Is Bernard Hopkins a top 30 All-Time Great

Hopkins has passed Roy Jones Jr so the nuthuggers on here that have Roy top 30 should have Hopokins ahead of him. His resume has far surpassed Jones at this time.

 

:good

I don't rate Arguello just as highly myself, but I like to hear of those who do. I love the guy.

 

Weren't you tearing strips off of Hopkins earlier on today?

 

:huh

I like Bhop but I have been very critical of his John Ruiz like tactics in the Calzaghe fight. Other than that? No. The guy has proven himself in the ring unlike Jones who talked a good game and then did nothing.

Regardless, Hopkins has passed Roy easily the past few years.

 

1. Ray Robinson
2. Roberto Duran
3. Henry Armstrong
4. Ali
5. Sweet Pea
6. Eder Jofre
7. Archie Moore
8. Alexis Arguello
9. Marvin Hagler
10. Joe Louis
11. Salvador Sanchez
12. Julio Cesar Chavez
13. Kid Gavilan
14. Carlos Monzon
15. Willie Pep
16. Bernard Hopkins
17. George Foreman
18. Fighting Harada
19. Sugar Ray Leonard
20. Roy Jones JR.

Honourable mentions go to; Tommy Hearns, Lennox Lewis, Ezzard Charles (very sad he couldn't make it into my top 20....a lot of favourites) There are a few others as well, but I have my top 20 compiled on resume, my opinion on h2h battles, and personal favouritism. Wilfredo Gomez for me the greatest SBW of all time, but he also JUST misses out. These guys would probably make yup my top 30 in some form/order.

EDIT: Honourable mentions to Ruben Olivares also.

For example, there's something about Ray Leonard that irks me (probably my opinions on the Hagler fight) and I've squeezed him into the top 20 and explained why he's placed so low to avoid a lot of full-caps responses like;

NO RAY LEONARD!!!?!?!?!!? WTF?!?!?!?!?!?

So, there you are, my top 20.

 

Interesting list Fleaman.

I could argue some spots but all in all I like alot of the guys on your list and appreciate the fact that there are people who view them as highly as I do.

Cheers mate!

 

Thanks man. As I say, some of my personal favourites might be higher then they SHOULD be, but I've got arguments for all of their inclusions.

Would be nice to see what people think of my high placing for Eder Jofre. I'm expecting to get my head torn off for that one, but I have my reasons. I'm almost certain no one will be interested enough to hear them, but I was prompted to give my list, and here it is.

 

I like your list. It doesn't bear much resemblance to my own, but I respect your choices. The only name which makes me go :admin is George Foreman. For me, he is absolutely nowhere near a top 20.

However, I have to ask: what about the real old greats like Harry Greb and Sam Langford etc?

 

This is primarily a post-war list. Mainly due to the fact I have seen more of these fighters. Of course I have seen most of the footage of Jack Johnson etc etc

Otherwise I'd probably have Benny Leonard in there, judging by what I have read.

 

Whitaker was a more skilled, greater, more accomplished fighter in every sense of the word. Make the case otherwise.

 

What happened to other great fighters?? Harada?? PAC is ahead of HArada.. Sanchez?? Sanchez beat a small Gomez and Nelson in Nelsons 10th pro fight

 

if someone else wants to comment on this statement, be my guest.

 

Whitaker had the better jab, defense, workrate, was even better off the backfoot, and had more fluid inside work, even though Hopkins is praised more for it as his game has revolved more around being a crafty, dirty in-fighter in his later years. Never did he have the fluidity, accuracy, or steady, effective workrate that Whitaker had when he stuck to the inside game though. You'll call this nut-hugging as you undoubtedly haven't seen enough to educate yourself, but if you've actually seen Pea's performances against the likes of Chavez, McGirt II, Brazier, Jones, etc you'll see what I'm talking about.

Hopkins's longevity is the primary thing that's brought up when comparing him to other ATG's. We get it. Believe me, we get it, why not come up with a different argument? How about comparing their achievements in their comparative primes? Whitaker not only beat the much better names, but did so in more dominating fashion and did so through 4 weight classes.