A press conference to announce the hotly anticipated rematch between Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins was held yesterday at the Copacabana in New York and SaddoBoxings was there. Read on for a full report and exclusive photo gallery.
At approximately 10:30 am, Jermain Taylor and his team begin their opening session in various discussions with reporters and fans at the Copacabana Ballroom. Bernard Hopkins shows about thirty minutes later and walks into the conference area.
Jermain Taylor begins talking to reporters as Hopkins chats with fans and reporters in separated gatherings. The former champion, still remaining a little dissatisfied with the outcome of Hopkins – Taylor I, begins spending a fair amount of time engaging in his thoughts on Jermain Taylor. But most of all he speaks about judge Duane Fords’ decision to not award him the 12th and final round, which would have allowed him to keep his titles. “I believe that Duane Ford made a mistake,” said Hopkins.
Accordingly, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins refers to Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor as the “industry champion”, which he feels that he never was in the past. On many occasions, Hopkins was found pleading his case that he did in fact win their first meeting and that the “age factor” is not only continuously conveyed in perhaps a discriminatory fashion against himself as a 40 year old, but that the “corporate champion” Jermain Taylor should not have even been given a “draw”, let alone the victory.
Hopkins says that, “Aggression is one thing but being effective is another; I have always dealt with adversity,” and that he plans to justly knockout Taylor in their rematch. “Everyone deserves their time in the sun,” says Hopkins in his expectations of Jermain Taylor’s short reign as world ring magazine middleweight champion. Hopkins vows to declare “I got you in the end!”
On the other side, Jermain Taylor says, “I made a lot of mistakes” (in the first fight). “I chased him around the ring.” However, Taylor implies, “I am scared of nobody!” When he spoke at the press conference, he said, “I am not the judges” and “I am sick of him (Bernard Hopkins) crying!” Then Taylor comically tells Bernard that he has a gift for him as Hopkins humorously laughs at his comments and Jermain Taylor presents him with a stuffed animal, diaper, and a baby bottle.
Still, the altercation gets heated as Jermain Taylor yells, “I respect him no more! This man has gotta go!” Following their final face-off in what evolved into a tremendous staredown, Hopkins waves at Jermain Taylor and looks to the collective spectators in a smiling expression, “You see, he keeps talking!
Robbie "The Bomber" Peden (IBF super featherweight champion of the world).
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