Did Hopkins really unify the MW division?

Did Hopkins UNIFY?

He UNIFIED his IBF title with the WBC when he beat Holmes.

He then later UNIFIED his IBF, WBC with the WBA when he beat Trinidad.

And eventually, became the first man in boxing history to UNIFY the IBF, WBC, WBA with the WBO when he beat Oscar.

However, Hopkins did not unify with the WBF.

 

Dude im not exactly smoking the same **** Bailey is but face it

Trinidad was a ****ing Welterweight, looking back I cant see how he was a favourite in the first place

Holmes was a decent enough win but nothing to get excited about

Hopkins was what Wladimir Klitschko is now, A big fish in a small pond. Hopkins record is no better than Calzaghe's and people judge that 9 ways to sunday, the only difference is that Hopkins didnt have a Sven Ottke in his division

 

Hopkin's was not undefeated at the time as he lost his first bout, and also lost to Roy Jones earlier.

 

This is fair, I think Calzaghe wins at SMW, are better than Hopkins wins at MW. However, with wins over Tarver, Wright, Pavlik and Pascal, and being the LHW Champ twice, I think Hopkins record is better taking all things into account.

 

Who gives a ****? he just came out of prison and was inexperienced in his first fight then lost a tough fight with a great fighter in Jones jr in a world title match.

Im the first to tone down Hopkins when the nuthuggers and slobbering over him but I also give him credit for what he did do, especially in his later years.

 

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To be fair you have made some good threads, you do also make some valid points in your anti american/Hopkins threads (even though they are VERY biased).
But why all the hate for american boxers? I am european myself and i am not a fan of Jones, Hopkins, Toney or Ward, but they're great fighters without a doubt. Why always make arguements against them?
I think it is fair that you prefer euros over americans (i probably also do it myself without really thinking about it), but give the american fighters just a little credit..

 

Ill agree those were some good wins at Light heavyweight and improved his record immensely but I suppose you can argue that it boosts Calzaghe's close win over him so people will be one both sides of the fence on who is better.

Had Hopkins-Calzaghe happened when it should have we wouldnt have the Nuthugger's today, which is why we will still have to deal with the *****'s and *******'s in th future

 

Trinidad absolutely bludgeoned the number 2 MW in the world, when that MW was pretty much favoured to win the tournament. Hopkins and Holmes put on a so-so fight with a lot of in fighting. people didn't think the old man had the legs to stay away from tito for all 12 rounds, thats how trinidad was favoured and it was a great w.

the question was did he unify MW. Yes, he did. Not whether or not the division was as great as it was in the 50s or whatever

hopkins is clearly greater than calzaghe.

 

But thats the only belt that counts:good

 

Dude if you want to argue Hopkins being better than Calzaghe its his wins at lightheavyweight that would put him ahead and even then its not by much because of Calzaghe's win over him

Trinidad had got a controversial win over Delahoya and was dropped before heavily by Fernando Vargas in a fight where he had to lowblow his way out to win . . . .and these fights were at 147 and 154!

 

It's because you probably didn't watch boxing in the late 90's and early 00's

 

Ok? None of that changes the fact that hopkins was old even back then, and trinidad looked like a wrecking machine in his first MW title bout. no one thought hops wouldve been able to move around and jab like delahoya did. hopkins didnt ever dispay that kind of fight before.

 

Its true I didnt because I was about 8-10 at the time but that doesnt mean I havent brushed up on my history. Its a little hypocritical that people bash Calzaghe's win over Jeff Lacy yet praise Hopkins win over Trinidad

 

Hopkins was always a natural light heavyweight and he was fighting a welterweight . . . .

Seriously i give up with you yanks

 

wtf does being an american have to do with anything? im not even that big of a hopkins fan and i loved trinidad at the time. you just admitted you werent even watching boxing back then so your opinion can be taken with a grain of salt :good