Rank these fighters

[Jerry Rice]

Wait a second, you make it seem like the Trinidad fight was huge and the De La hoya fight was no big deal.

I can answer this one, if you don't mind.

In terms of what preceded these fights, that's correct. Tito was the presumptive middleweight king going into the tourney and many to most expected him to win. He and Hop both had convincing wins, but people saw him too strong and fast for Hopkins - he was the special talent and Hop was just a lunch pail champion who made the most with what he had. Hop wasn't expected to win, much less dominate that fight.

Contrast that with the DLH fight. Hop by then was a known commodity and accepted as middleweight king with a potential place in history. DLH was coming off off a questionable title win from Felix Sturm that some felt he really lost. Hop was actually seen as too big and strong for Oscar and he was expected to win that fight.

So, based upon what the climate was around both fights, the Tito fight was seen as by far the more impressive victory.

Actually you have made my second point before I even got to it, thankyou, what you have proven is that Hopkins was able to fly under the radar until he fought Trinidad, he had been the champ for six years, had had 14 title defenses, and been at that same weight his whole career, Tito had been at JMW for only a year after moving up, he had only one bout at MW prior to the Hopkins match, Hopkins had a height/weight/reach advantage


My question is when looking back in hindsight both Oscar and Tito gave up a substantial size advantage against Hopkins, but the casual fan says Tito was his greatest victory and De La Hoya was no big deal.