What was Bernard Hopkins thought of as on his way up?

Don't say IMO, because it IS one of his masterpieces. :good

 

Overachiever, Who might fold once he faces a top opponent.
(Back in the '90's The MW's had fighters who punched like HW's, B-Hop was pretty much one of the only, I hate to say this but rather boring to watch.)

Maybe his management, Don't know?
Seems like his youth was wasted for some reason, I know he had a couple fights on BET.
(And fought on some undercard fight's on FOX during Tyson's comeback)

The Jones Jr. defeat seemed to set him back further & deeper than Atlantis.

 

nah bhop would have made been look amateurish in there, totally different class of fighters those two

 

Going off of the commentary from his early fights, there was an understanding that he was something special, but just not in the same kind of ultra hyped way as, recently, a Gamboa or an Ortiz. He already possessed a kind of authority not just with his power, but his conditioning and his technical soundness.

Still, Merchant "forgiving" Roy for having an "off night" after the IBF title fight is telling. I don't think much of anybody saw him becoming an undisputed top 5 middleweight of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAnxikKenlQ&feature=related

 

Juan Manuel Marquez is one.

The great Henry Armstrong is another - he lost 3 of his first 4 and is now widely rated as one of the top four or five fighters in history.


IMO, Hopkins was viewed completely differently to how he is now. He was viewed as aggressive, vicious, and a formidable puncher.

He was actually not known for defence at all in those days. Even after the Trinidad fight, Hop says to Larry Merchant in the post-fight interview something like: "People don't think I can defend but I know how to defend". It was only post-Trinidad he became famed for his superb defence.

 

I read in the ring a couple years ago that hopkins had 12 1st round ko's in his first 22 fights and was much more aggresive, but changed up his style because he realized he wouldnt get far with that aggressive brawler style

 

B-Hop got tagged ALOT in some of his early fights, but his chin was and is excellent.