Suprise, Suprise

[JUYJUY]

Sometime between the end of Leonard-Hagler in 1987 and Michael Nunn's coronation as undisputable middleweight king in his fight with Sumbu Kalambay, the middleweight division kicked off an era of unbelievable greatness. There were 20-30 quality natural middleweights (not to be confused with former welters and lightweights moving up to fight one good middleweight) on the scene. The legacy on view in these seven days is the legacy of those great fighters and their most memorable fights. Toney, Hopkins and Jones are part of the era of Nunn, Kalambay, Mike McCallum, Julian Jackson, Gerald McClellan, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Michael Watson, Steve Collins, Reggie Johnson and John David Jackson. And there are probably ten more names to slide in there. An era so deep, with so many good fights, that no single star was ever able to emerge.

http://ringtalk.com/Articles/cliff/092504.htm

[Sir_Jose]

He's a fraud, get real. He's a big-headed bully, people were actually rating this guy in history despite having no opposition. But in reality he'd be lucky to make the Top 20 Middleweight's of the last 20 years.

And if you knew anything about boxing you'd no that he hasn't dominated for 10 years because he was a very small name until he beat the blown-up little guy Trinidad a few years ago.

Lucky huh.

Well then smartass please name me 20 Middleweights from the past 20 years that you would rank ahead of Bernard Hopkins.

[JUYJUY]

Steward Sees Big Trouble for Hopkins in Taylor

When asked if he thought the powerful jab of Jermain Taylor - not to mention the youth, hunger, strength and determination - would be severe trouble for undisputed Middleweight king Bernard Hopkins, Emanuel Steward quickly concurred.

"Yes, yep, yep, yeah, that's one of the fights that's a real, tough pick 'em and the slight edge I'm going with Jermain," said the Hall of Famer, before elaborating into a fascinating analysis. "I think that the one thing that all elder fighters have problems with when they get in their 30s is the jab - a young fighter with a fast left jab. Because the jab is the punch that is the shortest distance and you have very little time to see that because the reflexes are slowing. Guys who have jabs, they give all the fighters problems. And that's been just no exception. And I think that Jermain has a good jab, physically measures up to Bernard for one of the few times. And he also has a tough attitude. I mean, for all Bernard is, he's still like a bully, an intimidator, he's a bully-type guy. And Jermain - forget all that country baby boy talk - there's a look in Jermain - I know when I see too - and I think this will be - to me - the fight that will prove to me if Hopkins is as good as people who are listing him in the history books. I don't feel that way. I feel that he's a good middleweight that just happens to be along at the right time, when the middleweight division is the worst that it's ever been in history. And I think that's why he's been able to win all those fights. But when you look at the credible big names that he's ever beat - Trinidad, a welter/junior middleweight - Oscar de la hoya - a welterweight that brought himself up to middleweight - that's all. But he hasn't had to fight too much. Closest fight roughly he had was with Antwun Echols which was still no world class big fight. He's been very fortunate. His record puts him in a position in history that I don't think he's, you know, really that (inaudible on audio tape replay). You can't fault him because all he can do is beat what's up there. And he's beaten everybody that was up there. But unfortunately he hasn't been in any great fights, but he did all he can do. To me, Jermain Taylor will be the first fighter he fights that, to me, that he will be tested, where I think he will fall.. All the other fights, I don't give him much credit, believe it or not. This is the fight that I'm looking at who I will determine the way I feel how he would have held up. And I think Jermain Taylor - even though he's young - presents that challenge."

http://www.*************.com/columns.../122296571.php

[Bozo_no no]

If you knew anything about boxing you'd know that it was actually Chris Eubank's best ever win, because he finally won over everybody. His bravey was praised by all and suddenly people started respecting him. He moved upto Cruiserweight from Middleweight, and absolutely dominated the much naturally big man Thompson by winning every round. But Thompson's heavier punches took their toll and the referee called it off between rounds against Eubank's passionate protests, because Eubank's eye had completely closed and there was blood gushing out of his mouth.

Right, and he lost. So that invalidates everything he did before and rendered him a fraud.

Neiner Neiner Neiner Neiner.

I hope that gives you an idea of what a biased spiteful little wanker you sound like.

It was clear from Day 1 that your panties are in a bunch about British fighters not getting enough recognition, and you compensate for that by making spiteful assinine comments about american greats.

You couldn't be anymore see through.

[BigIppoFireworks]

Emanuel Steward: "The last world-class, natural Middleweight that Hopkins fought was Roy Jones, and he lost every round."

Hopefully you gullable kids will stop hugging Hopkins' nuts now.
160 has been empty for 10 years or more.
Hopkins has not beat anybody aside from blown-up little guys..
He was a fraud and grossly over-rated.

I agree that some of the other middleweights of all time are waaaay above Hopkins just because they had sicker opponents... the Haglar/Hearns/Leonard love triangle ... the competition... they made each other a better fighters... but...

Tito was not "blown up" and "little"
Lets not demean what Hopkins accomplished.

[JUYJUY]

Lucky huh.

Well then smartass please name me 20 Middleweights from the past 20 years that you would rank ahead of Bernard Hopkins.

Hopkins' physical prime was 1990-1994.

