Bernard Hopkins has credited a former rival with being ‘unstoppable’ during the prime of their professional career.
Hopkins had a highly decorated career of his own which culminated in him capturing world titles at middleweight and light-heavyweight along the way.
‘The Executioner’ reigned as the undisputed middleweight champion between 2001 and 2005 where he would make five successful defences of his crown before he was eventually dethroned by Jermain Taylor.
Hopkins also remains the oldest world champion in boxing history, a feat he achieved in April 2014 when he held the unified WBA and IBF light-heavyweight titles following a win over Beibut Shumenov.
In an interview with The Ring Magazine, Hopkins spoke fondly of legendary rival Roy Jones Jr as he claims the former pound-for-pound superstar was ‘unstoppable’ at the peak of his powers.
“He was smart enough to neutralise my best weapons and smart enough to not get hit by my big shots. Even though I got my shots in he wouldn’t get hit by more than one. Like if I got one in … and that’s the thing about fighting unique guys … if a guy lands that one shot, normally there’s another coming behind that.
“He was an all-around thing – best boxer, best defence, offence…. Early career Roy Jones Jr. – speed, reflexes, unorthodox, that type of thing. No one, no one would have beat Roy Jones at that level, where he was at right there and then.”
Jones and Hopkins faced each other twice during their respective careers, with both men claiming one victory each. Jones got the better of Hopkins in their first clash in 1993 before ‘The Executioner’ got his revenge 17-years later when both fighters were past their formidable best.
