Was Bernard Hopkins in his prime in the first fight against Roy Jones?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SheenLantern, Mar 12, 2021.


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  1. SheenLantern

    SheenLantern Active Member Full Member

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    Hopkins is of course older than Roy, but he also started boxing much later in life and only turned professional at 23. Was the Hopkins that Roy fought green or was he already the fighter that would dominate the middleweight division for a decade?
     
    SheenLantern, Mar 12, 2021
    SheenLantern, Mar 12, 2021
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  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    No.

    Hopkins at his best was a master of control of the ring, numbering distance, economy and timing among his best attributes. All of these come with experience. He was inexperienced against Jones, though he was ranked, and it's a very good win given what Hopkins went on to achieve.
     
    McGrain, Mar 12, 2021
    McGrain, Mar 12, 2021
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  3. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I don't think he's as far off it as most say but no, he wasn't. Hopkins' prime in was the mid to late 90s IMO. 95-99ish. Obviously he was still great until well after that, but I think his best version was somewhere between those years.
     
    George Crowcroft, Mar 12, 2021
    George Crowcroft, Mar 12, 2021
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  4. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Nope...but TBF I don’t think RJJ was in his either although he was closer to reaching his.
     
    PhillyPhan69, Mar 12, 2021
    PhillyPhan69, Mar 12, 2021
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  5. SheenLantern

    SheenLantern Active Member Full Member

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    This is the way I feel as well. Jones also said he broke his hand in training before the fight, I don't see why he would lie about that since he beat Hopkins so decisively he didn't need to make excuses.
     
    SheenLantern, Mar 12, 2021
    SheenLantern, Mar 12, 2021
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  6. Smokin Bert

    Smokin Bert Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Probably not. But, the best Hopkins loses to the best version of Jones at both 160 and 175.
     
    Smokin Bert, Mar 12, 2021
    Smokin Bert, Mar 12, 2021
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  7. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    /thread.
     
    JohnThomas1, Mar 12, 2021
    JohnThomas1, Mar 12, 2021
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  8. Bill1234

    Bill1234 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It was prior to him reaching his prime but still a very good win. Not the same Hopkins of the second half of the 90s into the early 2000s but as was mentioned in an earlier post, Jones was better in the 2nd half of the 90s as well. Hopkins did grow more as a fighter than Jones did, though.
     
    Bill1234, Mar 12, 2021
    Bill1234, Mar 12, 2021
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  9. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Probably not, Hopkins had incredible longevity as a fighter, one of the best of all time, so in his case it's kind of hard to say when he was in his prime.
     
    GoldenHulk, Mar 12, 2021
    GoldenHulk, Mar 12, 2021
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  10. Senya13

    Senya13 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He didn't improve much after that fight, probably became more methodical in his execution, but he looked great already prior to meeting Jones.
     
    Senya13, Mar 13, 2021
    Senya13, Mar 13, 2021
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  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This is the way I see it as well, more or less. The Tito fight was probably the tail end of his prime. To see his decline after this one should compare Allen 2 and Allen 3.
     
    Bokaj, Mar 13, 2021
    Bokaj, Mar 13, 2021
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  12. UltimateDestroyer

    UltimateDestroyer Member Full Member

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    Yes
    Hopkins so called period of dominance was also when he didn't fight his best opponents.
     
    UltimateDestroyer, Mar 13, 2021
    UltimateDestroyer, Mar 13, 2021
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  13. El Gallo Negro

    El Gallo Negro Active Member banned Full Member

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    I don't think so....
    Hopkins prime seems to have been around the time of that middleweight tournament in 2000 to around the time he beat William joppy
     
    El Gallo Negro, Mar 13, 2021
    El Gallo Negro, Mar 13, 2021
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  14. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Hopkins, one of those fighters that learned as he went along, picking stuff up and using it to his advantage. He reminded me of guys like Archie Moore and Walcott that could show the younger ones what's what.
    Not sure ex when his prime was but he was definitely better the older he got.
     
    Fergy, Mar 13, 2021
    Fergy, Mar 13, 2021
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  15. THE BLADE 2

    THE BLADE 2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No.he got better with age and peaked around the Trinidad fight
     
    THE BLADE 2, Mar 13, 2021
    THE BLADE 2, Mar 13, 2021
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