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Age, experience and wear and tear, merely some of the things that drastically separate Jermain Taylor from William Joppy. Success of late is another being that Taylor is the undefeated and rising former Olympian thought to be the successor to Bernard Hopkins’ middleweight legacy. Joppy however has not fared so well in the last few years of his career; beatings from Howard Eastman and Hopkins would appear to have taken their toll on the former three-time WBA middleweight champion. Nevertheless, Joppy expresses a passionate desire to make sure that his advanced years will not coincide happily with Taylor’s bid for power. The middleweight scene is buzzing with the return of Felix Trinidad, the Hopkins-Eastman fight due for February and other worthy contenders such as Felix Sturm waiting in the wings for their chance. It would appear to be a formality for Taylor to move one step closer to the top at Joppy’s expense, but the former champion might just have a few tricks up his sleeve. Read on to find out exactly what the saddoboxing.com team have to say about this crossroads fight.
Greig Johnston: Taylor-Joppy is a no brainer. Joppy is damaged goods and even when he wasn’t damaged goods, he wasn’t very good, if you follow. I thought he lost to Howard Eastman, and we know how bad Trinidad and Hopkins beat him. I think Taylor is the future of the middleweight division and there is no way that an excuse spouting, grouchy former champion like William Joppy beats him. Taylor by mid-to-late round stoppage to send Joppy into (hopefully) permanent retirement.
Joe de Beauchamp: Jermain Taylor wins by KO by the fifth. Joppy looks to have the worst pounding in 2004 with this match up.
Jim Amato: On December 4th, Olympian Jermain Taylor, the heir apparent to Bernard Hopkins faces a severe test. Taylor takes on former titleholder William Joppy. Outside of Hopkins and Felix Trinidad a good argument can be made on Joppy’s behalf that he has been the third best middleweight in the world over the last five or six years. A few years back, Trinidad exposed Joppy’s chin as Felix won in five rounds. Recently, Joppy was outclassed and out-brawled by Hopkins. Nevertheless, Joppy remains a formidable contender and a true test for the unbeaten Taylor at this stage of his budding career. Give Taylor and his management credit for being willing to let their prospect take on a live body. Granted Joppy is getting a little long in the tooth but he keeps himself in pretty- good shape and he has a wealth of boxing knowledge behind him. How will it go? Well with everything lining up toward a Hopkins-Trinidad rematch, Taylor can put together a couple of solid wins and make himself the guy to fight for the Bernard-Felix winner. A win over Joppy and another top-flight middleweight could give Taylor some valuable experience while he waits for the smoke from Tito’s second try to clear. Although I respect Joppy, I have to go with Taylor. I just hope Jermain and his camp did not underestimate Joppy. That could be a very costly mistake !
Lee Bellfield: Good step up in class for Taylor. The jury is still out on him at the moment. Some people say he’s great and some are still not sure. I think Taylor will prove his class scoring a knockdown on the way to a lopsided points win.
Jim Cawkwell: Joppy is most certainly dmaaged goods and Taylor has far too many advantages over him at this stage of their careers. An impressive win should go some way to raising Taylor’s stock as Joppy is not yet a pushover but I think he will make it an impossible fight for Joppy to impose himself upon. Taylor’s jab will be popping into Joppy’s face, closely followed by huge right hands and deadly left hooks. Taylor will show us the meaning of “Bad Intentions” with a tenth round stoppage.
