The young Hopkins was nothing compared to the old.

[daggum]

if you think hopkins is good now i can't wait for the 50 year old version. he's gonna be a beast.

[them_apples]

Hopkins has become better and better with time. The way he fights now is as slick as it gets, while he was much easier to nail when he was younger.

And some people still dont give Calzaghe credit...

the older hopkins was better but not the 43 year old Hopkins. That's just TOO old.

Hopkins prime ended at about 39 years of age. I'd say his mid 30's was his prime.

Hopkins is skilled but he couldn't go 12 rounds at a pace with Calzaghe, which is something he could do in his prime. I would have bet my money on Hopkins knocking Calzaghe out late prime for prime.

[warp1432]

Hopkins prime was from around 97-03. He turned from a brawler into a Boxer-Puncher who would move around the ring while also having a high workrate. He became more cautious as age went on. The Joppy was his last primeish fight.

Still a great fighter at 40+, but he was his best in those years.