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

Hopkins didn’t look great against Mercado or Echols. So between those, like 97-98 he was at his sharpest.

He didn’t box fights back to back until 1990 at age 25. He fought Jones in early 93. He was still a novice to pro boxing!

 

I think Roy would’ve really struggled with the Hopkins who fought Glen Johnson.

 

I disagree. Roy fought one of the worst fights of his career against Hopkins, and still won comfortably. The Jones that beat Thomas Tate at middleweight, or James Toney at SMW would have beaten any version of Hopkins. His slowdown style would get him nowhere against a prime Jones.

 

Physically yes but he hadnt developed his skillset fully at that point.

 

I think he peaked in that late 90s. 98 or 99. Trinidad was his most famous win though.

 

Excellent posts fellas, every single one of ya! I can not add anything, so...

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Both were pre prime.

 

Jones would’ve won a world title on his pro debut.

 

B-hop was better at closing space than Toney and far better defensively than Tate.

 

No. And neither was Jones. Both were pre prime

 

Jones was substantially further along than Hopkins and that's pretty obvious. 12 months later he was electric against Thomas Tate and just 6 months after that he absolutely walloped James Toney who was at the 46 fight mark without a loss. Jones never looked better ever and that is saying something. He was already peaking and at his peak weight. At this point Hopkins was drawing with Segundo Mercado.

Hopkins was old school and no-where near as gifted as Roy. He had to work hard and make steady improvements with much more emphasis on technique, savvy and fundamentals. Roy's incredible power, speed and reflexes put him on another planet to most that every lived. Like Ali he never had to master the basics but unlike Ali Roy's durability crumbled as well. Having said that his career arc longevity/success wise is very similar to Hagler and Monzon it's just that he didn't retire.

Two incredible fighters at almost opposite ends of the style spectrum.

 

Possibly but he was still pre prime.

 

Neither were. They were entering their prime.

 

This.

Too bad they didn't meet again before Jones was shot because there has been a lot of talk dismissing Jones's win over Hopkins. He just had too much speed for Hopkins prime for prime.

 

Jones was at his very best back then. Unreal. Watch the Thomas and Tate fights.