BoxRec

Came across this on another website.

Undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins has confirmed to Fightnews.com that terms have been reached for a pay-per-view showdown with Jermain Taylor, likely on July 16. Hopkins had set a 24-hour deadline for a $1.5 million offer last week, but Taylor's promoter Lou DiBella rejected that offer. A deal was reached after Taylor's proposed purse was increased approximately 20%.
Wednesday, March 23 2005

Taylor is doomed.

Big, big gamble for Taylor taking this. Probably more so than Ricky Hatton is taking versus Tsyzu. However, unlike with Hatton, Taylor has been on the Executioner's deathrow waiting list for some time, so he's even more up against it.

Very interesting fight this one and one that is deviding our household. Old man is going for Taylor.

I tipped Taylor to be the man to dethrone Calzaghe and I think he would do that now - not sure though if he is ready for Hopkins and I think Bernard will old man him out of it to win on points in a dull contest.

I give Taylor a good chance of beating Hopkins. I thought Hopkins looked beatable last time out. Eastman never did enough to really push him, Taylor will. I think Hopkins will have to pull out one last big performance to repell Taylor.

Taylor is a very big middlweight, he's fast, he hits with a lot of power, and he's in his prime physically.

I give him a good shot.

stujones wrote:Very interesting fight this one and one that is deviding our household. Old man is going for Taylor.

I tipped Taylor to be the man to dethrone Calzaghe and I think he would do that now - not sure though if he is ready for Hopkins and I think Bernard will old man him out of it to win on points in a dull contest.

Stu are you getting confused with Lacy? Taylor is a career middle isnt he? Dont think a match with JC has been on the cards?

No way taylor beats Nard, not a hope. he will get his arse boxed off.

J wrote:

stujones wrote:Very interesting fight this one and one that is deviding our household. Old man is going for Taylor.

I tipped Taylor to be the man to dethrone Calzaghe and I think he would do that now - not sure though if he is ready for Hopkins and I think Bernard will old man him out of it to win on points in a dull contest.

Stu are you getting confused with Lacy? Taylor is a career middle isnt he? Dont think a match with JC has been on the cards?

No way taylor beats Nard, not a hope. he will get his arse boxed off.

No, I am not getting confused - I know who Jermain Taylor is. He is a big Middleweight and is better than Lacy. I never said a match with Joe was on the cards, but if it ever happend I would be going for Taylor. Similarly, I would tip Taylor to beat Lacy. Lacy vs Joe? I think the Welshman knows to much at this stage.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I give Taylor a good chance of beating Hopkins. I thought Hopkins looked beatable last time out. Eastman never did enough to really push him, Taylor will. I think Hopkins will have to pull out one last big performance to repell Taylor.

Taylor is a very big middlweight, he's fast, he hits with a lot of power, and he's in his prime physically.

I give him a good shot.

Taylor certainly has a chance, but he has spent a lot of time fighting light middleweights.... the Joppy result looks good on paper but Hopkins beat the hell out of Joppy the previous fight and Joppy actually retired after that and sadly came back for another trouncing....

Taylor certainly has more substance that Lacy who i believe is a real USA hype machine

ok fair enough Stu, twas the "dethorne Joe C" that made me think twas all.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I give Taylor a good chance of beating Hopkins. I thought Hopkins looked beatable last time out. Eastman never did enough to really push him, Taylor will. I think Hopkins will have to pull out one last big performance to repell Taylor.

Taylor is a very big middlweight, he's fast, he hits with a lot of power, and he's in his prime physically.

I give him a good shot.

Yes, James I agree. Whilst I am tipping Hopkins - I am not confident with the pick. The only part I disagree with that post is that I was impressed with Hopkins last time out.

I will be having a flutter on Taylor in this one.

Good on Hopkins for showing no hesitation in making this dangerous, attractive match. Maybe he isn't THE best fighter in the world but he's certainly the no.1 champion.

stujones wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I give Taylor a good chance of beating Hopkins. I thought Hopkins looked beatable last time out. Eastman never did enough to really push him, Taylor will. I think Hopkins will have to pull out one last big performance to repell Taylor.

Taylor is a very big middlweight, he's fast, he hits with a lot of power, and he's in his prime physically.

I give him a good shot.

Yes, James I agree. Whilst I am tipping Hopkins - I am not confident with the pick. The only part I disagree with that post is that I was impressed with Hopkins last time out.

Hopkins looked impressive in the sense he won easily, but he didn't look dangerous. Eastman allowed him to fight at his own pace, and didn't really change his tactics at all when they failed to work.

Taylor is a whole different ball game. He's a lot different mentally to Eastman, who refuses to seize the initiative in fights.

It could turn out to be a michael grant scenario though I guess, where Taylor just gets mentally ruined by Hopkins. I do not think Hopkins hits hard enough to batter Taylor though, though the old goat might surprise us all.

Whatever, hats off to Hopkins, if he wins he proves he's still the terminus for the next generation of middlweights.

If Taylor loses, it's no biggie for his career either, he can come back to rule the division.

I've been really impressed with Taylor, yes he has fought a lot of smaller guys but Hopkins isnt the biggest - he was what 158 for the Eastman fight? Not taking anything away from Hopkins, he is a fabulous champion but its a long time since he has faced a real challenge from a guy bigger than him. Eastman was bigger but didnt or couldnt really lay down the gauntlet. If Taylor can keep a high workrate and slam in some hard shots who knows how the old legs will hold up. Fascinating fight I think.

Hopkins will win by stoppage in 9 minutes.

Remember where you heard that.

Based on what? When did he last score a win inside 3 rounds?

Just had a look February 1994. ;)

lirva33 wrote:Hopkins will win by stoppage in 9 minutes.

Remember where you heard that.

I will, just so I can laugh at you.

Hopkins hasn't got the power or inclination to stop Taylor. He will try to box his way to a decision win. If the stoppage comes, it will be late as Taylor gets desperate.

stujones wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I give Taylor a good chance of beating Hopkins. I thought Hopkins looked beatable last time out. Eastman never did enough to really push him, Taylor will. I think Hopkins will have to pull out one last big performance to repell Taylor.

Taylor is a very big middlweight, he's fast, he hits with a lot of power, and he's in his prime physically.

I give him a good shot.

Yes, James I agree. Whilst I am tipping Hopkins - I am not confident with the pick. The only part I disagree with that post is that I was impressed with Hopkins last time out.

I acn see where you are coming from, but I think that in last three fights Hopkins didnt come out of third gear.

I think he can up his performance against Taylor who will be too Green for the great Bernard Hopkins.