this guy will fight is he has to.he never fought james toney though.toney also walks the walk.maybe hopkins can put a combination together to win a close fight or maybe calzaghe will dust his old ass.fucker not foreman.he cant beat guys that trow a lot of punches.jones jr punk ass beat him that way.taylor out worked him also.hopkins is good because he gets out the way.with a fighter like that you miss a get hit

There is now no question that Bernard Hopkins is one of the greatest fighters of the modern era, if not of all-time. If being a methodical, prodding fighter (who studies opponents obsessively) is what defines Bernard Hopkins, then he ought to be commended as it has led him to victories against Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, and now Antonio Tarver (of which he had to rise two weight classes to challenge for the light-heavyweight title). And if fighting the risky fights defines the heart of a fighter, no one ought to look further than B-Hop! This great fighter's bouts are are a study in patience and cunning- stalking the unfortunate prey and breaking him down. Bernard Hopkins is the prototypical old-school boxer who outsmarts opponents by negating their advantages over him. Hopkins can beat anyone in any way, which illustrates his ability to adapt to any opponent's style. Perhaps the greatest compliment anyone can pay to the "Executioner" is that though belongs in the company of both Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Carlos Monzon, both of whom are widely regarded as the best ever of this middleweight division, he did what neither both (nor the great Sugar Ray Robinson) were able accomplish- that is to win the light-heavyweight title (and go out in such style)!

i like him

Amazingly at the top of his game at the age of 40.Very talented and can be like a Pit Bull in the ring.

I have to admit, I was pulling for Oscar De La Hoya to win his fight with Hopkins. Infact, I have never been a fan of Hopkins, but I gotta give the man his due. He's an amazing boxer and a amazing man to accomplish what he has. Twenty title defenses is no easy task for anybody, let alone a forty year old fighter. You guys from Philly can be proud, he's brought back some of the glory to Philadelphia boxing. But if De la Hoya and Hopkins fight again, I'll still be pulling for Oscar, no matter how impssible it might seem. A great fighter AND a great fight town!

Just defended his title for the 20th time last weekend. He's 40, but was the agressor the entire fight and won a lopsided decision. Knowing his roots (West Philly and a 5 year hitch at the notorious Graterford Prison), there is no doubt that Hopkins is tougher than the hungriest, angriest pit pull around. Hopkins once told (on the Jim Rome show) about recently having to defend his manhood on the streets of Philly against some 450 pound dude (had something to do with fat dude refusing to render services for something Hopkins paid him for). Though outweighing Hopkins by almost 3 bills, Hopkins hit him so hard, the fat dude was knocked out cold on his feet and he stumbled forward and fell on top of Hopkins, who was nearly injured from the impact. If he's pulverizing 450 pounders, what chance does someone his weight have. He's one of the greatest ever.

p4p # 1

Is this guy finally going to get his just due? Yes he can be methodical and relatively unexciting and his opposition may not have always been of the highest quality. While Tyson, De La Hoya, and Roy Jones Jr. have lived off of undeserved hype and had the media and sports public swooning after them, Hopkins has quietly and skillfully gone about his business. 18 consecutive title defenses should mean something. I'm old school when it comes to boxing, and Hopkins is one a very short list of modern fighters that really impresses me. By the way ortizd, did you enjoy that fight? Or did it knock the wind out of you too?

This ole dude can fight! Damn near 40 still whuppin fools, but he has to stop picking on the little guys. I would rate him 5, but he stayed in middleweight division for his whole career. Every great champion dominates a division, then moves up to try to dominate the next. It has been proven that he is the best at middleweight for years already and the division isn't even really that deep. C'mon, Joppy, Hakkar, and Robert Allen. The real competition in the division are blown up lightweights like Trinindad and DeLaHoya. I bet you Jermaine Taylor can put some hands on Hopkins and humble his ass. But as of right now, Hopkins is a great fighter. This bully better watch out though because DeLaHoya might jinx his legacy and make him look old overnight.

ehhh...i hope oscar kix hisass

Hopkins needs this De La Hoya fight to solidify his place among boxing greats. He, like Jones, hasn't faught a lot of other great fighters and he's been living off that great victory over Trinidad a little too long. However, after the way Oscar looked in his first middleweight fight, knocking out De La Hoya may lose a lot of its luster.

One of the best.

