43 Year old Hopkins is Prime Hopkins ?

[Spicoli]

I don't know about that,Maybe Hopkins has had one of the longest primes ever seen in a fighter....albeit with a bump or two . Would we be asking this questione if it were not for his dominate preformance against heavy favorite Pavlik?

I think it's a collective and a blending of styles.No doubt that he is much more ring savy and more intelligent fighter than he was years ago,as opposed to his past offensive mind set and output.He was always stubborn and refused to division jump until very late.Whatever the shape of the middleweight division then,he cleaned it out.He is a great fighter...bottom line.

Also if we are going to include Hakkar and Frank on the list,I'd have to include Eastman and......cough.......Baptist and even Aquino.I'm not convinced Pavlik would beat Joppy or even Holmes at their very best after seeing his inability to adjust to movement.Call me nuts.Its all maybe's and might haves though.

It might not be so bad if one was to hit a prime that late in career....shite,now I have something to look forward too

[OumaFan]

Its not even debatable IMO, I just don't see it, Bernard Hopkins was a truly great fighter in his prime, its just a shame he didn't get a chance to fight the Tito's (maybe he was still in his prime there, its close), Pavlik's Calzaghe's and Taylor's then.

I think the move up in weight helped him later on but he's not in his prime.

[OumaFan]

Doesn't mean I think he'd blow out a prime Calzaghe. I'd pick him but it would be an interesting fight.

Pavlik and Tito would have always been easy fights for him. Straight line guys who have to set their feet to punch, not so much.