Writer\’s Predictions: Bernard Hopkins vs. Jermain Taylor.

If there is going to be a changing of the guard in the middleweight division, it must happen tomorrow night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas when Bernard Hopkins puts every relevant middleweight title at stake against hungry young contender Jermain Taylor. Hopkins has perhaps one fight left after this one, but a loss,

a conceivable eventuality, might speed up his retirement. Taylor’s success was earmarked from the day we first came to know him as an entity in the boxing world and throughout his progression from the 2000 Olympics, he has been though of as Hopkins’ heir apparent. Having beaten every single middleweight contender of note, and having secured a career highest paycheck against Oscar de la Hoya, there really is little motivation for Hopkins to remain in boxing. With one foot out of the door as a partner in De La Hoya’s promotional outfit, Hopkins wishes to leave on his own terms and yet, if he does, he will take with him whatever credibility the division has. By Sunday morning, we will know if a new era has begun, or an old one remains on course to end on its own terms.

Until then, read on for the SaddoBoxing staff writer’s predictions on this momentous and historical boxing occasion.

Reynaldo Sambolin: The upcoming battle between the veteran champion Bernard Hopkins and the young challenger Jermain Taylor promises to be an exciting, competitive fight. It is the classic showdown between the aging, but still formidable champion, and the young, hungry fighter with all the skills necessary to become a future champion. The question on everyone’s mind is, “Is the future now?” There are some undeniable facts. For one, no one can dispute that Hopkins is past his prime. After all, forty-years-of-age, even a well-preserved forty years is considered old by boxing standards. Another fact is that Taylor is still on the rise. He probably will not be hitting his peak for another few years. So what it really boils down to is this: “Has Hopkins’ decline already intersected and fallen below Taylor’s rise?” In my opinion, no. Number one, Hopkins has largely avoided the all-out, knockdown, drag-out battles that damage a fighter. He has won some of his biggest battles rather easily, relying on wit, style, and the ability to adapt. In a sport where the mental and tactical components are considerably important, Hopkins has excelled. I think the fight will begin with Taylor cautiously attacking Hopkins, while trying not to make any major mistakes. As the fight wears on, Hopkins will use his ring savvy to win the majority of the rounds. Late in the fight, Taylor will realize that he won’t win the fight by decision, and will begin pressing for the knockout. At some point, he’ll make a mistake and the veteran will make him pay. Hopkins by eleventh round TKO.

Greig Johnston: Move over rover, let Jermain take over. I think that Father Time has been catching up with Bernard over his last couple of fights, but Oscar was too small and Eastman was just too, well, Eastman, to capitalize. In Taylor, I think we’ve found the right blend of youth, speed and power to make B-Hop feel every one of his forty years. Look for Taylor to out-hustle the older champion and score a big unanimous decision.

Lee Bellfield: There is more detail about this one in my preview analysis. I feel that although Taylor is the future of the division, Hopkins will have enough smarts to win a twelve round decision.

William Wolfrum: Bernard Hopkins has to lose eventually. Though, so does Lance Armstrong for that matter, so that may not be the best way to call this fight. Having seen “Winky” destroy Tito with just his jab; expect Taylor to try the same with Hopkins. It’s not at all out of the realm of possibility that Taylor could just out-speed and out-jab Hopkins for an easy decision. But I don’t see Hopkins going out like that. At least I wouldn’t be willing to bet that he will. I look back twenty-two years to find the prediction to this fight. Remember Roberto Duran dismantling Davey Moore for the junior middleweight title in 1983 when Moore had every physical advantage? Same thing will happen here. No, Taylor is not Moore. But Hopkins ain’t Duran, either. Look for Taylor to come out strong, but Hopkins will slowly turn the tide and put some things on Taylor that he has never seen before. Hopkins can handle diversity, can Taylor? I say no. Prediction: Hopkins by eighth-round knockout.

David Shipman: Old Legend vs. Young Lion. Whatever the case may be, make no mistake about it that Jermain Taylor is ready for this fight. He is given a golden opportunity to wrest the undisputed middleweight title from long reigning IBF champion Bernard Hopkins (1995-present) and is in his fourth year of carrying the undisputed title (2001-present). This is going to be a close fight and I expect Hopkins to lose this one and I will present a number of reasons why for all of you non-believers out there.

1) Bernard Hopkins has had the luxury of being the main focus point of all welterweights and junior middleweights coming up to challenge him, and because of that he has taken out two legends in their own right Oscar de la Hoya and Felix Trinidad.

2) Hopkins showed his age against De La Hoya, say what you want, but Oscar made him look old before Hopkins pulled together and landed that chopping body shot that ended the night.

