Roy Jones & Bernard Hopkins had AMAZING careers

[ИATAS]

Nothing can take that away.

Sure, their recent fights have been stinkers and everytime there is a stinker of a fight there is some backlash, that is expected. But that doesn't change the fact these are two all time greats, future hall of famers who both had careers that any fighter would kill for.

Some of the young cats on this board have no idea the greatness of Roy in his prime. His absolute invincibility, his inhuman hand speed and reflexes. They never saw an offensive minded bernard hopkins chop opponents down with precision and some of the best technical skills & dedication the game has ever seen.

The inevitable happens, fighters get old. It happened to Ali, who fought years past his prime and got destroyed by Holmes. Sugar Ray Leonard was absolutely destroyed by Norris. The list goes on and on and on. It's a common pattern in boxing for guys to stay in the game for too long for boxing is all they know, it's difficult to leave the thing you love more than anything.

With that said, give it up to Roy & Bernard, two of the greatest.

[Russian Crushin]

I cant agree with you more but theres a time when u leave the sport and that time has come....They cant make thier careers better but cant make them worse by continuing.

They should leave with their dignity ad not flat on thier backs like Hatton

[ИATAS]

I cant agree with you more but theres a time when u leave the sport and that time has come....They cant make thier careers better but cant make them worse by continuing.

They should leave with their dignity ad not flat on thier backs like Hatton

Don't get me wrong, I've in favor of them both retiring too. The time has come.

[Dan...]

Yep, both great, great fighters.

It doesn't bode well for the sport though that it is so tough for these guys to leave. The fact that Roy can still get good paydays given his performances over the last 5 years is not a good sign. If the younger talent had a higher profile as it deserved this wouldn't be happening and guys like roy would pretty much not have a choice but to walk off into the sunset.

[Mr. Philadel]

I agree TS

[Russian Crushin]

The thing is that i think Hopkins can still compete, but Roy is done....Roy uses mainly athletisism and speed to beat opponents and those two things are the first to go with ago....i mean shape-wise he looks as good as he has ever looked but his reflexes and speed are gone and can never be brought back

[Frank Martin]

Boxer with love for the sport will feel hard to leave it. It's not like they are broke but you can see they still want to fight.

[ИATAS]

The thing is that i think Hopkins can still compete, but Roy is done....Roy uses mainly athletisism and speed to beat opponents and those two things are the first to go with ago....i mean shape-wise he looks as good as he has ever looked but his reflexes and speed are gone and can never be brought back

yeah but hopkins 2 of his last 4 fights (if you count his tune up) he's had obvious problems with fatigue and its looking increasingly difficult for him to fight for 12 rounds.

also, I noticed a number of things in his body language that just weren't right (not talking about the theatrics), moments of mental lapses, etc.

[Russian Crushin]

yeah but hopkins 2 of his last 4 fights (if you count his tune up) he's had obvious problems with fatigue and its looking increasingly difficult for him to fight for 12 rounds.

also, I noticed a number of things in his body language that just weren't right (not talking about the theatrics), moments of mental lapses, etc.

yea thats true....but i see it as he hasnt lost so why not continue....i mean he is 45 and age not only caught up but passed him.

I wanna see him against 1 more tough fighter and no matter win or lose he should then retire

[General Zod]

They both had successful careers no doubt, but I wouldn't class either as amazing, they had a lot of good in their careers as well as a lot of bad. For Jones it was everything post 03 and for Hopkins it was all the dreadful fights and blown fighters he likes to keep fighting.