BoxRec

in a sport where speed and reflexes are so important how is it possible for a 40yr old man to beat a 26yr old. these are the top 2 in the world at middleweight, and i think its a fairly even match. with the advantage slightly to hopkins. But i question my thinking , how can he do it?

he can't...i reckon hopkins will get knockout and he should have retired after the last fight cos it's sad to see a old man in the ring when he's past it

I don't think Hopkins looked past it last time out, he just needed a bit more urgency, when he put the efoort in he boxed Taylor's head off for short periods and looked as good as he has ever done.

If anything he had got into something of a comfort zone.

Hopkins was the man who finished the fight strongest, not Taylor, and he had Taylor rocking in the last couple of rounds.

The problem for Bernard is that Taylor's style, unlike Bernard's, is made for the judges. He throws a lot of shots and fights aggressively, which means he gets points in rounds where he isn't even landing much.

Bernard's spoiling style is unlikely to impress as much, especially as Taylor will have the crowd behind him.

Bernard will need to open up earlier, but this is going to be difficult for him, as it isn't his style to start really fast, and he is also going to leave himself open by being more aggressive.

Bernard can win this one, but I think he will need a KO.

I only had Taylor winning by one point last time out. And that was only because Hopkins did next to fornicate-all for the first half of the fight. When he opened up at the end, you could see who was the class act. Hopkins can win, he just needs to do something early to stop Taylor nicking all the early rounds. It doesn't even need to be that dramatic, I don't think; Taylor seemed to be winning the first few rounds by virtue of landing half a dozen jabs last time, it was that slow-starting.

Hopkins will have to win the rounds rather than try to steal them.

states wrote:I only had Taylor winning by one point last time out. And that was only because Hopkins did next to fornicate-all for the first half of the fight. When he opened up at the end, you could see who was the class act. Hopkins can win, he just needs to do something early to stop Taylor nicking all the early rounds. It doesn't even need to be that dramatic, I don't think; Taylor seemed to be winning the first few rounds by virtue of landing half a dozen jabs last time, it was that slow-starting.

Amen Brother!!! Hopkins just didn't turn on the gas till late. Fool thought he was doing enough. I reckon he'll kick arse this time.

Hopkins clearly had plenty left in the tank, while Taylor was totally spent at the end of the first fight. I don't see the Executioner messing this one up a second time, he just looked so fresh in there. He'll have style problems again early on but I don't envisage him losing any rounds after 4 or 5.

i want taylor to win and usher in a new era.

unfortunately i c old bernard putting a spanner in the works. i fancy him to start quicker and be pumped to put on a real show.

a comfortable-ish UD this time round for hopkins. taylor will be good enuff to take over when bernard is gone though.

In answer to the original question.....by upping the pace like he did in the last few rounds of the first fight, when he was in a different class. I think Nard wins the rematch

The question is can he maintain that pace over 12 rounds at his age? Its been a long time since he has fought at a high pace over 12.

Exactly, he finished fresh last time out, but he did fornicate all for 5 rounds.

I think Hopkins is more than capable of upping the pace enough to leave Taylor behind. The quicker he gets down to work the quicker Taylor starts to tire IMO.

nickd wrote:The question is can he maintain that pace over 12 rounds at his age? Its been a long time since he has fought at a high pace over 12.

I know, he was by far the fresher at the end of the fight though and when he turned up the heat in the final few rounds he schooled Taylor. If he'd have put his foot to the metal a few rounds earlier he'd have won.

Hopkins has got a legacy to maintain and I think he goes into this one fired up and wins a comfortable UD

In the first fight Taylor wisely stood off Hopkins and waited for him to make the moves. bernard was doing the same. So the first 8 rounds saw little action.

As soon as Taylor forced the fight Hopkins picked him off counterpunching with ease, and hurting him towards the end.

I think Taylor will end up standing off for the entire fight this time, forcing Hopkins to pressure him and go against his usual gameplan. Taylor is the champ and knows that he can't wade in as he'll get picked off. i think Jermain knows that if he keeps hopkins on the end of his jab and fights defensively bernard won't be able to nick the rounds by standing off and waiting for openings to exploit.

This will be even more boring than the first one. Taylor UD in an unbelievably dull game of cat and mouse.