B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

[BoomerSooner420]

I watched B-Hop and Teddy Atlas get into this argument on Friday Night Fights. I think it's probably a little of both. What's the OS crowd think about it?

[ajns]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

I watched B-Hop and Teddy Atlas get into this argument on Friday Night Fights. I think it's probably a little of both. What's the OS crowd think about it?

Is that part of why at 46 he could be so successful? Yes. Does this change the fact that he is one of the top 15 boxers of all time? No.

[kingdevin]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

Is that part of why at 46 he could be so successful? Yes. Does this change the fact that he is one of the top 15 boxers of all time? No.

B-Hop had some good fights against boxers that were not so much known in his earlier days but were good fighters in the division i.e. Antawn Echols and Glen Johnson (the fight vs Roy Jones was went to decision but I dont think Hopkins lost by alot at all). Therefore, his later wins against more named fighters can be somewhat attributed to the experience his prior fights. Also, to capture a light heavyweight title at 46 has to be given some props even if Pascale is not considered an A fighter. Notable victories against De La Hoya (who almost beat Mayweather), Trinidad, Pavlik, Tarver give him a pretty good resume especially for a guy that isnt really a KO fighter.

[mr_president]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

the lack of talent argument is only being used here because bhop is 46. fact is you can use that for a number of fighters that rose to the top while feeding on a division lacking talented fighters.
tyson and jones did it with their divisions during their rise to the top.

you have to respect what bhop did and how he did it. at the end of that fight bhop looked the fresher of the 2.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

Living legend........not many people at any sport can say they won a championship at the age of 46. Not his fault the talent pool of boxing has been in decline for the past 20 years with the rise of MMA worldwide.

Plus not like his wins is against a bunch of cupcakes either. He doesn't duck people.

[Kanobi]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

I just cant consider B-Hop a legend ...at...all. Good fighter? Yes. Legend? No.

[Hova57]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

Legend is such a strong word only because it implies changing the sport leaving a legacy. I don't think he did that. Nor do I think what he has done can be duplicated either. The weak talet pool arguement doesn't float with me cause he fought who he could at that time. and even since he's been forty he's fought more name and title worthy people than Roy Jones and many consider him an all time great.

[NYG_Meth]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

Legend is such a strong word only because it implies changing the sport leaving a legacy. I don't think he did that. Nor do I think what he has done can be duplicated either. The weak talet pool arguement doesn't float with me cause he fought who he could at that time. and even since he's been forty he's fought more name and title worthy people than Roy Jones and many consider him an all time great.

What Roy had in talent, Hopkins has made up for in hard work, dedication, and sheer willpower. B-Hop never had the flash, but he has always put in the work, and that's why at 46 years old, he's still fighting at an elite level. In that regard, he is a legend.

[Complex]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

This only seems to come up in boxing. When teams beat the clippers and those wins got them into the playoffs no one cared.

[NYG_Meth]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

This only seems to come up in boxing. When teams beat the clippers and those wins got them into the playoffs no one cared.

I hear you, but that's not the best analogy. I think the popular argument would be that [insert "overhyped boxer"] is like a team that, for the most part, played and beat nothing but Clippers. I don't agree with that argument, but I think that's the opinion you're talking about.

[BoomerSooner420]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

Some good opinions there people.

I think Teddy Atlas seemed to purposely step over the line to rile B-hop and I was like "what the hell is he talking about" but then B-Hop's response was equally questionable, which is maybe what Teddy set out to do in the first place, get B-Hop fired up on TV. But it's not like he beat a Pacquiao or a Mayweather, he beat a guy that fights in 2-3 second spurts and is out of gas by the middle of the fight, yet he still tries to make it sound like he is better now than he ever was before. It's not that he's fighting mediocre fighters now that raises the questions, it's the way he compares beating Jean Pascal to beating Felix Trinidad in his prime and compares himself to Muhammed Ali, in my opinion. Inflating the accomplishment until it appears to be more of an exploit than an achievement. But that's B-Hop, I say he's a Legend regardless, if for nothing more than his ludacris responses in interviews and all sorts of antics in and out of the ring, 20 consecutive MW title defenses, and oh yeah, being the first 46 year old to punch a guy in the face and take his title.

[BoomerSooner420]

Re: B-Hop: living legend or exploiting a weak talent pool?

Oh and here's the vid for anyone who missed it.

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SAZxS9JgxOQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>