Putting BHOP in Perspective

[marbleheadmaui]

How many men have been both the LEGITIMATE middleweight and light heavy champions of the world?

Bob Fitzsimmons, Dick Tiger and Bernard Hopkins

How many men have been LEGITIMATE champions in their forties?

Bob Fitzsimmons, Archie Moore, George Foreman and BHOP

How many men have been LEGITIMATE four division champions?

Manny Pacquiao
How many men have been LEGITIMATE three division champions?

Bob Fitzsimmons, Henry Armstrong, Tony Canzoneri, Barney Ross, Ray Leonard, Emile Griffith, Alexis Arguello and Floyd Mayweather

How many men have been LEGITIMATE two division champions?

The aforementioned Tiger and Fighting Harada, Terry McGovern, Ruben Olivares, Eder Jofre, Sandy Saddler, Rafael Marquez, Wilfredo Gomez, Carlos Ortiz, Roberto Duran, Ray Robinson, Carmen Basilio, Nino Benvenuti, Pernell Whittaker, Oscar de La Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez, Mickey Walker, Wilfred Benitez, Thomas Hearns, Shane Mosely, Michael Spinks and arguably Joe Calzaghe.

How many men have been LEGITIMATE two division champs in the original eight divisions?

Tiger, Harada, McGovern, Olivares, Jofre, Duran, Leonard, Pacquiao, Griffith, Basilio, Walker, Spinks and BHOP

BHOP has entered rarified boxing air. Before this I had him somewhere in the 40-60 range with guys like Jones and Finito and Burley and LaMotta and Hearns and Gavilan and Basilio and Floyd and guys like that.

Now he starts to look a lot like Dick Tiger to me. 160 and 175 king, fought HOFers Benvenuti, Giardello, Griffith, Foster, Torres and Fullmer and went 6-5-1.

BHOP has fought likely HOFers Trinidad, Oscar, Jones and Calzaghe and gone 3-2.

Tiger had a total of five defenses of his two crowns, BHOP had a total of seven of his 160.

Tiger beat a total of 20 or so ranked guys. So has BHOP.

Tiger went 60-19 and fought past 40, BHOP is 52-5 and the Energizer Bunny!

So now where does Dick Tiger belong all-time? Most lists I've seen have Tiger somewhere in the 40ish range give or take. That puts him around guys like Foster or Pascual Perez or Miguel Canto. Bert Sugar has Tiger 63rd which seems a mistake to me.

Those resumes look an awful lot alike to me.

Regardless of where one places him BHOP is a marvel and we saw a bit of boxing history tonight.

[Edit] Look for JazzMerkins corrections below. Thanks Jazz!