3) Jermain Taylor’s size, strength and speed will almost even the table from the very beginning. Taylor is a good boxer and ring technician, still light years away from the footwork Hopkins brings to the table as well as his savvy, but Taylor is a true middleweight.

4) Hopkins is forty-years-old. He has not taken a hit from a legitimate middleweight on the chin and he will not be able to traditionally bully his opponent around the ring on Saturday.

5) It’s just time for a new beginning in the division, time for a fresh face and new blood.

I see Hopkins going out in a Marvin Hagler type of way, and that is a great thing. Marvin Hagler deservedly should have won his fight with “Sugar: Ray Leonard in 1987, but Hagler slipped a little and got old, slow, and less sharp in one fight; that will happen on Saturday. Jermain Taylor is no “Sugar” Ray Robinson nor is he Leonard but he will have all the ingredients of an upset, which will retire the great Hopkins-or will it? Jermain Taylor by split decision: 115-112, 113-115, 114-112.

Let’s appreciate Bernard Hopkins for all that he has done. He didn’t just beat up on welterweights his whole career, he reigned supreme in a crisp division with Roy Jones (Hopkins’ last loss in 1993) and shattered “Tito’s” dreams with one magical performance that will stand the test of time. Bernard Hopkins should be commended by the way he made the most out of his second chance. As he has said before, he is the real American dream.

Shaun Rico LaWhorn: Bernard Hopkins, 46-2, 32 knockouts is placing it all on the line with a hungry and focused Jermain Taylor, 23-0, 17 knockouts. This is more than a fight for both fighters, for Hopkins, it’s a proving match, the world is watching him, some with wishes of him showing his great boxing skills and others wishing he falls flat. Taylor is eager to wear the crown and with one match, he could make it happen, his chance is right in front of him, literally. This fight will start slowly; Hopkins has that sort of start up tradition. Don’t confuse Hopkins’ slow style with his age, it’s just his pacing. Taylor will show his boxing skills as well, and could have a small amount of nervousness. Round three should see Taylor opening up more and Hopkins pulling back some. Round five will be Hopkins kick in round and he will start to dominate Taylor, who was giving Hopkins a reasonable fight. From round five until round ten, Hopkins is going to pull out almost every boxing book he has in that huge boxing library of knowledge and make sure Taylor learns a lesson. This fight will be entertaining. The risk both fighters are taking alone is enough to attend or watch this fight; however, Hopkins’ skills and ring strength will be a little too much for Taylor and his corner will call this fight to stop in round ten.

Jim Cawkwell: I can find an argument for either man winning this fight so resting on a final prediction is no easy task. In the past I have gone with conventional wisdom and lost, then ignored conventional wisdom and lost again so the only thing I can feel confident about is that this will be an entertaining fight, if not a classic. I can envision Taylor’s youth and speed causing problems for an aging champion that clearly only fights in spots. The problem for Taylor might just boil down to the issue of respect. If he respects Hopkins too much, he will find himself out-boxed by a master, waiting on the outside like so many have done before while Hopkins steals rounds with only a handful of notable actions moments. I would like to think that Taylor could be bold enough to disregard the experience factor and the professional pedigree to simply charge into Hopkins and make him feel the pace that Howard Eastman simply could not. However, I do not hear anything from Taylor that presents that kind of confidence or bravery. I think he will respect Hopkins far too much and by the time he wakes up to the reality that his chance to win the undisputed middleweight championship is before him, it will be too late. The champion will spellbind the gifted youngster for a deserved decision win.

Curtis McCormick: Hopkins will be just too experienced for Taylor to overcome even given his advantages in youth and quickness. Hopkins’ showing against Howard Eastman put to rest any questions about what would happen if Bernard faced a “real” middleweight in his prime and I don’t see Taylor as having the tools to nullify the experience disadvantage he’ll encounter. Hopkins has been starting to degrade a bit due to age (finally) and I think that depending on how difficult this contest is for him, this may be his last fight or possibly the next will be his last (against Roy Jones?).

Mark DeSisto: I cannot seem to pick against Bernard Hopkins in this fight, he is just too smart. I am going to go for Hopkins by a late round TKO.

James MacDonald: I can’t see past Hopkins in this one. I don’t think Taylor has the experience or know-how to beat Hopkins. The step up from a shot Joppy to boxing’s pound-for-pound king is a huge leap up in class. Taylor may very well be in for a shock this weekend, as I can only see him being comprehensively out-boxed for the duration. Hopkins by unanimous decision.

Jim Cawkwell can be reached at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk