Unfortunately for Casa, he didn't beat any of those guys cleanly enough which is why he didn't get the decision. Taylor is a prime undefeated MW. There's no shame in losing a close fight to a prime undefeated fighter. I still give the nod to Hopkins over Casamayor
Give floyd morales heart, passion & toughness or give morales floyds speed & defence Either way you get a fighter who would never ever lose until he`s about 50. honourable mentions go to barrera, hopkins & dlh. Never mind the fact that morales & mayweather are both multi-weight champs & have beaten some of the best boxers of the past 10 yrs, think of their prime weight classes... floyd at 130 & erik at 122. Floyd is still very much around his prime due to his style of boxing where as erik is worn out due to his but not in the past 10 yrs have I seen any other fighter look as good in a particular weight class as these 2 did at 130 & 122, very dominant. If you want to see a prime morales with no wear & tear then watch him at 122, he has a strong claim as the best ever at the weight. :good
Taylor was about 25 or 26, he was definately prime(does it look like he's improved since those fights), and everybody thought Tito was going to wipe out Hopkins. Pre fight analysis is sometimes useless. Regardless, Casa lost all three of those fights and Hopkins lost the two fights to Taylor. Given who both of those fighters have beaten(not who you decide the winner is), B-Hop gets the nod.
I disagree about Taylor being prime. It was his first big fight and he was untested in the big leagues. You cannot be prime before you are tested. He was green as he never been in a real championship fight. The first fight was a draw at best. The second fight Taylor won with his jab.
I respectfully disagree Toopretty...I mean Shiftygrits. I judge prime by age and physical abilities. Physically you are at your peak in your mid 20's. I have seen no real improvements in his boxing ablities since his fights with Hopkins. Therefore, I conclude that he was in his prime.
We're talking for the last 10 yrs. From 1997-2007. Champ at 112, undefeated & Champ at 122. Lineal Champ at 126. Beat 2 Granite Chinned HOFamer By KO twice(Will KO MAB again). LOses: by Singsurat because of Dehydration, Proof he went up 2 wt Classes on his next fight, KOed everybody at 122 & become Champ.( Sanchez survived, should be DQed) Outpointed by EM, but we know what happenned on the next 2 fights.