Is Hopkins now better than the Hopkins that fought Taylor?

[SirTomJones]

JT>>>>>>>> Pascal.

[lest26]

impossible for him to be getting better at his age surely, but if he was to fight Taylor now he would win because Taylor just seem to turn to dust, Dawson should beat Hopkins, would be pretty shameful if he don't.

[Turbo B]

He extends himself a little more nowadays, because in the event of losing it’s a lot easier for him to fall back on the, ‘I’m an old man’ speech and save face.

Also most of his recent opponents haven’t been that good anyway, so no -- he’s not improved with age.

[Johnwoo8686]

As one poster stated earlier, he has indeed stepped up his game since then. So physically he not be better but in terms of the tactics he utilizes in the ring he most certainly is better.

[Pugilistic™]

Hopkins is clearly worse imo.

Hopkins looked better against Pascal than Taylor because Pascal simply isn't as good as Taylor.

[Pullcounter]

As one poster stated earlier, he has indeed stepped up his game since then. So physically he not be better but in terms of the tactics he utilizes in the ring he most certainly is better.

hopkins has not improved with age or by going up in weight... the difference is that pascal is a 4 round fighter while JT at MW could go atleast 10 rounds at a decent pace before gassing.

[cupocity303]

he is still the same in terms of skills, but healthier at the higher weight, I still think a guy with quick hands and a boxer style will always give him trouble.

.

The one consistent thing about Hopkins, whether at age 35, 39, 47 etc,. Whether he is facing a fast, bigger opponent or not, HE ALWAYS MAKES IT CLOSE. These guys can never walk out and say they school the guy. How many fighters can say that, win or loss, to never get dominated or knocked out.

And best case scenario, he exposes you like he did Pavlik, Tito and to some extent Tarver.

B-Hop isn't the same physically, that's a given. Maybe the move up in weight is better for him. But overall, he is still the same fighter. Best case scenario, he exposes you and boxes the **** out of you. Worse case scenario, he takes into a close, controversial decision type of ending.

The reason that nobody talks about B-Hop like they do about Roy Jones is, because he never had that period where he was a BEAST, considered unbeatable because of his physical abilities, while getting knocked out silly after his prime. He has always been consistent, at any age.

[bojangles1987]

The one consistent thing about Hopkins, whether at age 35, 39, 47 etc,. Whether he is facing a fast, bigger opponent or not, HE ALWAYS MAKES IT CLOSE. These guys can never walk out and say they school the guy. How many fighters can say that, win or loss, to never get dominated or knocked out.

And best case scenario, he exposes you like he did Pavlik, Tito and to some extent Tarver.

B-Hop isn't the same physically, that's a given. Maybe the move up in weight is better for him. But overall, he is still the same fighter. Best case scenario, he exposes you and boxes the **** out of you. Worse case scenario, he takes into a close, controversial decision type of ending.

The reason that nobody talks about B-Hop like they do about Roy Jones is, because he never had that period where he was a BEAST, considered unbeatable because of his physical abilities, while getting knocked out silly after his prime. He has always been consistent, at any age.

As consistent as he is though, he's clearly not the same guy physically he was when he fought Taylor or fought Tito or was at his best. No matter how smart a fighter is, age and the effect it has made Hopkins a lesser fighter than he once was.

[KnockUTheFukOut]

I don't think SO, he just haven't fought anybody as talented or as physically gifted as Taylor...up until now against Chad Dawson

Taylor Speed and Athleticism gave B-Hop problems, but Taylor weak stamina allowed B-Hop to crawl back into both fights and finished strong and make them close fights