Bernard Hopkins

When was he at his prime?

Damn good question.

I'd say goes into a 2-peak career. His peak at MW would surely be the defeat of Trinidad. Masterclass that one.

However - at LHW - beating Tarver was a bit of a rejuvenation. The schooling of Pavlik was pretty impressive, but he's started to look a bit more out of puff in fights recently.

So IMO - it would either be Trinidad or Pavlik.

Beating Johnson, Trindad, Joppy and even De La Hoya at MW were great victories. Beating Tarver, Wright and Pavlik were pretty impressive when you consider his age.

A good question and a hard one to answer, would also be around the Trinidad win for me too but his recent performances may say otherwise, tough one.

The Tito win came shortly before the losses to Taylor. The Pavlik win came after that. The RJJ loss came before all of them, yet the RJJ win (which was comprehensive as you can get for a UD) is often discounted saying that Hop was green.

Also many discount his loss to JC citing his age which came before his disputed draw against Pascal.

Very hard to pinpoint a certain period and the same as Lennox Lewis. I think with both fighters they didn't deteriate too much physically later in there careers and used their vast experience to stay at the top.

Good question, you could pick at lot of fights and performances where you would say he was at his peak.

Its a testiment to him showing how consistant he has been throughout his career.

2001

You would have to say that around 1998 to about 2003 was when he was at his absolute best; but some of his late career performances make it very difficult to say.

I believe he is a bit like Calzaghe, in that some of his best performances actually came when he was past his best; but perhaps for one reason or another he didn't get the opportunities before.

oxring wrote:Damn good question.

I'd say goes into a 2-peak career. His peak at MW would surely be the defeat of Trinidad. Masterclass that one.

However - at LHW - beating Tarver was a bit of a rejuvenation. The schooling of Pavlik was pretty impressive, but he's started to look a bit more out of puff in fights recently.

So IMO - it would either be Trinidad or Pavlik.

Beating Tito was a great win. But it should be noted that Tito was a welter. Furthermore was he green when schooled by RJJ? Even Bhop has said that the only true defeat hesuffered was at the hands of RJJ.

Was he on the slide when he lost to Taylor and then picked himself up beating Pavlik at a heavier weight (a weight which Pav hasd not fought in)?

Has to be around 98-01 when he was unifying the division, Trinidad may have been a former Welterweight but was a heavy favourite having destroyed the more than capable Joppy.

It's difficult to gauge the Pascal and Pavlik fights really, while very impressive it's hard to suggest that Hopkins was anywhere near his best during that time, while both world level they were both accidents waiting to happen.