Bernard Hopkins: higher on ATG list than Floyd and Manny?

Just looking at his resume alone is impressive, but what he have accomplished over 40 must be taken into consideration. If you look at all these other ATG'S from Morales to Jones from Ali to Holyfield. Anyone you can list, not one of them is capable of doing what Bernard have done.

George Foreman is the only guy who even gotten within the range of Bernard's shocking achievements after 40, but even Foreman falls far short of the mark. Foreman had a very long period of inactivity, body resting, and he won one big fight due to a big punch while losing every round.


Bernard after 40:

Defeated Antonio Tarver by GOING UP two weight classes in weight. To this day, it still amazes me that he at age 41 dominated a LHW Champion.
That alone was so impressive, yet he is far from done with his old man's rampage. At age 43 he went on to utterly destroy and dominate a PRIME Kelly Pavlik, a fight in which he was a massive 4-1 under dog and was expected to get knocked out. It was one of the best performances ever and it was vintage Hopkins. I rate this win over the Trinidad win by far.
Amazingly Hopkins KEPT ON ROLLING, and defeated a top 3 Prime LHW in Jean Pascal at age 46. It was a great fight and had back/forth action. Bernard took some punishment in that battle, but dug deep. He was not afraid to exchange with the younger champion and showed great heart.


He didn't just get one big win after 40, but several big wins over young and PRIME champions.


His middleweight resume and his incredible run of defenses along with the icing on the cake of Trinidad ain't too shabby either. Trinidad was also a 4-1 favorite and received the biggest beat down of his life.

Man what a career Bernard have had. I and many feel this is finally the end for old man rivers. But let me ask you all this.

WILL ANY OF YOU BE SHOCKED IF BERNARD came back and dominate Lucian Bute or Carl Froch? I won't.

Father Time is undefeated, but Bernard Hopkins is the only one to take him 15 Rounds.

 

Amazing insight.

 

I learned a lot. Thanks for teaching.

 

It's not prime Tarver, but come on let's give Bernard a break. He's a guy in his 40's beating up guys who could be his kids. Sure it's not 'prime Tarver' but Hopkins went up two weight classes.


As for your complains about his MW run. Those were NOT his biggest wins. History remembers and boxing writers remembers. Pavlik at age 43 and Pascal at age 46 was much more impressive and they give Hopkins massive credit for those.


Let's see Floyd or Pacquaio beat a prime MW when they are 45 years old. I know you can pick apart Hopkin's MW Resume and run, but what he accomplished after 40 is shocking and I don't understand how people rarely acknowledged such greatness.

We are saying Erik Morales is shot at 35. Hopkins at 46 was beating the LHW Version of Danny Garcia in a great back/forth battle.

 

I agree with your posts. But I will like to know if you feel more credit than usual should be given to Hopkins in terms of ATG rankings because of what he achieved after 40? Like the wins should be counted even more so because of his advanced age? Or to you that don't really matter.