Prime for Prime: Rank Bhop/JC/RJJ reasons.

Jones

Hopkins
Calzaghe

 

I love watching Roy fight but lets be honest, he didn't exactly beat the greatest of competition during his career.
Ok he does have wins over Toney & Hopkins but I do think those two matured a lot later than Roy did. I believe their primes came a while after. Hopkins is still beating champions like Kelly Pavlik now at 43!

Calzaghe did beat a much better version of Hopkins than Jones did for sure.

Im undecided about who would win prime for prime amongst the three but Joe is well underrated. IMHO Calzaghe would be a good match for either.

Legacy:

Hopkins
Calzaghe
Jones

 

RJJ
BHop
Cal

based on who beats who in their prime. Cal made some significant accomplishments by beating Lacy and Kessler, but he missed the boat by not taking on RJJ and Bhop in their prime. If he had, I feel pretty confident he would have gotten the living **** kicked out of him.

 

A lot of sour grapes on here

Truth was RJJ and BHops only have themselves to blame.

Actually I dont blame RJJ at all cos he was already fighting the top light-heavys, but BHops fought a lot of fighters inferior to Joe but doesnt get the stick for it.

Plus all these assumptions that a more offensive BHop would beat Joe easily,

well atsch

Maybe theres a reason why he couldnt get on the front foot.

And maybe Joe is actually better when the opponent comes forward.

I dont think theres been a Hopkins performance thats been better than Joes against Kessler.

But theres only one way to settle this

Get Bernard fighting Kessler and see how well he does...

 

rjj
b-hop
joe calzaghe

 

What Jones did moving through the weights was a great accomplishment in its own right and he looked spectacular in many of his fights. Great speed, power and agility no doubt. I don't know if he was a flat track bully and maybe playing with his weight didn't help but when he got hit he stayed hit. I know he easily beat James Toney but he was another fighter who looked great against inferior opposition and has come up short on several occasions (what ever the reason/excuse). I guess if looking good and the ability to fight competitively at many weights is what makes a great fighter the Jones and Toney deserve their place.

Hopkins I like but was always quite a conservative fighter which probably contributed to his defeats (including Taylor and Calzaghe) That said he had grit and was always a difficult opponent. He has been competitive for many years without looking anything like as good as Jones and Toney but if in the trenches I know who I would want to be next to.

Calzaghe was a moaner (the world was always against him bit like with Hopkins) he often looked terrible against inferior opponents but when it mattered seemed able to find something and when on song could be pretty spectacular. No doubt his stamina was a significant asset.

I agree with the poster who stated Hopkins is a better fighter today than in the nineties and am sure he regrets his conservative approach to Calzaghe (and Taylor) but that was Hopkins style.

Personally I prefer Hopkins and Calzaghe because I saw them both suck it up and take their opponents best shots throughout their whole careers. Jones didn't what ever the reasons and Toney fell short too often (whatever the reason). That said I will happily watch and admire Jones, Calzaghe and Hopkins for what they were.

Its a shame we will never really know who was the best and people will align themselves based on how they see things which I respect but for me, the best fall and comeback (even if they moan as both Hopkins and Calzaghe do) the rest have an excuse...... Some stars shine for ever, others burn brightly and then fade away..... Enjoy the shooting stars as they fizz but appreciate the ones that stay around

 

Co-Sign Vlad!

 

Best Rookie post in three years.

 

^this^

:good

 

Explain to me why Bhop legacy is clealy better than roy's? His best wins are tarver, pavlik, winky and trinidad and he does not have a great lot after that. Also lets take into account that trinidad was best at 147/54 and winky at 54.

Jones beat hopkins and he was no more green than roy, hopkins was actually probably in his physical prime in that fight but not having all of the rig smarts he would late gain, toney who while weight drained is a better fighter than anyone hopkins beat. Then throw in a victory over a decent heavtweight for a title a massive feat for anyone who started there career at 154 and is a natural 168 fighter. Also wins over very decent fighters in tarver, griffin and hill and old mccallum.

Hopkins has better longevity certainly, but when you actually look closely at there resume roy's is better IMO

 

Resume: Hopkins > Jones Jr > Calzaghe

H2H & Legacy: Jones Jr > Hopkins > Calzaghe

 

Anyone who says anything other than this is an idiot.