Who was best in his prime..Floyd, Roy, or Bernard?

[them_apples]

Joe Calzaghe conquered Roy Jones, Jr. and Bernard Hopkins and as a result, sealed his place as the best of his generation. History has spoken. But, of the remaining contenders who was the best in his prime? I'll throw the Mayweather nuthuggers a bone and include lil' Floyd in the mix. Of Hopkins, Jones, and Mayweather, I've got to vote for Hopkins. Yes, Jones beat a young Hopkins, but I do believe the Hopkins of 1997-2000 would have beaten prime Jones. Hopkins was too crafty and would have been able to eventually get in and land on Jones' glass jaw. IMO Mayweather cannot be considered because he dodged the really big hitters, ie..Kostya Tszu, Antonio Margarito, and Miguel Cotto.

you got a good point, Prime Hopkins was almost unbeatable, he confused guys so bad and had incredible timing. On top of that he still had some handspeed - decent workrate and some solid power.

I picked Jones because he was just a freak, but now you got me thinking....

thats complete rubbish how you give Calzaghe so much credit for beating a shot Jones who had no legs/mobility. It's almost as if you never watched a Prime Jones.

Hopkins was still great at 43, some say he won - but even Hopkins wasn't anything like he was say..against Trinidad (and he was older there to!).

[Chr0nic]

I just find it hard to believe that Mayweather is not leading this poll. HE'S AN UNDEFEATED CHAMP. How can it be that Jones was better in his prime than Mayweather?

WOW, no wonder you love calzaghe, you go simply on record

[Wiley Hyena]

you got a good point, Prime Hopkins was almost unbeatable, he confused guys so bad and had incredible timing. On top of that he still had some handspeed - decent workrate and some solid power.

I picked Jones because he was just a freak, but now you got me thinking....

thats complete rubbish how you give Calzaghe so much credit for beating a shot Jones who had no legs/mobility. It's almost as if you never watched a Prime Jones.

Hopkins was still great at 43, some say he won - but even Hopkins wasn't anything like he was say..against Trinidad (and he was older there to!).

I give Calzaghe so much credit because statistically the debate is over. There's no use fantasizing over mythical bouts. So, why put him in the poll? The real issue is the remaining three. Of these, I think Hopkins was the best in his prime. Now that was, as you say, "almost unbeatable".

But, I think it's intriguing that the Mayweather nuthuggers are not voting him up. This tends to prove a point I've made many times on this site... that Mayweather has real credibility problems. IMO Mayweather at his best cannot even compare to the likes of prime Hopkins and prime Jones. No question.

[JHAVIS]

I give Calzaghe so much credit because statistically the debate is over. There's no use fantasizing over mythical bouts. So, why put him in the poll? The real issue is the remaining three. Of these, I think Hopkins was the best in his prime. Now that was, as you say, "almost unbeatable".

But, I think it's intriguing that the Mayweather nuthuggers are not voting him up. This tends to prove a point I've made many times on this site... that Mayweather has real credibility problems. IMO Mayweather at his best cannot even compare to the likes of prime Hopkins and prime Jones. No question.

I'm a fan of all guys but how can you say Floyd has no credibility? l'm a bigger Jones fan but l've seen him struggle more times than Floyd. Floyd has just as much credibility as Hopkins and Jones. The fact is you dislike Mayweather.

[Wiley Hyena]

I'm a fan of all guys but how can you say Floyd has no credibility? l'm a bigger Jones fan but l've seen him struggle more times than Floyd. Floyd has just as much credibility as Hopkins and Jones. The fact is you dislike Mayweather.

I said Mayweather has credibility problems and he does. I give him credit for possessing great talent, though.

[wmute]

I said Mayweather has credibility problems and he does. I give him credit for possessing great talent, though.

wtf are credibility problems? this is boxing not politics, you get in the ring, beat champs and you are what you are.

[Wiley Hyena]

wtf are credibility problems? this is boxing not politics, you get in the ring, beat champs and you are what you are.

But Floyd avoided the most dangerous champs/contenders of his era. Tszu, Margarito, Cotto.... This is why he has credibility problems....and he is what he is. He always went for the easy money. I understand business is business, but still...

You think that had Floyd gone thru the guys I just named, he would be polling below Roy Jones, Jr.?

[shynequasiog22]

I just find it hard to believe that Mayweather is not leading this poll. HE'S AN UNDEFEATED CHAMP. How can it be that Jones was better in his prime than Mayweather?

Well this thread is talking about primes and Jones was undefeated in his prime too. And in terms of greatness throughout their careers Calzaghe would rank 4th if he was included.

[The_Italian]

My opinion is:

Roy Jones Jr. (best in his prime)

followed by

Floyd Mayweather

and then

Bernard Hopkins...

[wmute]

But Floyd avoided the most dangerous champs/contenders of his era. Tszu, Margarito, Cotto.... This is why he has credibility problems....and he is what he is. He always went for the easy money. I understand business is business, but still...

You think that had Floyd gone thru the guys I just named, he would be polling below Roy Jones, Jr.?

Mayweather did not duck Zoo. End of the story. Zoo was injured or fighting Mitchell or fighting Hatton.

As for Margarito and Cotto, you are right: it would have been nice if he fought them instead of cashing in, like it would have been nice if Leonard fought Nunn, McCallum, Kalambay, Benn instead of cashing in. It would have been nice if Jones fought DM, if Calzaghe fought any elite not in retirement home.