What will Hopkins place in history be if...

If Hopkins beats Calzaghe clearly (and not by a dumb DQ call or something like that), he easily deserves to be a top 15 ATG. That win would be beyond huge.

 

A win over Calzaghe, at this stage in their respective careers, would be HUGE. Probably even bigger than that.

I rank Bernard in my top 40 right now, but if he beats Joe clearly, I could see a case for top 20 - right up there with Hagler and Monzon.

 

It will only further his legacy even more. I am more interested in what would people rate Calzaghe if he beats Hopkins.

 

Would you say that a win against Calzaghe would be much bigger than any wins Monzon and Hagler ever had? This win would probably be the biggest single win of this decade.

 

Well 15-20 might be too high but I agree that he would be in the top 30. Of course a Jones win wouldn't mean too much for the historians as Jones is no longer an elite fighter and Hopkins has to unify and beat at least Erdei to be the lineal champ at 175, but beating Calzaghe and beating him decisively would be his BIGGEST win to date which would rocket him into the top30, somewhere around 26-30 IMO.

But I don't see that coming... I see a Calzaghe win, and if it will be dominant, Joe will be in the top50 on my list. To rank him or not rank him higher than Hopkins even after a win over the old Fox... I don't know... maybe if he can beat Jones as well (in this case – who’s better at the ATGs – just one tiny little win would be enough to pass him... and beating a 39-year-old Jones (or WBC champ Dawson, IBF champ Woods, WBO & lineal champ Erdei or Pavlik of course) would be enough.

 

I would rank a clear/deserving Hopkins victory against Calzaghe over any of Hagler and Monzon's best wins.

Hagler's best wins are against Hearns, Duran, Antuofermo, Hamsho, Mugabi, Sibson, and Minter.

Monzon's best wins are over Valdez, Benvenuti, Griffith, Napoles, and Briscoe.

I think Calzaghe, at 168 and 175, is better than any of the fighters I listed at the weight class they fought Monzon and Hagler in. Obviously Duran and Hearns rank above Joe at their best weights, but that's not an important point.

Calzaghe is also undefeated, a top 5 P4P fighter (number 2 and 3) in most people's list, a RING world champion, has cleaned out his division, and still has a lot left in the tank judging by his win over Mikkel Kessler. Add that to the fact that Hopkins is a very big underdog and 43 years old and you have what would be an ALL TIME GREAT win.


* Even if Hopkins beat Calzaghe, I'd rank Monzon and Hagler above him in terms of head to head ability at 160.

 

I don't think beating Joe C will do that much for his legacy, it might move him up 10 spots at most on the list. But if he decisively beats Joe, it will unravel 10yrs of Joe "dominating" a division with no major talent.

 

Controversy or not he better not beat Joe C as that would shatter the greatest myth ever on this Forum.

 

:good :happy :good :happy

 

are you insane?

Griffith
Napoles
Hearns
Duran

and thats just off the top of my head.....Benvenuti

as for the decade much too many to even starts!!! this is what pisses me off about the overrating of Calzaghe my goodness its off the charts. The most overestimated fighter of this generation.
this is a perfect example of the Calzaghe bull**** thats going on!!!

 

Top 15 hands down.

 

If he schools Calzaghe....He would transcend the sport and his legacy into the highest of highs. Think about it man this guy is old as ****, and hes fighting Joe Calzaghe who has only lost a hand full of ROUNDS in his entire career never losing a fight. Its a crazy thought honestly. I think Calzaghe will outwork him.

 

Most US posters on this site give Calzaghe a ****in ton of respect. Read some posts and stop judging the majority on the minority.

I hate this nationalistic bull****.

(and why dont you go read how many non-US posters call Hopkins a cheat...and a bum...overrated...etc...it goes both ways...so grow the **** up...GAWD I HATE PEOPLE WHO USE THIS ****!!!)

 

top 25

 

10 years down the road he'll be top 20 P4P of all time(without the win against Joe)

With the win he moves into top 10 place...