I'd put Hopkins in titanium for sure. Even with the cute moves, great defensive positioning and extreme discipline, he wasn't KOed for something like 30 years. A bad chin gets exposed in that time, and Hopkins passed virtually every test he was given. Especially against Roy Jones. Jones hit Hopkins on the way in with some huge shots, and Hopkins barely flinched.
I think that's pretty persuasive. He wasn't anything like Prime for Jones either - he had loads of developing to do. That's when your chin can really get exposed, facing a phenom pre-prime and getting hit with those punches.
After watching the (not so) mighty Posh, aka Peterborough United, lose 2-1 at Exeter on Tuesday night, she'd no doubt welcome watching a sportsperson who was genuinely world class at their trade. I'll show her some Miguel tonight.
Also, remember that early reading is all about tone and intimacy so you can read her whatever you want. Old fight reports are just as good as spot the dog until you are pointing at the words.
Titanium Dick Tiger, Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin, Bert Lytell, James Toney, Billy Conn, Mike McCallum, Harry Greb, Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler, Jack Dillon, Jake LaMotta, Mickey Walker, Teddy Yarosz, Mike Gibbons, Charley Burley, Bernard Hopkins. Iron Mike O'Dowd, Gene Fullmer, Joey Giardello, Billy Papke, Marcel Cerdan, Freddie Steele, Bob Fitzsimmons, Ray Robinson, Holman Williams, Stanley Ketchel, Jack Dempsey, Tommy Ryan. Solid Nino Benvenuti, Emile Griffith, Lloyd Marshall, Tony Zale, Roy Jones, Michael Nunn, Randy Turpin, Georgie Abrams, Sumbu Kalambay, Fred Apostoli, Average Tiger Flowers.
That is where we landed. Poor Tiger Flowers! I thought we were a bit generous with our Titanium picks but everyone in there has a very strong case.
Reading these collections of names, I am struck by the sheer depth of quality at MW, not just in terms of punch resistance, but the resumes amassed. Perhaps only LW can rival MW as the deepest and highest quality division in boxing's history.
Is this your top 40 middleweights in terms of greatness as well? Obviously not the ordering, but the names included?
They are all crazy when you see them written down like that IMO. Welterweight is nuts. Lightweight is nuts.