Hopkins 98 vs Hopins 08

[SaltyBacon]

98 hopkins

[C-Lo]

Don't start that debate. Hopkins definitely avoided fighting Joe, granted with bigger money fights against Oscar and legacy fight against Tarver but style wise he would have nightmares against Joe.

No way, he would have kick Joe's ass. The style matchup is a nightmare for Joe, a guy who can outbox him, and outbrawl him. Hopkins avoided fighting Joe? The guy who would never come to america because he was "afraid of flying". Joe would fight Bernard or Roy because they both were better than him. Joe is a great fighter, but those two are LEGENDS.

Without the RJJtszyu, without his youthful speed or stamina Bernard beat Calzaghe in a close decision, make him young again and he would have beaten JOe quite badly. The skill difference was huge, and for the people who don't think Bernard's speed has fallen quite a bit watch his fight Glen Johnson. He was a hell of a lot faster then he is now.

Hopkins would probably not have "kicked Joe's ass" as you so eloquently put it. Jones Jr and Hopkins are legends and Calzaghe is just "a great fighter"?? Actually break down Hopkins and Jones Jr's resumes and they themselves have plenty of filler too. Hopkins loses to Jones and Jones loses to Glenn Jonhnson. Its all relative. Calzaghe himself has lost to nobody and just because his style displeases you aesthetically or you have some affinity with fighters of a certain style does not make Calzaghe any less of a quality fighter. Calzaghe is in the same league as both of those fighters.

A further point to consider is that Calzaghe himself has evolved as a fighter too. The Calzaghe that beat Eubank is a far different fighter to that who faced Hopkins. Its all relative and there no absolutes. But you write as though there are which is a shortcoming in your posting.

I'll agree with you in saying that it's hard to completely disprove Calzaghe because he still hasn't lost. But comparing Calzaghe and Hopkins in being in the same league is not true.

Calzaghe is a great fighter but Hopkins is a legend.

Calzaghe has been in the ring with Lacy, Kessler, Eubank, and an old Jones Jr. while Hopkins has been in the ring with De La Hoya, Wright, Trinidad, a young Jones Jr., Tarver, Pavlik, Taylor. Not close at all if you ask me.