Yeah i think he was at his best when he was beating mercado and Johnson around the ring like they were nothing and I remember him knocking out some hard punching southpaw out cold and thinking "woah" He bought himself some time after changing his style and becoming more cautious and again when he moved to 175
No he was slowing down. The hopkins that beat johnson would have carved them up like a turkey instead of just ambushing here and there like he started doing later on
Yes.... to compensate for an aging body Most fighters have to become more resourceful to continue to compete at a high level when they start aging. That doesnt mean he was still in his prime, it means he started doing what old fighters do(wrestling, fouling, spoiling and con artistry) to extend his career. He kept in very good shape and was very resourceful but his performance still declined, even if much slower than most.
Hopkins always wrestled and fouled. Switching to an equally if not more effective style(regardless of reason) is not an indication of being out of your prime.
I disagree. The Hopkins that beat Johnson would have less trouble with the true greats of the division compared to any later version you care to mention.
What makes you say that when he didn't have any more trouble beating guys like Joppy and Eastman and then looked better than ever years after against Tarver. He changed his style to something that was equally effective that's not any kind of indication of being out of your prime.