Bill, even the great Harry Greb couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag by 35. That's not a knock on his greatness either.
:deal And to be honest his age isn't even the kicker for me. He beat the fighters he beat when he beat them and that's enough. It just makes it that much more amazing that he was an old man for half of his top wins.
So you expect a 40+ year old to just beat prime, A level fighters? Is Hopkins God? Can he walk on water? He's just human and had to work with what he had left. And it's not like Calz and Taylor dominated him. The JT fights were razor close while the Calz fight was close but clear win for Calz. Dawson ilwas an absolute terrible style matchup for him at 47 and i was utterly shocked when he agreed to fight Dawson. He had to know the odds were stacked against him. And Dawson, along with Jones, are the only two people to decisively beat him. And still, Dawson didn't land squat on Hopkins.
You realise those losses were when he was 40 years old and older, right? And the JC and Taylor losses are close fights. that many feel hopkins won. Hes been fighting prime champions and top fighters almost back to back to back since hes turned 40. You are going to lose some along the way when you do that at his age. Period. So yes, doing that, and winning more then you lose, adds to his legacy. Add enough to your legacy, and it will enhance your ATG ranking over time.
Hops was screwed blue in the Dec. '05 rematch to Taylor on HBO........ I can buy Hops losing fight # 1, but # 2 was all Hops....... I recall Rocky Balboa was fighting Mason Dixon in some heated exhibition, as well.... I love HBO........ MR.BILL
Now that there is debatable.......:deal I finally became a real "Hops" fan after he was shafted against Taylor in fight # 2, and after he schooled a drained Tarver at 175 in '06...... However, Hops was pretty great when he beat Keith Holmes at 160 back around 2001 on HBO....... B-HOPS!:bbb:hey MR.BILL:rasta
Yes, hard to disagree. Love him or loathe him, he's cemented his legacy well and truly. Taking on an undefeated, hard-hitting (and credible) young champion at his age is a mark of greatness anyway - win or lose. But to win comfortably is nothing short of spectacular.