Hopkins 0-5 vs. the best natural 160 -175-pound fighters he meet.

Still in AK. I forgot my old password and email associated, so created a new.

 

Poopkins is somewhat 0-3 vs White boys at 175.

 

When assessing a long career - in this case one which racked up 63 fights - you will always be able to construct an argument by cherry picking loses (or wins) to provide the 'proof' you need to support an assertion probably reached in advance of investigating the facts. You know: 'I want to show Hopkins came up short at the highest level, I'll go find the fights that prove this.'

In a career spanning four decades and encompassing eight loses, they'll always be ammunition for detractors. But that's simply not fair on the man, in my view.

Look at his resume in the round, take into account longevity, absorb the record of consecutive defenses, make note that the man boxed throughout his forties, and a couple of times when he'd reach the half century. Factor in he was never the fastest, or the most powerful, or the most skilled compared to any of the generations of opponents his career spanned and you start to see the picture.

When studying a great work of art, of course admire the fine details - the brushstrokes even - and see the flaws with an educated eye but in the end it's the overall impression which makes a masterpiece. Hopkins' career was just that: a masterpiece of overcoming the odds and fighting old father time for most of it too. Yeah, there were flaws - the feigning injuries and faking low blows - and eight times he left the ring the loser. But he was still a great. An all-time great...

 

Wasn't it "password" and "

This content is protected

"?

 

Shh!!! delete delete!! haha!

 

That is hard to argue against factually. It's just true...

Though I still think him a HOF ATG cert.

 

I don't care what you think period. That's the beginning and end of it. I did not say all are racist either. Some could be ******ed.

 

His absolute dismantling of Trinidad, Pavlik, and Tarver were master class performances. All Against fighters that were all viewed as the favorite and in the case of Trinidad and Pavlik as destroyers.
His middleweight run was undistinguished in a division bereft of talent. Far worse than today but he still was consistent in shape and never got picked off with a poor performance.
He is a clear 1st ballot hall of famer deservedly so. Very smart fighter, with a good game plan every time out. Good discipline outside the ring. Yeah he was a sore loser too. So are lot of fighters.

 

I am a racist but I like Hopkins.

 

I hate white people.

 

Agent!

 

Racist!

 

That you are, I agree. This contributes to the discussion how?

 

Not as easy of a resume to pick apart as Vitali Klitschko's but yeah there are some flaws. As already mentioned, he has the claim to being the oldest man to win a world title.. The longest reign at middleweight. Solid wins over men like Pavlik, Trinidad, and Tarver who were all favored to beat him. And with the exception of getting stopped by Smith at the age of 52 and after two years of inactivity, he can for the most part claim to have never been stopped. I don't take issue with his resume. I think he's probably p4p a top 50 ATG...