Is there any other career in boxing as extraordinary as Bernard Hopkins?

[DARKSEID]

I mean this guy was a convicted felon with no special skills or physical advantages and started boxing in his mid 20's right after jail. On paper, he should have had no future in the sport at all, and he went on to become the Longest Reigning Undisputed Middleweight Champion of All Time.

He beat EVERYBODY at their best with no excuses and became the Oldest World Champion in the history of boxing, and he's still not retired.

Nobody active has a better resume than Hopkins and maybe nobody since the Golden age of Duran Leonard Hearns and Hagler, Save Lennox Lewis.

[D-MiZe]

Hopkins was a good amateur in his teenage years, don't make it sound like he first walked into the gym at the age of 24.



Yes, Hopkins has some great wins but in terms of extraordinary careers, I'd say he falls behind several of the ol' timers.

[DARKSEID]

He was just a teenager when he fought in the amatuers

and he had been sentenced for 18 years in jail before he was even 21. Most people would have given up or killed themselves, but look what he's done with his life.

I never feel like people give him enough credit.

I'm just looking at it through his eyes. I have a criminal record too and i'm struggling to get my life together now and Hopkins inspires me.

[Mr. Philadel]

He was just a teenager when he fought in the amatuers

and he had been sentenced for 18 years in jail before henwas evem 21. Most people would have given up or killed themselves, but look what he's done with his life.

I never feel like people give him enough credit.

same here!!...Ex is extraordinary!!!

[Journeyman]

I still remember that FSN behind the glory episode...where he goes back to visit his old prison and sees the mural of him...imagine what was going through his mind when he fought back tears

when he fought pavlik, they wear wearing police gear and calling him "boy"...got taken back to elementary school did the youngstown kid

[Vasyl’s dad]

He was just a teenager when he fought in the amateurs.

lol, is this somehow uncommon?



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[self destruct]

joe calzaghe has a win over him and a better record. roy jones is better too and he's overrated himself

[#1Assassin]

lol, is this somehow uncommon?



Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

the point is he never competed against adults as an amateur. so he didnt have a great amateur background behind him, he was taught how to fight but when he turned pro he had no comparable experience.

i made the leap from boxing teenagers to grown men in the ams and its a huge diffrence. to turn pro with no experience fighting grown men (other than prison) is no easy task. to become champion is incredible.

[Light_Speed]

He beat EVERYBODY at their best with no excuses and became the Oldest World Champion in the history of boxing, and he's still not retired.

B-Hop is one of my favorite fighters of all time but let's not get carried away. He didn't beat Oscar and Winky at their best and he didn't beat Roy prime vs prime.

As far as your question : Is there any other career in boxing as extraordinary as Bernard Hopkins? I'd say Greb's career was more extraordinary because he fought most of his fights with one eye and became a certified top 10 ATG.

[NearHypnos]

the point is he never competed against adults as an amateur. so he didnt have a great amateur background behind him, he was taught how to fight but when he turned pro he had no comparable experience.

i made the leap from boxing teenagers to grown men in the ams and its a huge diffrence. to turn pro with no experience fighting grown men (other than prison) is no easy task. to become champion is incredible.

This somehow feels like an incognito JCC Jr thread. >__>....

Martinez also didnt start boxing PERIOD til his 20s, which is pretty great in itself.

Hopkins isn't underrated imo, he gets all the praise he deserves. He was just never a HUGE name in boxing. Bernard thrived in the underdog role though.

Other guys who have done well with little, like Paulie Malignaggi. Dude couldnt knock out a 5 year old and hes done prrrrettty good for himself.

In terms of having no physical gifts though I always think of the amoeba looking Nicolino Locche lol. He didnt even look like he belonged in a ring.

My av also kind of reminds me didnt Paez start fighting pretty late too just to help his circus? Lol. Did pretty well himself.