Hopkins v. Taylor

[partygirluk]

Tough to pick against Hopkins as he has been so dominant for so long. He is 40 so by all rights he should be getting beat up by someone like Jermaine Taylor, but B-Hop is phenomenal and he'll have too much in this one.

Thoughts?

[[censored]]

I kind of think Taylor could pull of upset here. I actually want to lean that way but I just can't bring myself to pic against Hopkins.

[contentless]

I am really, really, really rooting for Taylor to win here. I can't confidently make that pick though.

Edit: Interestingly enough, Maxboxing has an article about this, and within it, a quote from Lester Bedford:
[ QUOTE ]
“I like Taylor in a near-shutout here. I just don't see Hopkins as invincible against such a young, talented fighter. Here's my reasons: I thought Oscar (De La Hoya) would have had a chance, had he boxed Hopkins and stayed focused. But he panicked and started running and brawling. It wasn't that Hopkins was so good, Oscar just fought scared as hell and was just too small to have any confidence in his jab and boxing ability,” Bedford said.

[/ QUOTE ]

Near-shutout. Wow.

[judgesmails]

I keep waiting for Hopkins to look like an old man, but he never does. That said, I think Taylor brings a scary combination of boxing, size, and power into this match. I put a small wager on Taylor in this one, but would not be surprised to see Hopkins totally control the action and win an easy decision.

[[censored]]

OK so it is clear I am not the only one who thinks Taylor has a good chance to take the title.

Yet I keep coming back to the Trinidad fight. I know it was 3-4 years ago but it is very similar.

[Bill Murphy]

if it was anyone other than hopkins its the classic "youngster cuffs the suddenly old man silly and dances to an easy decision".

but its hopkins=freak of nature. hop is also one of those guys who fights exactly to the just needed level to win, i.e. his best fights were the biggest=trinidad & oscar. plus he'll be in insane shape as always.

that said, youth and speed eventually win out and hop is a terribly slow starter. huge jump in class for taylor & i know nothing about his chin or stamina. but all history points to taylor dancing & clinching to an easy decision. my life v $100K that's my pick.

but hop is the ultimate outlier, so if i had a 100K roll and was forced to bet at gunpoint, it would be that it goes the distance.

[Vince Young]

Taylor will win.

[NotMitch]

Anyone know who they are showing on the undercard on the PPV? And for the record I like Hopkins in the main event.

[partygirluk]

Just about to go!

[[censored]]

i'm going to go out on a limb and pick taylor by decision.

[partygirluk]

round 1 taylotr

[partygirluk]

round 2 taylor, landed big right early on.

[Vince Young]

Hopkins is getting handled.

[partygirluk]

Round 3 taylor

[[censored]]

wow looks like I was right

[partygirluk]

round 4 taylor

[partygirluk]

[ QUOTE ]
wow looks like I was right

[/ QUOTE ]

Hopkins is always a very slow starter.

[[censored]]

espn.com has it 4-0 taylor.

[scott8]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
wow looks like I was right

[/ QUOTE ]

Hopkins is always a very slow starter.

[/ QUOTE ]

Someone better tell him to start.

[partygirluk]

Round 5. Taylor cut on forehead by accidental headbutt. Very close round. Hopkins edged IMO.

[[censored]]

[ QUOTE ]
Round 5. Taylor cut on forehead by accidental headbutt. Very close round. Hopkins edged IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

How accidental did the head butt look?

[partygirluk]

Round 6 Taylor.

Taylor 59 - 55 Hopkins.

[partygirluk]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Round 5. Taylor cut on forehead by accidental headbutt. Very close round. Hopkins edged IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

How accidental did the head butt look?

[/ QUOTE ]

Very to me.

[partygirluk]

Round 7 Taylor

Hopkins is waaaaaay too inactive

Taylor 69 64 Hopkins

[[censored]]

I feel like I should be suprised but I'm not. but still wow.

[[censored]]

espn has it 5-1-1 Taylor. Hopkins basically needs a knock down at this point.

[partygirluk]

Round 8 - close but Taylor edged it

Referee wanrs Hopkins that he will lose a point id he holds and hits again

Taylor 79 73 Hopkins

[partygirluk]

Round 9 even.

Taylor 89 Hopkins 83

[tbach24]

I think I saw one of these guys interviewed on ESPN News like 4-5 months ago, is one of them married to a WNBA player?

[[censored]]

[ QUOTE ]
Round 9 even.

Taylor 89 Hopkins 83

[/ QUOTE ]

Basically a knock out to win at this point. Perhaps 2 knock downs

[partygirluk]

Round 10 Hopkins. Taylor caught with a few rights, seems hurt for a bit. Should be good finish

Taylor 98 Hopkins 93

[partygirluk]

Round 11. Best of fight so far. Hopkins takes it.

Taylor 107 Hopkins 103

[[censored]]

does Hopkins pull out a miracle in the 12th?

[partygirluk]

Round 12. Good round. Hopkins closes the gap.

Final scorecard:

Taylor 116 Hopkins 113

[partygirluk]

If this was a 15 round fight it would be very very interesting.

[partygirluk]

Split decision:

116-112 Hopkins

115-113 Taylor

.

.

.

.

.

.


115 - 113 to the winner and NEW middleweight champ, Jermaine Taylor.

[partygirluk]

Punch Stats

Total Punches landed

Hopkins 96 - 86 Taylor

[[censored]]

[ QUOTE ]
Split decision:

116-112 Hopkins

115-113 Taylor

115 - 113 to the winner and NEW middleweight champ, Jermaine Taylor.

[/ QUOTE ]

Almost certain rematch if Hopkins wants it but it sounds like the fight went pretty much like I expected. Perhaps things are differnt if Hopkins starts his attack earlier

[partygirluk]

Hopkins said he wants the rematch. That could go either way.

[[censored]]

[ QUOTE ]
Hopkins said he wants the rematch. That could go either way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed, it all depends on if this was Hopkins finally aging or just an off night and bad game plan.

Should be a big fight though.

[partygirluk]

btw I think Hopkins was the better man over 12 rounds but Taylor won more rounds.

[[censored]]

[ QUOTE ]
btw I think Hopkins was the better man over 12 rounds but Taylor won more rounds.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is the impression I got as well, especially when I saw the punch stats. Like you said that fight becomes very interesting if it goes 15.

[[censored]]

I read one of the judges gave Taylor the 12th. If so that is the scoring decision the cost Hopkins the title.

Tough way to lose a title.

[partygirluk]

The final 3 rounds were all clear for Hopkins. Most of the early fight consisted of rounds that Taylor edged. That judge giving r. 12 to Taylor is way out.

[mmbt0ne]

A rematch was written into the contract if Hopkins lost. There will be another fight. I'm pretty excited about it.

[trying2learn]

so i was lucky enough to catch the fight live - and i have to say...

i think hopkins should have won this fight. maybe i'm at fault from only having one angle (and the seats weren't super good this time) - but although i thought he lost the first four rounds easily, i thought he came back and handled the fight from then on. AND the first four rounds were really just him getting out pointed - not nearly hurt.

that's my take. i didn't hate the decision, because taylor fought well and i don't think the fight was an easy call...but i do think hopkins was the better man. wish he'd start a little faster - especially when i've got a couple hundred on him.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
If this was a 15 round fight it would be very very interesting.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, they really should bring this back. Taking away the last three rounds wasn't bad enough, then they have the nerve to start calling rounds 11-12 "the championship rounds".