Which fight is better for B Hop'#s legacy:Maskaev or JC?

**El Gamo** · 10-20-2006 07:58 PM

I want to know what you guys think. I would prefer if he stayed retired but if he HAD to take a fight,I would be more impressed with a win over the UNDISPUTED champ and unbeaten all his life Calzaghe than a win over Maskaev,an ageing Oleg. I mean yeah that would be great too but he's not the true HW champ is he? That's just my opinion,I could be miles off!!

**TheBESTP4P** · 10-20-2006 08:04 PM

personally id say Oleg, cuz we all know its all about the WBC belt period! so for him to go up from middle then lt hw, to HW for THE wbc belt and take it. man thats props in my eyes and on paper. even tho oleg aint exactly ALI or even Lennox wbc, is the wbc period. this will probably put him closer neck and neck with RJJ too if he could pull it off.

**Majesty** · 10-20-2006 08:32 PM

Neither. His legacy's already written and those fights would just be icing on the cake.

**p4pking** · 10-20-2006 09:45 PM

Hard to say.... Certainly there's no question of who's a better fighter between Joe and Maskaev, but when you consider the possible jump to HW it's hard to say which would be a tougher opponent for Hopkins, at least imo... Legacy wise, in the future, maybe the WBC heavy title would look the best on his record, but at this point I feel that most boxing fans would agree Calzaghe would be a better win.

**Cortez The Killer** · 10-20-2006 10:16 PM

Bhops legacy is said and done. I really like the hop and still do, but I'm kind of annoyed with him lately. If you retire, STAY RETIRED! He's not adding anyhting to the sport by coming back..I mean why comeback for 1 fight? He has enough money as it is but the greedy bastard can't help but want more!

I'd rather see him fight JC if he did comeback. I would have NO interest whatsoever in seeing him fight Maskaev. In fact, if he fights again its not going to help his legacy, but tarnish it (in my eyes at least). And there's always the chance he could lose, which would really be bad. After all the "promising" his mother he would not fight after 40...well, nice to see that money can change the promise to your deceased mother ass-hop! JK, still love Hopkins and have always enjoyed his style and success...BUT HANG U PTHE DAMN GLOVES AND KEEP THEM THERE.

**Bx730NY** · 10-20-2006 10:25 PM

If it's not Joe, it doesn't make sense. That's like Roy going up to fight the worst HW in Ruiz and IMO, that didn't prove anything other than the guy they fight is a horrible HW champ.

**raleights** · 10-20-2006 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by TheBESTP4P

personally id say Oleg, cuz we all know its all about the WBC belt period! so for him to go up from middle then lt hw, to HW for THE wbc belt and take it. man thats props in my eyes and on paper. even tho oleg aint exactly ALI or even Lennox wbc, is the wbc period. this will probably put him closer neck and neck with RJJ too if he could pull it off.

hehe no matter what he does he'll never be the beginning of a pimple on the ass of Roy Jones

**Bx730NY** · 10-20-2006 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by raleights

Originally Posted by TheBESTP4P

personally id say Oleg, cuz we all know its all about the WBC belt period! so for him to go up from middle then lt hw, to HW for THE wbc belt and take it. man thats props in my eyes and on paper. even tho oleg aint exactly ALI or even Lennox wbc, is the wbc period. this will probably put him closer neck and neck with RJJ too if he could pull it off.

hehe no matter what he does he'll never be the beginning of a pimple on the a** of Roy Jones

I agree 100%. Roy Jones didn't have a chin and he still managed to be that dominant all those years cause of his extreme skill. Hopkins just got by on illegal tactics most of his career so for any1 to say that Bernard is the equivalent or better than Roy, that's just crazy.

**El Gamo** · 10-20-2006 10:38 PM

I agree,maybe my wording was incorrect,which fight would increase his already great legacy. I think when a fighter says he is retired,he should stay retired,and I thought B Hop was the one man who would do such a thing and am slightly dissappointed he is coming back in a way,I mean the win over Tarver was superb. However,like I said,as great a win over Maskaev would be,he is not fighting the best..I'd much much rather see a Joe C fight and it would put an end to a great many debates too.

I mean come on,a WBC HW title would look good but what about JC's titles and the undefeated record,the UK-US rivalry,the hype,the styles. I really do not find a Maskaev fight exciting at all.

**Kev** · 10-20-2006 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by Bx730NY

If it's not Joe, it doesn't make sense. That's like Roy going up to fight the worst HW in Ruiz and IMO, that didn't prove anything other than the guy they fight is a horrible HW champ.

You say that but in 20 years Roy will be remembered best for being a multiple division champ and for being the first ever middleweight champ to win a heavyweight world title.

If Hopkins equals wins the WBC belt he puts himself alongside Jones Jr in terms of acomplishment. Plus the fact he was a unified champ and made 19 defenses of his middleweight titles puts his acomplishments ahead of Jones Jr.

In 20 years if Hop wins a heavyweight title he will rate higher than Jones p4p trust me.

The figther you beat really doesn't matter a great deal when determining records like this,

a few examples., Joe Louis most ever title defenses 25, result, he becomes a legend, it doesn't matter at all that probably 21 of them were bums he got the record and is a top 5 all time heavyweight great as a result.

Ray Robinson 5 times middleweight champ. Who did he beat to win the title 5 times? Who cares, it's the record that counts!

Mike Tyson, youngest ever heavyweight champ, who did he beat to win that accolade? Who cares?

Floyd Patterson, first man ever to regain heavyweight title, who did he beat? Again who cares?

If Hop comes back the Maskaev fight is the ONLY fight that makes sense.

He beats Calzaghe so what? It will probably take place at 175 lb, Hop wouldn't be winning any belt plus he's already dethroned the true light heavyweight champ. Calzaghe only has a win against Lacy to his credit, Lacy has no wins against anyone of note.

Calzaghe, despite being an absolutely brilliant fighter has nothing to offer Hopkins in the long run. It's a 50/50 fight with no benefits.

Maskaev is probably 60/40 in favour of Hop with a massive appeal legacywise.

It's the only fight that makes sense.

**Wacko3205** · 10-20-2006 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by Bx730NY

Hopkins just got by on illegal tactics most of his career so for any1 to say that Bernard is the equivalent or better than Roy, that's just crazy.

Hillarious. Spoken like a true fan of Trinidad. Get over the beating...no...never mind...wallow in your sorrow.

Hopkins was & is one of the most amazing talents of the last 10-15 years.

Also...note to yourself...Bernard pretty much righted the wrong of his loss to Jones by totally destroying Tarver, something that we all know Jones can't do.