Where does Bernard Hopkins rank as a fighter in the history....?

Question

of the middleweight division? In a boxing article I've read the "experts" don't even list him in the top 20. Am I crazy to think that he should at least rank in the top 20 or even the top 10. What do you guys and gals think?
Kal Ben, thanks for the idea that spurned this question.

Hopkins is in my top 15 at least.

Answer 1

Bernard and his record 20 consecutive defenses of the Middleweight title is definitely in my top 10.

1. Sugar Ray Robinson (won the title 5 times btwn 51 and 60)
2. Harry Grebb (fought almost 300 fights and only lost 7)
3. Carlos Monzon (went undefeated for 13 consecutive years)
4. Marvin Hagler (reigned over the division for almost 10yrs)
5. Roy Jones Jr.(speed and power just wish he had more comp)
6. Bernard Hopkins (defense gave fighters fits)
7. Tony Zale/Mickey Walker (tie only because Walker had issues)
8. Stanley Ketchel (dead at the age of 24) who knows how great he could have been.
9. Jake LaMotta the Raging Bull, tough as nails, but like B Hop didn't like to be under anyones control, chin made of granite.
10. Marcel Cerdan (over 100 fights and only 4 defeats)

#1 and #2 are head and shoulders above any other Middleweight to ever hold the title, and just to give an idea of just how great Harry Grebb was imagine this the competition he fought then would be like fighting a Tito Trinidad or Shane Mosely in November and then fighting DeLaHoya, Hopkins, Wright and Taylor before Easter arrived. No Joke he fought guys from welterweight all the way up to heavyweight, Jack Dempsey (Heavyweight Champ) refused to fight him. 300+fights the man was a workaholic.

Tidbit or did you know in December of 1923 Grebb fought two title fights in one week (12/3 and 12/10) one for the Middleweight and one for the Light Heavyweight Title. He held both at the same time the Light Heavy came via a victory over Gene Tunney who later became the Heavyweight Champion, it was Tunney's only defeat of his career. Unreal.

Answer 2

I agree with Sean G on this one. Joe had nothing else to prove by giving Hopkins a rematch and he clearly was the better fighter on the night. Joe was a great fighter and is still underrated by most however I think that means Hopkins will be remembered as having the greater legacy because Hopkins has had major fights all his career and Joe only really had 4 of what I would consider major fights (Lacy, Kessler, Hopkins, Jones) and the Kessler fight probably didn't appeal to the American audience. Calzaghe would have wone a rematch because he throws too many punches but if they both fought in their primes it would be close. I admired Hopkins in his prime largely because I never thought he would be able to beat Felix Trinidad and yet he did it comfortably.

Answer 3

Brent I belive that Hopkins is one of the best middleweights in history and here is my rankins"

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. (tie) Carlos Monzon/ Marvin Hagler
4. Stanley Ketchel
5. Harry Greb
6. Bernard Hopkins
7. Mickey Walker
8. Jake LaMotta
9. Gene Fullmer
10. Emile Griffith

Answer 4

These are my rankings:
1. R. Robinson
2. M. Hagler
2. C. Monzon
3. D. Tiger
4. R. Jones
5. R. Valdez
6. M. McCallum
7."Bobo" Olson
8. T. Zale
9. N. Benvenuti
10. M. Nunn
11. J. Jackson
12. W. Joppy
13. F. Tate
14. I. Barkley

Note: B. Hopkins and J. Toney, I usually don't rank/rate any athlete in any sport until they are retired. When they retire, B. Hopkins will be #5 and J. Toney will be #6.

Answer 5

Brent ~
In my opinion, boxing "Experts" are correct in writing Hopkins doesn't belong in the top twenty Middleweights of all time. Here's why, Hopkins in all respects to the game is a boring fighter who has tried to define his legacy by calling out Jr. Middleweights who were nothing more than blown up Welterweights, De La Hoya and Trinidad. The only time he stepped up to the plate and fought a true young, in his PRIME Middleweight he lost and lost twice against Taylor, he fought Jones and was clearly beaten by him.
What great accomplishment was Bernard's record breaking title defense win? He fought a bunch of nobodies, guys that were way out of their primes or guys that weren't actual Middleweights like the above mentioned. Larry Merchant, HBO fight commentator said it best when interviewing Hopkins after his win over Hakkar in Philadelphia (He couldn't even sellout a arena in his hometown) " Shouldn't you be ashamed to be calling yourself the best Middleweight in the history of boxing when you're calling out obviously smaller guys instead of moving up to fight bigger guys?
Hopkins record (Not Police Record) is a joke. He was a decent Middleweight, who may not of even been in the top ten in the early 80's and who may not have been in the top 20 in the early 60's and who may have not been in the top 50 in the 1950's and who deffintely isn't in the top 20 of all time. Those places are already taken by the likes of Robinson, Zivic, La Motta, Olson, Hagler and so on.

Answer 6

He would no doubt be in the top ten. He accomplished a lot in his career. He wouldn't rank higher because many dislike the man.

Answer 7

i think it could have something to do with his time in prison, and what he did. sure he turned his life around but that's the way people are. he should be ranked up their cause he was one of the greatest middleweight of all time for sure.

Answer 8

top 15 at least