These are all the guys that were ranked ahead of Bernard Hopkins between 1990-1994 in that era of incredible depth of talent in the Middleweight's: Michael Nunn, Mike McCallum, Iran Barkley, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Michael Watson, Steve Collins, James Toney, Gerald McClellan, Roy Jones Jr, Herol Graham, Julian Jackson, John David Jackson, Reggie Johnson and Sumbu Kalambay to name just a few. All of these guys were rated ahead of Hopkins and that's just between 1990 and 1994.

Now let's look at 1985-1989 shall we: Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Iran Barkley, Roberto Duran, Mike McCallum, Ayub Kalule, Herol Graham, Sumbu Kalambay, Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Nunn. These guys were AWESOME, and that's just off the top of my head.

The depth of talent at 160 in the late 80's and the early 90's especially was frightening, Hopkins was around then and he was not a part of it until the rest either moved up in weight or retired.

[bfg]

I give Taylor props for winning but he didn't exactly look devastating against an older opponent who some people feel shouldn't be ranked among the top 20 middleweights (which is plain silly)...Eubank and Benn were both great fighters and they both fought some tough fights against tough oppostion...it is not BHop's fault that the division is empty and I actually think Hopkins would be a greater fighter if he faced greater oppossition...I don't think the level of competition tarnishes his legacy but I think it diod contribute to what we saw tonight..Taylor did not dominate the fight and Hopkins lost the belts all on his own...When he applied the pressure Taylor began looking bad...he gave Taylor too much respect early and took too many rounds off and Bouie Fisher should have lit a fire under his ass after he lost the first 4 rounds...but he didn't and Hopkins figured he could get the KO late like he did with De La Hoya and Trinidad but Taylor is a natural middleweight and if Hopkins wanted the KO he needed to start working on it earlier than round 8 or 9....I lok forward to the inevitable rematch and I think Hopkins will reclaim the belts...I also think it will be a much more exciting fight and there is a good chance that the winner will win by KO....Hopkins will work more early but this will open him up to shots from Taylor...Taylor is flawed and won tonight but sure didn't look great in doing so

Steward Sees Big Trouble for Hopkins in Taylor

When asked if he thought the powerful jab of Jermain Taylor - not to mention the youth, hunger, strength and determination - would be severe trouble for undisputed Middleweight king Bernard Hopkins, Emanuel Steward quickly concurred.

"Yes, yep, yep, yeah, that's one of the fights that's a real, tough pick 'em and the slight edge I'm going with Jermain," said the Hall of Famer, before elaborating into a fascinating analysis. "I think that the one thing that all elder fighters have problems with when they get in their 30s is the jab - a young fighter with a fast left jab. Because the jab is the punch that is the shortest distance and you have very little time to see that because the reflexes are slowing. Guys who have jabs, they give all the fighters problems. And that's been just no exception. And I think that Jermain has a good jab, physically measures up to Bernard for one of the few times. And he also has a tough attitude. I mean, for all Bernard is, he's still like a bully, an intimidator, he's a bully-type guy. And Jermain - forget all that country baby boy talk - there's a look in Jermain - I know when I see too - and I think this will be - to me - the fight that will prove to me if Hopkins is as good as people who are listing him in the history books. I don't feel that way. I feel that he's a good middleweight that just happens to be along at the right time, when the middleweight division is the worst that it's ever been in history. And I think that's why he's been able to win all those fights. But when you look at the credible big names that he's ever beat - Trinidad, a welter/junior middleweight - Oscar de la hoya - a welterweight that brought himself up to middleweight - that's all. But he hasn't had to fight too much. Closest fight roughly he had was with Antwun Echols which was still no world class big fight. He's been very fortunate. His record puts him in a position in history that I don't think he's, you know, really that (inaudible on audio tape replay). You can't fault him because all he can do is beat what's up there. And he's beaten everybody that was up there. But unfortunately he hasn't been in any great fights, but he did all he can do. To me, Jermain Taylor will be the first fighter he fights that, to me, that he will be tested, where I think he will fall.. All the other fights, I don't give him much credit, believe it or not. This is the fight that I'm looking at who I will determine the way I feel how he would have held up. And I think Jermain Taylor - even though he's young - presents that challenge."

http://www.*************.com/columns.../122296571.php

[JUYJUY]

comments about american greats.

That Hopkins or whatever his name is, is not an American great.
The counter-punching version of Marvin Hagler of the late 70's would beat this Hopkins guy every single day of the week.. and twice on a Sunday. The Thomas Hearns that fought Hagler would wipe out Hopkins in one round. The Ray Leonard that fought Hagler would school Hopkins for 15 rounds. Mike McCallum would chop Hopkins down like a tree. The Michael Nunn that beat Kalambay in one round would do the same to Hopkins if he caught him with that wicked counter left hand (Kalambay had a better defence than Hopkins). Julian Jackson's right hand that layed Herol Graham out cold would do the same to Hopkins (Graham had a better defence than Hopkins). James Toney at his counter-punching best beats Hopkins atleast 9 times out of 10.

Hopkins should not be considered an American great.

[JUYJUY]

Just imagine what Gerald McClellan would of done to Hopkins!

[Bozo_no no]

Hopkins should not be considered an American great.

But he is, and by a vast majority.

And a vast majority of that vast majority would call a bitter and wounded little Brit (who's got anger issues about meidocre British fighter not getting enough recognition) an idiot for suggesting otherwise.

The question you have to ask yourself, is why is your opinion in a tiny minority?

Because you're clearly jaded and trying to find an outlet to vent.