Does Hopkins have the best footwork in boxing today?

Oh he's clearly up there. I personally have it

Hopkins
Marquez
Mayweather
Ward (only at the bottom because he is relatively untested compared to the rest)

Floyd's side-steps, balance on the back-foot, and escape angles are better than almost anyone else in the game. I only put BHop and JMM ahead because of their defensive ring generalship, but Mayweather is right behind them. I seemed aggressive in my critique of Floyd's footwork but it was only to make the distinction and justify my answer.

 

yeah I feel u. This forum does that to you sometimes when u try to make a point, you have go a little overboard :yep

 

I was impressive how he escapes from being cornered time and time again.

 

Hopkins is a level ahead of Floyd in this department imo. Floyd has a good base / balance, good at judging distance, but he fights / retreats in lines and he's often flat footed (part of his defensive style). Hopkins footwork is technically perfect, and he does it all - pivoting/creating angles, feinting, side stepping, lateral movements, etc. He uses high level footwork that Floyd doesn't really employ. I would throw Pac into the mix as well for having some of the most dynamic / high level techniques in the game, although his footwork is technically flawed in some respects.

 

I said the same thing a few posts back.

Manny's could go behind or arguably just ahead of Ward's. His use of angles is very good.

 

What's great about B-Hop is not necessarily his footwork but his rhythm. He's one of the hardest fighters to read because of how he changes up his rhythm which disrupts his opponent's rhythm. His footwork is just a part of that (along with punches, feints, upper body movement).

But if we focus on footwork alone, it's not exceptional. For example Campillo's footwork is equally good.

 

Of course it is, the man can control the center of a ring better than anyone today.

 

Hopkings bores me to death but he deserves props for doing what he does given his age

I dont see any current boxer (aside from the Klitschkos) replicating that feat