Not my favourite fighter, but Mayweather was very consistent. We pretty much knew what we were getting each time he stepped in the ring.
Yes Floyd was consistent against his resume, but he wasn't an active fighter. 45 fights in 18 years doesn't impress me. Put him the 40's and some other era's, 80-100 plus fights with those brittle hands against the tough guys, he's probably a no body.
What would you say to Hagler's sub par over cautious effort vs Duran? What about his bizarre strategy early vs SRL? What about Louis vs Galento? Tho pre peak all accounts lead toward him being poorly prepared vs Schmeling too.
You can always pick a fight or 2 in anybodys career, as Hopkins couldn't get past Taylor in 2 goes.. Agree with you in the SRL fight, he definitely botched that one, coming out in the right handed stance for the first 2 rounds cocky and thinkin he could easily outbox SRL .. but no doubt Hagler's complete body of work, he was one of the most well conditioned boxers ever ...Louis up there 2 .. Don't see your point against Galento, because he got caught ?? Just one Louis' 52 KO victims
Some scored both fights for Hopkins. He was also old and stale at the weight by this time, like Louis got late career. The thing is Hopkins wasn't let down by condition or lack of tactics, father time and the confines of 160 hurt him. I don't hold these two fights against him per the premise of the thread. Hagler was always superbly conditioned for sure, but again per the thread he lacked in other area's at rare times. My point per Galento is that Louis allowed Galento's personal attack get to him in the lead up to the fight and went outside his normal parameters once in the ring. By contrast Hopkins was the one psyching others out.
Ya I'm not downplaying Hopkins at all, just saying I think a few are better imo .. and I think he could have been better prepared against Joe C. I mean don't you? I thought he was going to win that fight for sure. It's not like there was a big mystery what was coming. Your thoughts??
Sugar Ray Robinson was pretty consistent. He won about 40 fights to start his career. Lost one over the weight match with beast of a middleweight then didn't lose for another 9 years and 80 fights facing some guys that could kill you. 127-1-1
Calzaghe was a big 3-1 favorite and his workrate was always going to be a problem for Hopkins. Hopkins looked the better early but Calzaghe never stopped pressuring and wore Hopkins down. Hopkins couldn't have done any more imo, he was an old man despite still getting some great results and Joe was a good stylistic foil for this version of Hopkins. Hopkins had to spoil and spoil he did but Calzaghe was too fresh for him. Calzaghe is a top fighter.
I agree Floyd handpicked but that doesn't change the fact that he never once came in to fight unprepared or took an opponent lightly. Hopkins in the past has definitely done this(Calzaghe, Taylor and RJJ 2
Fair assessment. ... Mackie deserves a mention too in helping Hopkins being so relevant down the stretch of his career