Not in the classical sense like a Ray Leonard or Cassius Clay. He doesnt throw a high volume of punches, doesn't have spectacular foot work, and isn't particularly flashy... What he does do better then anyone is control the pace of the fight, take fighters out of their game plans, outlast guys half his age, land punches that affect his opponents way more than they look like they should, and he has every old timer dirty trick in the book up his sleeve. He also ruins guys careers. They are never the same after fighting him. In THAT sense, he IS the most talented fighter ever. On the same level as a Floyd Mayweather or an Andre Ward. What an incredible fight he would make against Canelo, anywhere from 160 to 175.
In terms of technique there are those that I'd have a bit ahead of him, much due to his tendency throughout his career to come in low with his head, which to a large part is what made many of his fights quite scrappy. In terms of ring iq and discipline in the ring, keeping to the game plan, I think he's up there with anyone, though.
The dude definitely developed all the skills. I suspect Pirog was primed to eclipse him, but Hopkins really had the defensive dialed in.
I'd take his discipline over Michael Nunn's inimitable athleticism any day. Now, come the day we have a machine that allows you to fuse two Boxers together, I am calling dibs on this pairing and the world may bow before me!!!
It was certainly boring the way Hopkins totally dismantled the heavily favored Trinidad round after round and then put massive punishment on him at the end of the fight. I almost fell asleep when Trinidad's corner threw in the towel saving him from a brutal TKO.
I don’t think he is but he’s in the upper echelon. I’d say Mayweather was above him in the skill department.
I think he planned strategy very well.. He put a lot of thought into how to win, almost the opposite of Hearns who went for broke.. Yet both were great. Hearns wanted to impress the audience and give a show. Hopkins wanted to prove things with wins and strategy.