HOPKINS NOT FIGHTING GHOSTS OF CHAMPS PAST EXPERTS AGREE HE'S BEST OF TODAY'S CLASS.

Byline: Robert Morales Staff Writer

Judging by the opinions of two highly respected boxing experts Thursday, Bernard Hopkins will never be considered the greatest middleweight in history.

Hopkins, the undisputed champion, has made a record 19 title defenses and will attempt No. 20 Saturday when he takes on Howard Eastman at Staples Center.

Carlos Monzon made 14 defenses, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler had 12. Sugar Ray Robinson made only seven middleweight title defenses in the 1950s, but he held the title five times.

Monzon, Hagler and Robinson seem to be the three names mentioned most when discussing all-time great middleweights. In the minds of Emanuel Steward and Gil Clancy, Hall of Fame trainers with a combined 90 years in the sport, each ranks above Hopkins.

``I think, personally, I would rank Bernard after Robinson and Monzon, and I think I would put Marvin Hagler No. 1,'' said Steward, who was in Thomas Hearns' corner in 1985 when Hagler stopped Hearns in the third round.

``Just having a record is not going to do it,'' Steward said. ``Unfortunately, Bernard has not had their type of competition. But he can't fight against another era. All he can do is fight and be the best he can be today. This is maybe the weakest I have ever seen the middleweight division.''

Clancy, the trainer for another all-time middleweight great, Emile Griffith, is even less impressed with Hopkins.

``He's a good, solid fighter,'' Clancy said Thursday from his home in Long Island, N.Y. ``But at best, he is a top-10 guy. He came along at a good time. He didn't have to fight too many tough guys.''

Opposition usually is the deciding factor when rating boxers of different generations. Monzon, 87-3-9 with 59 knockouts, defeated the likes of Griffith, Rodrigo Valdez and Nino Benvenuti twice each in title fights. Bennie Briscoe was another victim.

Hagler, 62-3-2 with 52 KOs, defeated Alan Minter, Fulgencio Obelmejias, Vito Antuofermo, Mustafa Hamsho, Juan Domingo Roldan, Roberto Duran, John Mugabi and Hearns.

Robinson, 173-19-6 with 108 KOs, is considered by many to be the best overall fighter in history. He was a great welterweight before moving up in class. At the higher weight, he tangled more than once with Jake LaMotta, Carmen Basilio, Carl ``Bobo'' Olson and Gene Fullmer, and fought Rocky Graziano once.

As for Hopkins (45-2-1, 32 KOs), victories over Segundo Mercado, Simon Brown, Robert Allen, Antwun Echols and Keith Holmes don't inspire thoughts of greatness. Hopkins also has defeated Oscar De La Hoya, who is not a true middleweight.

Hopkins' most impressive victory came against Felix Trinidad Jr. in a 12th-round technical knockout in 2001.

Hopkins doesn't appear to be blind to the criticism. He never has claimed to be the greatest middleweight of all time, only the best of his era.

``I would love to have challenged Sugar Ray Leonard or Roberto Duran, but I knew the mentality of Hagler,'' Hopkins said on a recent conference call. ``Hagler gave me the blueprint on how to be disciplined. His fight with John ``The Beast'' Mugabi, that was one of my favorite Hagler fights. (His career) was sliding, but he had enough guts and determination and he wore out Mugabi.

``Mugabi's career died that night,'' he added, referring to Hagler's 11th-round TKO.

Clancy and Steward did give Hopkins credit for what he has done. And that's fine with Hopkins.

``I am looking to set a standard that is going to last for many years, many decades,'' Hopkins said. ``In today's boxing game, 20 defenses are really unique.''

Robert Morales, [phone], Ext. 2213

robert.morales(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Bernard Hopkins has made 19 title defenses, including this one against Oscar De La Hoya last September.

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Box:

HOWARD vs. EASTMAN