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That may be true, but Hopkins only reigned when the division was at its weakest.
He defended one portion of the world MW title for 20 fights. Monzon actually was undisputed champion for all of his defenses. BHOP was not.
This accolade has nothing to do with greatness. Its definitely a record, but it does not reflect any real ATG value.
He lost to Taylor! It wasn't a blowout, but he lost. Personally, I thought Winky beat him as well.
This is true, but let us not make more out of it than it was. I absolutely HATE that aspect of BHOP's career. I love that he finally stepped up his competition late on, but more credit is given in his successes and none is taken in his failures simply BECAUSE OF HIS AGE.
BHOP hid out in a dead MW for too long. That's going to hurt his legacy like it or not. BHOP went half a decade without even facing another champion at MW. The true high points of his career were facing men 2 divisions smaller than his own.
That says a lot.
Face it: From 1988-2000, BHOP was a dud. He defended one, single solitary vacant IBF belt against an assortment of nobodies. BHOP could have easily moved up and took on bigger challenges. He didn't. He waited until no one would hold losses against him to step it up DUE TO AGE. And even then he lost his fair share of fights.
BHOP is no doubt a gladiator .. a dirty gladiator, but a gladiator nonetheless. He's just not as impressive as some make him out to be. And some are willing to turn a blind eye to the fact that his vacant IBF belt didn't make him the lineal undisputed champion for those title defenses. BHOP did not truly equal Monzon's record, let alone break it.
That was some Ali shit right there. That took big balls, but that isn't going to earn him any ATG credit.
He defended one portion of the world MW title for 20 fights. Monzon actually was undisputed champion for all of his defenses. BHOP was not.
This accolade has nothing to do with greatness. Its definitely a record, but it does not reflect any real ATG value.
He lost to Taylor! It wasn't a blowout, but he lost. Personally, I thought Winky beat him as well.
This is true, but let us not make more out of it than it was. I absolutely HATE that aspect of BHOP's career. I love that he finally stepped up his competition late on, but more credit is given in his successes and none is taken in his failures simply BECAUSE OF HIS AGE.
BHOP hid out in a dead MW for too long. That's going to hurt his legacy like it or not. BHOP went half a decade without even facing another champion at MW. The true high points of his career were facing men 2 divisions smaller than his own.
That says a lot.
Face it: From 1988-2000, BHOP was a dud. He defended one, single solitary vacant IBF belt against an assortment of nobodies. BHOP could have easily moved up and took on bigger challenges. He didn't. He waited until no one would hold losses against him to step it up DUE TO AGE. And even then he lost his fair share of fights.
BHOP is no doubt a gladiator .. a dirty gladiator, but a gladiator nonetheless. He's just not as impressive as some make him out to be. And some are willing to turn a blind eye to the fact that his vacant IBF belt didn't make him the lineal undisputed champion for those title defenses. BHOP did not truly equal Monzon's record, let alone break it.
That was some Ali shit right there. That took big balls, but that isn't going to earn him any ATG credit.
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