What is Hopkins' place in boxing history?

[greynotsoold]

Hopkins is a credit to boxing. He took the time to learn his trade, and to master it, and he was a consumate professional. Always in shape, always ready to give whatever it took. He had his lapses- the two fights with Jermain Taylor, for example. And I bet he kicks his own ass daily, seeing now how weak Taylor really was.
That said, I believe his longevity is a real result of the dumbing down of boxing. He fights a lot of guys that are boxing dumb. Of course, the same thing was said about Archie Moore in the 1950s, and, given the sudden dearth of club shows and so on, it was probably valid. But the guys Moore fought were leagues above the guys Hopkins has fought, just as Moore was smarter than Hopkins could ever be. Because Moore fought Charley Burley and ezzard Charles and Eddie Booker and Jack chase and the list goes ever on. Hopkins never fought smart guys like that.
He had a bunch of defenses at MW, and that has to be worth something, but it doesn't make him a better fighter than guys that had less. I don't think he beats Hagler or Monzon, or Toney (though neither were as smart as they got later)....Honestly, in head to head matches, I don't know if he'd break my top 30 at that weight. There were some great fighters that never won a title.

[Spicoli]

Hopkins is a credit to boxing. He took the time to learn his trade, and to master it, and he was a consumate professional. Always in shape, always ready to give whatever it took. He had his lapses- the two fights with Jermain Taylor, for example. And I bet he kicks his own ass daily, seeing now how weak Taylor really was.
That said, I believe his longevity is a real result of the dumbing down of boxing. He fights a lot of guys that are boxing dumb. Of course, the same thing was said about Archie Moore in the 1950s, and, given the sudden dearth of club shows and so on, it was probably valid. But the guys Moore fought were leagues above the guys Hopkins has fought, just as Moore was smarter than Hopkins could ever be. Because Moore fought Charley Burley and ezzard Charles and Eddie Booker and Jack chase and the list goes ever on. Hopkins never fought smart guys like that.
He had a bunch of defenses at MW, and that has to be worth something, but it doesn't make him a better fighter than guys that had less. I don't think he beats Hagler or Monzon, or Toney (though neither were as smart as they got later)....Honestly, in head to head matches, I don't know if he'd break my top 30 at that weight. There were some great fighters that never won a title.

Fair assessment. He literally let Taylor off the cliff and to this day I think his arrogance cost him the 1st one as much as Taylors bow & arrow stiff jab and right. It was fairly obvious that the Cloud fight would be similiar the Pavlik fight in that both were guys who while strong, young and with authority on punches, they were also unimaginative and had tunnel vision in the ring. Hopkins was winning rounds on them psychcologically before the bell even sounded and that is a legitimate huge part of his game. Shit I think Ornelus gave him a tougher fight and actually buzzed him more than both. Cloud was taylor made but facing Pascal x 2, Dawson x2 he was in with two guys with sound boxing minds and top competition available. Toney vs Hopkins is one we'll always wish we had when it comes to those "If only" misses but I'm convinced Hopkins, at middle and at best, would take Toney over 12. Hustle and not playing into his rolling counter game killed Toney and he'd get no time outs with Hopkins I believe. Hagler tops him there taken into account mind set at the time.

[GOAT]

Just another Disney actor.

/thread