43 Year old Hopkins is Prime Hopkins ?

[BIG H]

Well i think the younger version of Bernard Hopkins, would of been much more effective against Jermain Taylor, Joe Calzaghe. But i also think he would of been less effective against Kelly Pavlik.

Simply because in his younger days he had amazing stamina, and good power. Which he doesn't seem to have anymore, and his aggressive/rough style would of been effective against Jermain Taylor, who has stamina problems.

And it would of been more effective against Joe Calzaghe, because Joe Calzaghe has struggled in rough/tough fights before. But against Kelly Pavlik he would of been leaving himself more open, and it would of been more of a war and much more competitive.

Styles make fights i think something's Bernard Hopkins does now he does better than he used to. Like being better defensively and ETC.

But he also does alot of things better before than he does now. Like having much better stamina, aswell as better punching power ETC.

I think the younger Bernard Hopkins would beat the current version of Bernard Hopkins.

To be honest mate so do I, but I am kinda saying that you can always find ways to change arguments if you look hard enough.

[Taeth]

Didn't we just do this 2 weeks ago? Or right after Hopkins beat Pavlik. The consensus is that Bernard is NOT in his prime its ridiculous to say. Also look at who he has just beaten

Old, overweight Winky, barely
Old, weightdrained Tarver impressive, but still Tarver was a zombie in there

The only great fight he has had was against Joe Calzaghe and they came up about even either way.
And the Pavlik fight, but still I thought it was obvious his style would do that to Pavlik.

You can't compare him and his competition to his prime because the guys he is fighting aren't in their prime either, except Pavlik but that was obvious if HOpkins fought he would win like that, at least to me.

[BIG H]

Didn't we just do this 2 weeks ago? Or right after Hopkins beat Pavlik. The consensus is that Bernard is NOT in his prime its ridiculous to say. Also look at who he has just beaten

Old, overweight Winky, barely
Old, weightdrained Tarver impressive, but still Tarver was a zombie in there

The only great fight he has had was against Joe Calzaghe and they came up about even either way.
And the Pavlik fight, but still I thought it was obvious his style would do that to Pavlik.

You can't compare him and his competition to his prime because the guys he is fighting aren't in their prime either, except Pavlik but that was obvious if HOpkins fought he would win like that, at least to me.

I refer the Right Honourable Gnetleman to the answer I gave some moments ago

[intoccabile]

Didn't we just do this 2 weeks ago? Or right after Hopkins beat Pavlik. The consensus is that Bernard is NOT in his prime its ridiculous to say. Also look at who he has just beaten

Old, overweight Winky, barely
Old, weightdrained Tarver impressive, but still Tarver was a zombie in there

The only great fight he has had was against Joe Calzaghe and they came up about even either way.
And the Pavlik fight, but still I thought it was obvious his style would do that to Pavlik.

You can't compare him and his competition to his prime because the guys he is fighting aren't in their prime either, except Pavlik but that was obvious if HOpkins fought he would win like that, at least to me.

It's not ridiculous to say btw. Some people get better with age.
Look at Randy Cotoure.

[Taeth]

Didn't we just do this 2 weeks ago? Or right after Hopkins beat Pavlik. The consensus is that Bernard is NOT in his prime its ridiculous to say. Also look at who he has just beaten

Old, overweight Winky, barely
Old, weightdrained Tarver impressive, but still Tarver was a zombie in there

The only great fight he has had was against Joe Calzaghe and they came up about even either way.
And the Pavlik fight, but still I thought it was obvious his style would do that to Pavlik.

You can't compare him and his competition to his prime because the guys he is fighting aren't in their prime either, except Pavlik but that was obvious if HOpkins fought he would win like that, at least to me.

It's not ridiculous to say btw. Some people get better with age.
Look at Randy Cotoure.

Name one of those guys besides maybe Calzaghe that were anywhere near their prime. Tarver? Winky?

[intoccabile]

Didn't we just do this 2 weeks ago? Or right after Hopkins beat Pavlik. The consensus is that Bernard is NOT in his prime its ridiculous to say. Also look at who he has just beaten

Old, overweight Winky, barely
Old, weightdrained Tarver impressive, but still Tarver was a zombie in there

The only great fight he has had was against Joe Calzaghe and they came up about even either way.
And the Pavlik fight, but still I thought it was obvious his style would do that to Pavlik.

You can't compare him and his competition to his prime because the guys he is fighting aren't in their prime either, except Pavlik but that was obvious if HOpkins fought he would win like that, at least to me.

It's not ridiculous to say btw. Some people get better with age.
Look at Randy Cotoure.

Name one of those guys besides maybe Calzaghe that were anywhere near their prime. Tarver? Winky?

Did I say he was in his prime?
I said its not ridiculous to say. Look how much more disciplined and skilled
he is today. He's never been this "skilled".

[Taeth]

Tarver wasn't, Winky wasn't better, he was way slower when he fought Hopkins at 170, way less sharp.

I think Joe is the only won that would beat himself in his prime as he is now. I think he has put on speed by taking off the power on his punches.

The point I am making is that regardless of who HOpkins has been fighting he was better in his prime.

[intoccabile]

Tarver wasn't, Winky wasn't better, he was way slower when he fought Hopkins at 170, way less sharp.

I think Joe is the only won that would beat himself in his prime as he is now. I think he has put on speed by taking off the power on his punches.

The point I am making is that regardless of who HOpkins has been fighting he was better in his prime.

Understood. But in bhops "physical" prime, he did not have the "skill" he has now.
Right now, imo, he is in his prime, technically. Not physically.

[BIG H]

Didn't we just do this 2 weeks ago? Or right after Hopkins beat Pavlik. The consensus is that Bernard is NOT in his prime its ridiculous to say. Also look at who he has just beaten

Old, overweight Winky, barely
Old, weightdrained Tarver impressive, but still Tarver was a zombie in there

The only great fight he has had was against Joe Calzaghe and they came up about even either way.
And the Pavlik fight, but still I thought it was obvious his style would do that to Pavlik.

You can't compare him and his competition to his prime because the guys he is fighting aren't in their prime either, except Pavlik but that was obvious if HOpkins fought he would win like that, at least to me.

In that case which fights do you think warrant B-Hop being a great? Robert Allen, Joe Lipsey? John David Jackson?

[Taeth]

Didn't we just do this 2 weeks ago? Or right after Hopkins beat Pavlik. The consensus is that Bernard is NOT in his prime its ridiculous to say. Also look at who he has just beaten

Old, overweight Winky, barely
Old, weightdrained Tarver impressive, but still Tarver was a zombie in there

The only great fight he has had was against Joe Calzaghe and they came up about even either way.
And the Pavlik fight, but still I thought it was obvious his style would do that to Pavlik.

You can't compare him and his competition to his prime because the guys he is fighting aren't in their prime either, except Pavlik but that was obvious if HOpkins fought he would win like that, at least to me.

In that case which fights do you think warrant B-Hop being a great? Robert Allen, Joe Lipsey? John David Jackson?

Because he was old as well, He fought at Tarver's weight, he dominated the middleweight division for as long as he did without any trouble. Back to why do I think he is great? JUST WATCH him in his prime, he was amazing. How many times do I ahve to say you don't need a certain opposition to be great, its how you fight. Whether its Bernard winning for so long the way he did or Calzaghe doing it or Jones doing it or Mayweather doing it, they all are great fighter, to bring it every fight is something VERY few people can do.

[Pugilistic]

No way.

Hopkins prime was from 97 to 03.