The confusion when comparing Hopkins, Jones and Calzaghe

[lebrick]

HOF is a status, not a statistical fact. Stallone got into the Hall of Fame recently. We don't know how many could've been great, had Hopkins not beaten them, and took them out of equation.

The only time we had multiple great fighters, within one division was when the wealth was spread around, so to speak. When Morales-Barrera were having trilogies at Featherweight. That creates two Hall of Fame fighters within the same division. And a lot of it is based on Aesthetics. They had three exciting fights, and that made them even more HOF worthy to the Old-timers who lust for blood and are usually in charge of who gets into the HOF and who doesn't.

the "natural" middleweight he had beaten, where are they? We do know that HOFers rises again after a loss and shine fighting other fighters; and became great even w/o avenging that loss. BHOP were surely greater than them but they could have made their own name post BHOP.

sometimes, it is really tru that a rivalry will even make a boxer bigger.. it's not a knock on Bhop that he had no other rival though..

[Chaos]

Not just that he was born Welsh, but that he fought there too much as well. Last time I checked, the U.S. isn't some small country for local fighters, it covers half the continent. You wanna be an All-Time Great, it's your duty to go after the Great fighters in the U.S., not the other way around.

The B-Level Americans like Lacy and Manfredo sure went to Wales alright. They had no choice if they wanted a payday. But that doesn't mean that the A-Level American guys have to follow suit, for a homegrown, protected WBO Title Holder, who fought mismatched mandatory's that Frank Warren paid for, to prop him up. It was on him to come here and enhance his legacy.

And then there is his Boxing style. Fighting like a ***** punching his way out of spiderwebs. The Yanks don't like that, and will booo their own if they're not aesthetically pleasing to watch.

At the end, he probably made the right choice, because had he comes sooner, and fought more than twice, he'd probably would've retired with a 44-4 type record.

If that was the case the Hopkins wouldn't have any fans and would be booed every fight cause he has the least aesthetically pleasing style I've ever seen. Joe may not have had power but at least he threw punches. Hopkins not only doesn't have power, but barely throws, constantly clinches and fakes injury every chance he gets. Watch the RJJ 2 fight and tell me he's aesthetically pleasing to watch. They shouldn't play music and keep the lights on to torture pow's, they should make them watch Hopkins fights a la clockwork orange. They'd get all the info they need in 1 day. Also, it's well documented that he tried to get fights against both Jones and Hop years earlier in the States but neither would fight him. Not saying they were scared, maybe there wasn't enough money in it or maybe it wasn't worth the risk, the point is he tried to get the fights stateside twice, so stop spreading the myth that he hid in Wales avoiding American fighters. And Lacy was supposed to be the next big thing when Joe destroyed him and that has nothing to do with where the fight took place.

[ShoulderRoll]

Also, it's well documented that he tried to get fights against both Jones and Hop years earlier in the States but neither would fight him.

If it's so well documented you won't have a problem giving us a source then, would you?

[Chaos]

If it's so well documented you won't have a problem giving us a source then, would you?

Don't expect me to do your homework for you.

[SCtrojansbaby]

Roy was the best fighter and has the best resume/legacy.

Calzaghe should never be mentioned in the same breath as either Roy or B-Hop

[Rome-By-Ko]

Jones was the most gifted. Hopkins owns the best legacy. Calzaghe was never defeated.

Jones was the biggest star and spent the most time on top. Calzaghe retired undefeated on top. Hopkins is still on top.

Jones beat Hop. Hop beat Jones. Zags beat both Hop and Jones but some say that Hop beat Zags.

Ultimately who does history give the nod to?

First problem is you are comparing Joey Zagz to either..He does not belong with either of umm..The nod will be giving to B-Hop when it's all said and done(imo)...

[PD21]

I've always felt Roy Jones was the best but I find myself leaning towards Hopkins these days and think he might even overtake Jones if he does well on Saturday.

Joe Calzaghe was a good fighter but he doesnt really enter the equation with these two. I know he holds decisions over both but if they were in their prime they would have probably finised him in the 1st when they each had him down.

[Chaos]

I've always felt Roy Jones was the best but I find myself leaning towards Hopkins these days and think he might even overtake Jones if he does well on Saturday.

Joe Calzaghe was a good fighter but he doesnt really enter the equation with these two. I know he holds decisions over both but if they were in their prime they would have probably finised him in the 1st when they each had him down.

So when Hopkins wins it's cause he's good, but when someone beats him it's cause he's no longer in his prime? But how does that work if he's still beating people AFTER JC beat him? Tell me, who are the amazing fighters from his OWN weight class that he beat when he was in his prime that makes you think he would beat JC so easily?

[Alx.]

roy jones has the best legacy, and is the best fighter of the three

[starjammer]

Two were American. One was European.