Fighters who are better when they are out of prime

Disagree: I think Hopkins was better in his physical prime. What he did to Glen Johnson alone was incredible.

It's much harder to be aggressive, have a higher punch-out-put, and want to break a guy down and KO him...all while being a defensive wizard...then to be a Calculating Savy Older Boxer who understands when to take risks because he is more limited.

Hopkins was always a smart fighter. We just understood what he did more later in his career because he slowed down the Science for us to understand what he has been doing at a higher speed all along. Same with Floyd.

And your Avatar is Pleasantly distracting.

 

I don't think Bernard was a better fighter outside of his physical prime. I just think his opportunities and opponents came so late in his career. There was a time in his career where he had the ring smarts and technique along with excellent stamina. He was never better than that.

 

I agree on all of that, including the avatar comment.

 

Lennox Lewis

 

Juan Manuel Marquez

 

Pacquiao. If PAC had the fundamental that he had now when he was fighting in the lower weight class he would be hard to beat.

 

You thought Hopkins was "crude" against Johnson ?

Watch how he defends himself while he is attacking. it's beautiful. People credit Floyd with great defense...watch Hopkins as he is attacking Johnson. Watch his positioning. Watch where he places his arms to deflect punches. Watch how he tucks his chin. Just watch how he is breaking Johnson down while nullifying everything Johnson does.

I'm telling you: he is just not throwing punches for the sake of it. He is thinking incredibly fast while being able to attack at a faster level than he was able to years down the line.

Does he look like a young Floyd or Roy athletically ? NO. He never did. But don't mistake "crude" athleticism for him being an all around crude fighter if that is what you are saying.


That said, his ability to adapt with age, like Floyd, is incredible.



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Prime has more to do with preformance than age. It is therefore possible to have more than one prime.

 

Hopkins was beautiful to watch against Johnson


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Hi6EznulM[/ame]

 

Sexy Sergio

 

H.L. are cool because it can give you a quick glimpse of a fight if you don't have time to watch the fight. But if there is ever a Hopkins fight that I would say "watch the whole fight"....this would be it.

But Thanks for the H.L.

 

:think There are fighters that are better then their own peak level.....