How do you rate Hopkins against the Middleweight greats?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by ribtickler68, Sep 7, 2014.


Page 1 of 2
  1. ribtickler68

    ribtickler68 Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,985
    131
    Apr 27, 2013
    I can't quite make my mind up about Bernard Hopkins! His run of Middleweight defences seem to put him up with the best, but when I think about him fighting Hagler, Monzon or Robinson I can only see defeat for B Hop. I think Briscoe could have beaten him, too.

    How do you guys rate Hopkins at Middleweight and overall?
     
    ribtickler68, Sep 7, 2014
    ribtickler68, Sep 7, 2014
    #1
  2. I Know Everythi

    I Know Everythi Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,100
    25
    Feb 12, 2014
    top 10 middleweight, just outside the top 5.

    all time p4p probably 35-40. if he beats kovalev and adonis then probably 25-30
     
    I Know Everythi, Sep 7, 2014
    I Know Everythi, Sep 7, 2014
    #2
  3. pablod

    pablod Active Member Full Member

    788
    14
    Nov 14, 2011
    yeah his achievements look great tho his opponents generally weren't.
    extremely clever fighter, knows the game inside and out.
    mostly pretty boring to watch and was always quite a dirty fighter.
    That said, what hes doing at the minute is very impressive.
    in a head to head, hed be tricky for most but I see a young hagler as a league above
    (just saw earlier post, he'd definitely fly high in my humble estimation if he beats kovalev, that's the sort of fight only a champion would take.)
     
    pablod, Sep 7, 2014
    pablod, Sep 7, 2014
    #3
  4. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,591
    255
    Feb 5, 2005
    Well Hopkins rated himself 5 on the ATG list, which I think is about right although I don't agree with him placing SRL ahead of him. But neither do I recall him having Greb on the list so all and all, 5 - 7 seems about right.
     
    Vanboxingfan, Sep 7, 2014
    Vanboxingfan, Sep 7, 2014
    #4
  5. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

    16,213
    15,239
    Jun 9, 2007
    Gotta check my list of MW champs. Not sure if he's in my top ten list.
     
    robert ungurean, Sep 7, 2014
    robert ungurean, Sep 7, 2014
    #5
  6. the cobra

    the cobra Awesomeizationism! Full Member

    12,028
    106
    Jun 30, 2008
    #5 or #6 in an ATG sense.


    I think the best version of him is all sorts of tricky hell for any middleweight ever. Of the guys I've seen footage of, I'd make him at least even money with all but Monzon, Robinson, and Jones. I'd pick him over Hagler.
     
    the cobra, Sep 7, 2014
    the cobra, Sep 7, 2014
    #6
  7. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,850
    239
    Feb 19, 2012
    26th
     
    LittleRed, Sep 7, 2014
    LittleRed, Sep 7, 2014
    #7
  8. ribtickler68

    ribtickler68 Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,985
    131
    Apr 27, 2013
    I can't see him beating Hagler. I realise Hopkins is talented, and I backed him against Calzaghe only to be shafted by the judges, but I think Hagler was better than Hopkins.

    I think other posters on here make good points about Hopkins's longevity in the sport, but is that also a sign of the weakness of boxing at the moment? He succeeds with old school smarts today because his type of fighter is so rare. When he beat Pavlik he looked tremendous, but I never thought much of Pavlik!

    Obviously Hopkins has something. I think I should watch a few of his Middlewight defences again to properly judge him.
     
    ribtickler68, Sep 7, 2014
    ribtickler68, Sep 7, 2014
    #8
  9. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,722
    29,070
    Jun 2, 2006
    Good post his opposition flatters him imo.
     
    mcvey, Sep 7, 2014
    mcvey, Sep 7, 2014
    #9
  10. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    19,297
    7,046
    Oct 25, 2006
    I don't really know where I'd rank him all-time.

    In head to-head-fights, he brings a lot to the table. Ultra-dedicated, intelligent, very experienced, savvy, iron chinned and overall very good skills. It would take a hell of a good middleweight to beat him convincingly.
     
    fists of fury, Sep 8, 2014
    fists of fury, Sep 8, 2014
    #10
  11. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    19,297
    7,046
    Oct 25, 2006
    Nevertheless, to still be at championship level at darn close to 50 is amazing. Not only does he have to push his aging body to the limits when competing against much younger guys, but to even have drive to want to do it is phenomenal.
    Unlike someone like say, Foreman, who always had the redeeming asset of a huge punch, Hopkins does not. He has to outwit and outsmart guys half his age who are also naturally bigger.
    He think he's fantastic.
     
    fists of fury, Sep 8, 2014
    fists of fury, Sep 8, 2014
    #11
  12. Big George

    Big George Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,867
    20
    Jan 16, 2011
    1. Walker Smith ( even at middleweight )
    2.Dick Tiger
    3. Stanley Kecthel
    4.Jake Lamotta
    5.Carlos Monzon
    6. BHOP
     
    Big George, Sep 8, 2014
    Big George, Sep 8, 2014
    #12
  13. Mr Butt

    Mr Butt Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,678
    183
    May 16, 2009
    He's certainly not top 5 and is maybe somewhere around 7-14 ( not sure )
     
    Mr Butt, Sep 8, 2014
    Mr Butt, Sep 8, 2014
    #13
  14. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

    55,255
    10,354
    Jun 29, 2007
    The best three natural middles to super Middles Hopkins fought he lost to in Jones, Calzaghe and Taylor.

    He does have impressive longevity though. Just outside the top ten for me.
     
    Mendoza, Sep 8, 2014
    Mendoza, Sep 8, 2014
    #14
  15. SILVER SKULL 66

    SILVER SKULL 66 Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,714
    47
    Oct 6, 2013
    WTF??:nut
     
    SILVER SKULL 66, Sep 8, 2014
    SILVER SKULL 66, Sep 8, 2014
    #15
Page 1 of 2