Hopkins,who currently has the record of 18 succesful middleweight title defenses in a row,should be rated pound-for-pound number one.

he a G

hes a hard puncher, hes got heart and talent, and he holds the record for most successful middleweight title defenses. he KOd trinidad and thats all anyone needs to know. HE KAYOED TRINIDAD!! true, he did lose to jones, but jones couldnt stop him or hurt him. hopkins is one of the best fighters today. Sidenote: i hope hes aquitted when he has been charged with the murder of oscar de la hoya.

He's definatly a great boxer but.. if he can beat de la hoya no one should say anything bad and they should keep there mouths shut and keep watching boxing

He simply does it all.

Bernard, what have you done for us lately? I believe he has the skill to get the job done in the ring but outside the ring he needs to work on putting together a worthwhile fight. Who has he fought of consequence sine the Trinidad fight? Trinidad has retire and come back adn Bernard still hasnt made any money or history with the belt. The much public arguing with Roy Jones was a waste of time. Take the 60/40 and (if he can) whip his azz.(which I doubt seriously can be done)

For those who say Trinidad didn´t fight back (you know who you are), that´s because Hopkins didn´t even allow him to fight back. That´s smart boxing, knowing your opponent´s strong points and avoiding them, as well as knowing their weaknesses and exploiting them. The only reason I don´t give this man a five star rating is because there is only one fighter that deserves five star, and you already know who that is.

Although Bernard is a great boxer and the comments on his boxing abllity is right on; I find it hard to believe very little or nothing of his family is noted. His mother has stood behind his 100% in spike of their difference in opionions. A mother's love is forever.Bernard need not forget from which he came.

he needs to grow some balls and quit fighting punks and fight Joppy or Jones

not

Best pure technician in the game today. Quick hands and feet, solid power, fantastic old-school defense and an extremly sharp counterpuncher + lethal on the inside. Comes into the ring at 157 pounds but is so damn strong that he rips naturally bigger men like 168-pounder Antwun Echols apart in the clinches.

Man I was finally glad someone took the disillusionment out of Tito fans that didn't see his mediocre boxing skills against De La Hoya. Man he put a good whuppin over tito, Trinidad looked pitiful. And that punk Trinidad wanted to fight Roy Jones Jr. who beat Hopkins convincingly. Hopkins is pretty damn good fighter all around, truly a ring veteran.

The second best pound for pound boxer in the world next to Floyd Mayweater Jr.

Who rated Trinidad ahead of Hopkins, he killed him

BEST FIGH IN YEARS... BUT HE WON THE FIGH BECAUSE TITO DINDT FIGH BACK.

Hopkins is mediocre at best. He has a big mouth and fights dirty. His best punch is the Low Blow.He may have had some good fights in the past, but today, he's just a nobody who fights a lousy caliber of opponents. He best to repent his evil ways before fighting Trinidad, or his next fight will be in Hell. Trinidad will kill him for sure.

Didn't look good against Holmes. Hope he remembers to put his hands up against Trinidad.

Hopkins is ok...not great but ok...He's not in my top ten though....He has nothing on Trinidad...He will be executed by Tito...He's all talk...I'll be happy when Felix gets done with him

i think thats funny jiggajayc? do you have any boxing knowledge? i can understand new comers rating benard a 3 star but to anyone who knows the game. well, they know. hes been in the boxing scene for how long? nobody can beat this man at middleweight. right, p4p he may not be at the top of the list but he deserves a hell of alot more than a "good." whens the last time he lost? p4p maybe not but benard is a great fighter anyway you look at it.

b.hopkins is ok, but he should never be near the top of this list. trinidad is clearly the best p4p today. after tito i got 2.mosley 3.f.mayweather after that corrales fight 4.z.judah( too quick) 5.r.jones, he might be out of my top 5 soon if he doesnt fight hopkins or michaelski soon

I agree smilez. Benard Hopkins does deserve a lot more respect. I have been following his career since 91' or 92' and he has done nothing but perform like a true champ (with the exception Hopkins-Echols II). Other than that he has earned my respect as a great pound for pound fighter. I truly believe he is the executioner or the mw division.

Benard Hopkins is the reigning middleweight champion... Possesses both speed and power and is by far the best in the division. Looks like Don King wont let his middleweight fighters, Joppy or Trinidad, go up against the middleweight "executioner." He hasnt lost a bout since 1993. Thats great considering the last man to beat him was the one and only Roy Jones Jr. Its strange to see nobody has rated or shared an opinion about this top10 pound for pound boxer.