

The question could also be posed....why haven't more 154lbers moved up to fight Hop? It was supposed to be one of the premere divisions with Wright, Mosely, ODH, Vargus ect ect.

His legacy is intact, he is one of the great middleweights. We will never know how great due to the lack of competition at 160lbs and 168lbs, but he still deserves much credit.

Good point Willie. Exactly. But that in itself is an oppurtunity, right? The lack of good opposition at 168 could've worked for Hopkins advantage right? If he jumped in the 168 division capitalizing on this advantage, the going-up-in-weight issue wouldnt have started in the first place. He'd have an easy time grabbing belts there too.

[WillieW]

Good point Willie. Exactly. But that in itself is an oppurtunity, right? The lack of good opposition at 168 could've worked for Hopkins advantage right? If he jumped in the 168 division capitalizing on this advantage, the going-up-in-weight issue wouldnt have started in the first place. He'd have an easy time grabbing belts there too.

Right, he could have pretty much cleaned out the division in one or two fights, but then he would be simply stuck again in a division that was worse than the one he left. Then he would have to deal with sliding back down to 160lbs to regain that division.

I think he was wise to stay were he was, too many boxers have ruined their careers weight jumping....ie Mosely.

Now B-Hop is marketable again so he should be able to get a couple of big fights before he retires. I say good for him.

[bigdlb12]

Hopkins has my Full respect as a fighter, alittle dirty in the ring but is one of the best p4p fighters in the last 10years

[FistFest]

Hopkins has my Full respect as a fighter, alittle dirty in the ring but is one of the best p4p fighters in the last 10years

Yeah. I believe he's one of the few fighters who tactically uses dirty fighting to get in his opponents head. I believe it's his mental weapon. Once his enemy softens up, he'll go back to his basic textbook perfect skills for the kill.

[mic573]

Hopkins is and should be considered one of the great middleweights of all time. He really wants to make his goal of 20 defenses and I'm not going to knock him for doing it. He has been so dominate at 160 that he has force other fighters out of the division. Look at Keith Holmes who has moved back down to 154 because he knows he is not getting past Hopkins. Bernard has even scared 154 pound fighters, outside of Trinidad and Delahoya, from moving up. I think after his 20th defense he will finally satisfy everyone on every messageboard by moving up and facing Tarver or Jones. He even said he wouldn't ask for a catch weight if he fought Tarver. Jones I think put his foot in his mouth by saying he would come down to 168 to fight Bernard. Knowing how Hopkins is he may try to make Jones stick to that statement.

[psychopath]

Hopkins is and should be considered one of the great middleweights of all time. He really wants to make his goal of 20 defenses and I'm not going to knock him for doing it. He has been so dominate at 160 that he has force other fighters out of the division. Look at Keith Holmes who has moved back down to 154 because he knows he is not getting past Hopkins. Bernard has even scared 154 pound fighters, outside of Trinidad and Delahoya, from moving up. I think after his 20th defense he will finally satisfy everyone on every messageboard by moving up and facing Tarver or Jones. He even said he wouldn't ask for a catch weight if he fought Tarver. Jones I think put his foot in his mouth by saying he would come down to 168 to fight Bernard. Knowing how Hopkins is he may try to make Jones stick to that statement.

Now if all those will materialize . . . then that will make things very interesting It's shaping up . . .