Why did Hopkins choose opponents from smaller weight classes?

[ИATAS]

Bernard Hopkins started as a light heavyweight, but fought opponents like De La Hoya who began as a lightweight, and Trinidad, who started at welterweight.

Trinidad was a middleweight champion when hopkins fought him. Hopkins was attempting to be the first man to unify the division since hagler.

de la hoya had one fight prior at middleweight and challenged hopkins. Only a dumb ass would turn down a fight for oscar. Hopkins made $10 million for that fight, which was BY FAR his biggest payday.

Now he'll be fighting a young middleweight, Kelly Pavlik, who not as thickly built and walks around at about 175, while Hopkins walks around at 185-190.

Kelly Pavlik is probably about the same size. Hopkins has been fighting at 175, pavlik only decided to fight hopkins because "there simply isn't any other name at the moment." A catch weight of 170 seems pretty reasonable considering kelly just fought at 166 and always said he was planning on moving up in weight.

[Xyei]

Trinidad was a middleweight champion when hopkins fought him. Hopkins was attempting to be the first man to unify the division since hagler.

de la hoya had one fight prior at middleweight and challenged hopkins. Only a dumb ass would turn down a fight for oscar. Hopkins made $10 million for that fight, which was BY FAR his biggest payday.



Kelly Pavlik is probably about the same size. Hopkins has been fighting at 175, pavlik only decided to fight hopkins because "there simply isn't any other name at the moment." A catch weight of 170 seems pretty reasonable considering kelly just fought at 166 and always said he was planning on moving up in weight.

I knew my boy Natas would be in here to sort this out!

at your sig! Crazy kim ****s your mothers...

[ИATAS]

at your sig! Crazy kim ****s your mothers...

It's true, he does. He's simply that awesome and needs to fight in the states. He'll be a sensation here.

[Blue Öyster]

bernard hopkins is mentally weak!!!! he fought smaller weaker opposition because he was scared of the super midldles and light heavys back then!!!

[ИATAS]

bernard hopkins is mentally weak!!!! he fought smaller weaker opposition because he was scared of the super midldles and light heavys back then!!!

why would he fight super middles and light heavyweights when he was the middleweight champ and trying to unify the division (which he did) and defend his titles 20 times?

Its like why didn't calzaghe fight at light heavy 5 years ago? why didn't hagler go to light heavy? etc

[Xyei]

bernard hopkins is mentally weak!!!! he fought smaller weaker opposition because he was scared of the super midldles and light heavys back then!!!

Mentaly weak?

[Blue Öyster]

why would he fight super middles and light heavyweights when he was the middleweight champ and trying to unify the division (which he did) and defend his titles 20 times?

Its like why didn't calzaghe fight at light heavy 5 years ago? why didn't hagler go to light heavy? etc

defending a title 20 times means less than people think it does!!!!
especially when your fighting the likes of carl daniels and shot guys like John David Jackson and old man simon brown!! and what about the epic trilogy with the legend that is robert allen


if bernard really wanted he could have got the rematch with roy, but he was to afraid!!! he also could have fought james toney or michael nunn early in his career but he was to scared so he ducked them!!!!


and speaking of hagler!!! he would hold the record for most defenses of the middle weight title if he hadn't been held back from his title shot for so many years!!!

even though hagler used to face some smaller guys himself, he generally faced tougher competiti throughout his career than hopkins has!!!

[Blue Öyster]

Mentaly weak?

the guys a natural light heavy that feels the need to beat up super featherweights, shot welterweights and a whole bunch of shop worn light
middles!!! the bum even used to call out a shot pernel!!!

if that isn't mentally weak, what is??????


bernard used to pick on smaller and older fighters because he is a coward!!!



i mean look at the way hes celebrating after he beat tito, you would think he just went up to heavyweight and knocked out a prime mike tyson!!!!

and lets face it, hopkins style is that of a journeyman!!!

all he does is clinch, hold and hit and headbutt!!! and once he realises he can't win a fight he just starts spoiling instead of trying to win!!!
THAT IS THE MENTALITY OF A JOURNEYMAN!!!!

[daggum]

the guys a natural light heavy that feels the need to beat up super featherweights, shot welterweights and a whole bunch of shop worn light
middles!!! the bum even used to call out a shot pernel!!!

if that isn't mentally weak, what is??????


bernard used to pick on smaller and older fighters because he is a coward!!!



i mean look at the way hes celebrating after he beat tito, you would think he just went up to heavyweight and knocked out a prime mike tyson!!!!

and lets face it, hopkins style is that of a journeyman!!!

all he does is clinch, hold and hit and headbutt!!! and once he realises he can't win a fight he just starts spoiling instead of trying to win!!!
THAT IS THE MENTALITY OF A JOURNEYMAN!!!!

now he lets calzaghe do that for him. picking on 40 year old blown up middleweights. you go calzaghe!

[ИATAS]

defending a title 20 times means less than people think it does!!!!
especially when your fighting the likes of carl daniels and shot guys like John David Jackson and old man simon brown!! and what about the epic trilogy with the legend that is robert allen

God, why do people mention the robert allen trilogy? Robert Allen was the #1 contender, he was hopkins mandatory fight. The first fight was a NC after a few rounds and they had to reschedule. Hopkins whooped his ass. 5 YEARS LATER and after Allen worked his way back up to the #1 spot he once again became a mandatory fight. Hopkins beats him again.

if bernard really wanted he could have got the rematch with roy, but he was to afraid!!!

The same could be said about Roy - if he wanted the rematch it could have happened. They never agreed on the financial, blame both not bhop.

he also could have fought james toney or michael nunn early in his career but he was to scared so he ducked them!!!!

LOL, by the time hopkins and toney could have fought toney was a cruiserweight. The last time toney fought at middleweight was 1992. in 1994 he lost to roy jones at supermiddleweight, immediately after he went up to light heavyweight and lost to Montell Griffin. The fight was never a possibility.

And michael nunn where does that come from? From 1994 to 2002 he was fighting between 168 and damn near 200 pounds.

and speaking of hagler!!! he would hold the record for most defenses of the middle weight title if he hadn't been held back from his title shot for so many years!!!

So? Why didn't he fight at light heavyweight?

even though hagler used to face some smaller guys himself, he generally faced tougher competiti throughout his career than hopkins has!!!

It was also a tougher era. But let me ask you, who are the biggest names on on Haglers resume? Let's see, Tommy Hearns, Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. Hmm, all three are "smaller" opponents. Is that his fault? No, just so happens those were the three biggest names of that time. Who are the biggest names of Hopkins times? de la hoya and trinidad. Fascinating.

Now obviously Hagler has the more impressive resume, but hopkins, like hagler, fought everyone they threw in front of him and worked hard for years before getting big fights. You cant fault hopkins for that.