Boxing Recap: Taylor Keeps Belts, Outboxes Hopkins on Cards

Last night on an HBO PPV broadcast from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Jermain Taylor proved that his first victory over modern day great Bernard Hopkins was no fluke as he retained the WBC, WBA and WBO Middleweight titles. Hopkins, the Philadelphia legend, chose a similar strategy to that pursued during the first meeting between the two and again paid the price for giving away too many of the early rounds. Nearly forty one years of age, the former undisputed champion once again attempted to wear the much younger Taylor down while conserving his own energy in order to mount a late assault. While both men had their moments and waged a tight and difficult to score contest, all three ringside judges found Taylor to have won the contest 115-113. There were other important bouts on the exciting Golden Boy promotion.

Longtime WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Oscar Larios suffered a deep laceration over an eye in his rematch against IBF titlist Israel Vasquez and lost his title when the action was stopped in the third round. Up and coming Philadelphia light welter Demetrious Hopkins made an important statement against dangerous spoiler Jesse Feliciano by stopping the free swinging Las Vegas man in four rounds.

Former welterweight world champion Ike Quartey continued his comeback at light middle by stopping Mexican hardman Carlos Bojorquez in the tenth and final round. Rounding out the bill, Kofi Jantuah, Joshua Clottey, Larry Mosley, Andre Berto and Rock Allen were also victorious.