Bernard Hopkins: A Legend enters the Classic Discussion

Brown was a 35 years old washed up fighter, he would lose his next 5 then retire.
Johnson was 22 years old and had done nothing at 160lbs , nor would he. Hopkins resume at middleweight does not impress me.

 

Ward's shouldn't suffer by any rational standards. Even if you disregard the dominating performance against Dawson, you still have Kessler, Froch and Kovalev II. Someone who more or less shuts out Kessler and Froch and goes up a weight class to stop Kovalev will not be easy for many, if any, fighters around those weights.

Hopkins doesn't have wins of quite that calibre.

 

I think many who call Hopkins a "spoiler" mainly thinks of his late career. In his MW prime in the late 90's/early 2000's I can't see how he was a boring fighter. Somewhat scrappy but not boring. Many fights tended to be a bit scrappy, but also full of activity and some really nice boxing. A little less schooled than Ward but also more aggressive.

 

His rematches against Echols and Allen were very nice displays as well, and they were top 5 fighters at the time.