ATG: Who Ranks Higher, Roy Jones Jr or Bernard Hopkins?

RJJ had more skill in the finger tip of his little finger than Hopkins!

It’s not even close, it’s a no contest!

 

Bernard Hopkins. He is smarter and has better fundamental skills.

 

I hate voting for Hopkins ...

 

I have to give it to Roy because he captured a heavyweight title after starting as a middleweight. That's an extremely rare accomplishment. He also looked untouchable in his prime. Sticking around too long hurt him though, whereas sticking around definitely contributed to hopkin's legacy. Still though, even though I don't prefer his style, jones' talent was something to marvel at. Even though his career didn't end well, he was much more than just a flash in the pan.

 

Hopkins longlivity is great, but has a couple of asterisks attached to that imo.
The multiple reports of his refusal to do drugtests, being quite a 'crafty' fighter, and of course winning his last belts from paper beltholders at the end of a weak LHW era.
He was extremely good, and of course Roy has a clear asterisk hanging over his head too, but I think Roy being quite untouchable during his prime including the WBA heavyweight belt clinches it for me.

 

Roy was the superior athlete. As time went on and his athleticism faded it was clear the better boxer was the one that had to master his craft without the blessing of those God given talents.

 

Jones all day long

 

Nonsense.

 

At the end of my career, I'd rather be Hopkins. He wasn't getting brutally KO'd left and right by everyone.

 

It comes down to what you rate higher head to head ability or accomplishments. I think Hopkins achieved more, especially later in his career but RJJ was clearly the better fighter head to head. I lean towards accomplishments as my main criteria when ranking fighters but I won't pretend that at their best RJJ was the better fighter, he was very special and could of achieved more had he the desire to do so.

 

Overall Roy for sure.

If Hops had managed to maybe beat Zaggers and Kovalev then it might have been different.

On the flipside, BHops didn't really maul his resume later on with losses to Danny Green and other's like Roy did.

Roy had much the greater highs and lows, with Hopkins being for more consistent.

 

Sir Joe Calzaghe


One to rule them all

 

This. I feel Hopkins had a better career overall but that RJJ was better head to head by far. So if you say RJJ > Hopkins on that basis I will not argue. But "greater" is a subjective word. I think Hopkins' career as a whole is more impressive.

 

He ruled Herol