Should Kovalev be considered Hopkins' best opponent?

Chad Dawson was way, way more accomplished than Kovalev is now for whatever that is worth. Dawson was clearly in the down stretch of his career, though, when he won 9 or 10 rounds over Hopkins.

People will say Calzaghe, Oscar, Trinidad, or Pavlik but the weight there cannot be ignored. I might list each of them, except for Pavlik, as having been better opponents.

Beyond that, you start naming Tarver, Johnson, and then go down his MW reign, I guess.

 

Joe Cazaghe was Hopkins' best opponent.

Kovalev is a very good opponent, but not as proven as Joe, at least not yet.

 

No not even close, far too early on in Kovalev's career to say that. Calzaghe, Tito, Tarver, De La Hoya, Wright and Dawson were far more proven than Kovalev is now.

What makes Kovalev such a dangerous opponent is Hopkins advanced age and that Kovalev is clearly the biggest puncher BHop will have ever faced and clearly the best possible opponent at light heavy.

 

Best recent opponent perhaps. Dawson was probably more proven, Chads biggest victories were all against older guys who were on the slide themselves however, and name recognition (and reputation) count for a lot.

Certainly I would consider Kovalev significantly better than Cloud, Murat and Shumenov though. If we were ever to see Dawson at his best again (and this seems to me to rank alongside the probability of meteor strikes or Andre Dirrell emerging from the parallel universe he's been occupying since the super 6) I would love Dawson - Kovalev to happen.

Actually, I have this weird dirty secret... I think Dawson vs Sillakh would be a really, really good fight, oh... yeah, but ya gotta keep that one to yourselves in case anyone realises how drunk I am. It would be a good fight tho, dammit.

 

Not the best, try 'most dangerous'.

 

Calzaghe Oscar Tito winky tarver rjj Dawson Taylor and kelly all were better and more accomplished.

 

Best recent opponent, not best ever. Possibly hardest fight due to age. But not best opponent in objective terms.

 

What year did you all start watching boxing?

I can't believe you guys have not mentioned Glen Johnson, who is clearly Hopkins' next best opponent after Roy Jones Jr.

 

there's no logical justification for kovalev being labelled as bernard's best opponent.

hopkins has fought opponents who have wins over p4p fighters, and opponents who were in the p4p rankings themselves.

 

1. Prime RJJ
2. Calzaghe
3. Dawson
4. Tarver
5. Glen Johnson
6. Pascal
7. Kovalev

I'd rate him as his 7th best opponent. I wouldn't rate DLH or Trinidad as better opponents because neither of those guys were really Middleweights. Kovalev is at least proven at his weight.

Pascal is better with wins over Dawson and Bute than Kovalev's best wins (Campillo, Cleverly). The other guys above Kovalev speak for themselves.

 

The hate is strong in this one.:rofl

GJ
Pascal
Dawson

R u fukking kidding us:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

 

RJJ....roided or not is BHops best opponent
Calslappy...hate him or not is the GOAT @ SMW clear #2
Tarver was nearly 40 and had losses to garbagemen.....but still.....he would prbably be a tie for 3rd on BHOPs best LOC.

And if Kovalev steamrolls him.....he jumps to a tie with Slappy Joe:deal

 

a 50 yr old opponent that is still fightning? NO if this was his best im sory but we all know Bernard deserves credit white or not...harrdy har