Hopkins was everything Floyd was (and was not), yet made much less $ over his career

This.

Hopkins has a few small businesses that bring in decent money, and he will probably die a millionaire.

He doesn't gamble, party or waste it on clothes, cars and watches.

 

Not really a fair comparison when you consider how Hopkins had to fight his way up from nothing when Mayweather was being wooed by guys like Don Hale, Shelly Finkel and others even before the Olympics.

When Hopkins turned pro he was just a convict who with not much amateur experience. When Mayweather turned pro he had a 84-6 amateur record, an Olympic bronze medal and was signed with Top Rank. Mayweather was fast tracked and got a title shot in his 3rd year in his 17th fight and then signed hi first HBO contract. Hopkins in his 17th fight hadn't even fought for a regional title and wouldn't get signed to HBO until he had been IBF champion for over 6 years.

Mayweather challenged the respected but very beatable Hernandez in his first title shot. Hopkins was matched against the greatest natural athlete of his generation in Jones Jr.

While Mayweather no doubt has done an incredible job of promoting himself he had a lot of help to get to this stage while Hopkins was fighting in obscurity and often being ripped off by his own promoters. Hopkins has a persecution complex because many people have tried to screw him over early in his career, Mayweather never had to deal with such adversity and had an easier path. Mayweather also had the advantage of coming from a boxing background and had good trainers to begin with, he was sparring with Whitaker and Frankie Randall as an amateur, Hopkins was lucky to find Bouie Fisher but he didn't have the privilege of a good trainer in his own family to teach him from childhood on how to be a great fighter.

 

Couple of things:

- When the early career star-making opportunity presented itself, Mayweather shined (vs. Corrales), where BHop lost convincingly (Roy Jones)

- The years Hopkins remained at MW beating a bunch of solid fighters did nothing for him, whereas Mayweather always had more interesting 'carrots' out there for him (Kosta, DLH, Judah, etc.)

- People forget now, but there was a stretch of Hopkins' career where his rep as a 'dirty fighter' and penchant for being in tough-to-watch fights far outstripped his actual skill.

- "60-40, I'll kick your azz!" was not a good look. At all.

 

If a fighter is considered universally entertaining, i.e. Leonard, Hearns, Hagler, then they don't have to be assholes. The less fan friendly you are, the bigger you're mouth better be if you want to sell tickets. It's why Andre Ward will never be a household name.

 

That 60/40 & I'll kick your azz was all BS!!!! Jones wanted nothing to do with Hopkins Ol Roy was happy fighting school teachers, postmen, cops & trash collectors for easy $$$ & no risk

 

True.

Probably between 5 and 10 years. I predict he will run through all his money, come running out of retirement take a loss, then lose his marketability. Then he will be virtually broke, at least compared to his Money Mayweather days. I wonder what his new monicker will be?

 

the thing is, hopkins pretty much is a self made man. he doesn't owe anybody to where he is now. floyd owes his from top rank.

oscar had the gold medal and the mex fanbase to make him a ppv star.

pac had the fighting style that if he kept winning (which he did) would also make him a ppv star.

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl Floyd didn't make it big until after he left Top Rank because Bob was holding him back. What are you blabbering about? It's Pacquiao who owes his popularity to Top Rank.

 

While I agree that one was long undervalued and one over valued, I disagree that there were no reasons for that.

Mayweather went to the Olympics. Hopkins went to prison.
Mayweather is undefeated. Hopkins was defeated in his first fight.
Mayweather wins first title at 21. Hopkins wins title at 30.
Mayweather 24-0 in title fights. Hopkins 27-6-4 in title fights.

If Hopkins had beaten Roy Jones back in 1993, then he wouldn't have had to wait until 2001 to get another shot at a big fight with Trinidad, and he could have been earning big money 8 more years.

 

you're stupid.

floyd's fighting style is unappealing.

he got bronze.

how the hell you do you think tr was holding him back??

 

What are you smoking? Mayweather and Floyd didn't become pay per view attractions making big money until they fought Oscar De La Hoya. Hopkins became a bigger star and started making more money after he fought De La Hoya too.

 

Pac would have been a star, but not as big as he is now without De La Hoya. Mayweather would have had the career of Pernell Whitaker without Oscar De La Hoya. They both owe De La Hoya for their careers. De La Hoya owes Julio Cesar Chavez for his.

 

"Mayweather is hugely popular because of his skills and work ethic."

yes he has great skills, a boxing genius but its all just so predictable and its not even that i don't appreciate technical boxing floyds fights are just so samey and theres no tenacity, just the same old stuff which while it is skilled is just overly boring now. and as for all his money i just think he is surrounded by fake friends and fake women that if the going got tough financially for floyd they'd be gone in a heartbeat.. i'd hate that.

 

:good:good

 

EXACTLY, the fight happened after Floyd left Top Rank. THAT WAS MY POINT. Now what were you blabbering about?