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The Olympian meets the blue-collar champion. Sounds familiar doesn’t it. In February, Hopkins achieved his goal of twenty successful title defenses against Howard Eastman with a points win. Taylor on the other hand is unbeaten in twenty-three professional fights and was a bronze medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Could this be a step too far for Hopkins? Will he suddenly grow old overnight? Is Taylor ready to grasp his big chance, and take over the mantle of Bernard Hopkins and take the 160-pound division into a new era of “Bad Intentions”? The questions asked about Hopkins we hear time and time again. They surface before every defense and age catching up with him is still yet to happen.
It is interesting to note that three of Hopkins last four defenses have lasted the distance. It is also notable that he raises his game the greater the challenge. In December 2003 against William Joppy, who at the time was recognized as the number two middleweight in the world, “The Executioner” looked in a class of his own and won handily over twelve rounds. In his defense against Robert Allen in June 2004, Hopkins appeared to be going over old ground and did not want to jeopardize his super-fight with Oscar de la Hoya.
Against De La Hoya, it was a case of a good big un’ beating a good little un’ as Hopkins crushed his opponent with a body shot. In his last defense against Howard Eastman, he seemed content to chalk a place a history by not taking any chances to negotiate a twentieth defense. In Jermain Taylor, he meets a young undefeated challenger who believes he can win. Dare I say that Taylor has the advantage in hand-speed although Hopkins with his vast experience will have the advantage if the bout turns into a chess match?
Hopkins, like any true champion, produces his best form the greater the challenge. While he can seem to be going through the motions in defenses such as against Morrade Hakkar, Allen and Eastman, when he is faced with a genuine threat, he more often than not turns on the style. He scared the life out of Keith Holmes on his first step to unifying the 160-pound division. Against Felix Trinidad, he produced a faultless performance, dismantling the Puerto Rican. Against Joppy he was again in a class of his own and finally against De La Hoya, in a chess match, he was again the better man.
The fact that Taylor is unbeaten and brimming with confidence makes this a fascinating fight. The old guard meets the young upstart. Taylor as a professional holds impressive wins over Raul Marquez and William Joppy and to be successful against Hopkins, I think he needs to set the pace and utilize his hand-speed and excellent jab and not let the champion get into a rhythm.
I have a feeling this bout could turn into a tactical affair with Taylor looking to box but I feel that Hopkins will end up dictating the pace, keeping “Bad Intentions” at arms length. While I feel that Taylor is the heir apparent to Hopkins’ throne, I do not think that the champion will abdicate his throne and will have enough smarts to take a unanimous decision.
