December 28, 2004 - Jermain Taylor's promoter Lou DiBella contacted ********** to give us his undefeated middleweight contenders likely blue-print for 2005. "Bernard Hopkins is fighting Howard Eastman, and Felix Trinidad is likely fighting Winky Wright later this year,so the top two guys we were looking to fight are out of the equation," said DiBella, who later explained that Taylor will return to HBO Boxing After Dark in March or April to face the stiffest test of his career, Sam Soliman. The Taylor-Soliman winner will earn the right to become mandatory challenger to the winner of Hopkins-Eastman. Should Taylor defeat Soliman and bouts with Hopkins and Trinidad still not doable, former WBO middleweight champion Felix Sturm is the man on deck, "We've had several discussions with Sturm's people (Universum) and both sides like the fight. We probably would have done (Taylor-Sturm) first, but they already have something scheduled for March."

They are moving this taylor kid way too quickly. I would rather see him fight 5 more good fighters before being thrown in with great fighters like Tito or hopkins.

They are moving this taylor kid way too quickly. I would rather see him fight 5 more good fighters before being thrown in with great fighters like Tito or hopkins.
I think so to, he may be the next david reid if he gets into the ring wit tito or b-hop

They are moving this taylor kid way too quickly. I would rather see him fight 5 more good fighters before being thrown in with great fighters like Tito or hopkins.
You may be right, but I think hes about 2 fight away from that level.

lol taylor is running from sturm

They are moving this taylor kid way too quickly. I would rather see him fight 5 more good fighters before being thrown in with great fighters like Tito or hopkins.

I think he's coming along nicely and at the right pace. The way he swept Joppy was a good sign that his skills are for real. He's almost ripe.

i still thinks he beats B-Hop, and gets KO'd by Tito. both great fights though.

i still thinks he beats B-Hop, and gets KO'd by Tito. both great fights though.

Other way around.

i thinks sturm will beat taylor...taylor is very overrated

sturm owns him
tito ko's him
benard schools him and ko's him late

i would like to see taylor in a couple more tuneups before a trinidad or hopkins fight. winky would be perfect after he gets beat by trinidad or taylor could go up and fight calzaghe.

Other way around.

i don't know, for some reason i see Taylor getting hit with a good shot, gets piss and trying to slug it out with tito, which will end in JT being KTFO. don't get me wrong i really like JT i think he will be a great Champ, as long as he stays away from Tito. i just don't think B-Hop, can beat his style.

PRESS RELEASE: IBF # 1 Middleweight Sam Soliman was ecstatic to learn form his Promoter Dan Goossen that it looks like a bout with Jermain Taylor will materialise hopefully as early as March or April. Soliman said that he has an enormous amount of respect for Taylor and has seen plenty of his fights. We were always confident that our paths were going to collide, so we have been watching him closely for over a year now. He is big – strong – rangy, however I am confident I can handle anything Jermain can bring to the ring. Soliman laughed and went onto say – “the true question that needs to be asked is how will Jermain handle me”? In all seriousness, we know Jermain will be a tough fight but we will be ready for him!

Soliman’s manager Stuart Duncan said that he was pleased to hear that Lou DiBella was considering the bout with Soliman and sees it as a great opportunity to showcase his boxer to America. I have always respected Lou said Duncan and again he has proven that he is prepared to make the hard fights happen. The one thing I will point out is that Sam Soliman is already the IBF mandatory to Bernard – however we welcome the opportunity to take on Jermain and are quite happy to put his mandatory position on the line. Hopkins already has commitments defending his WBC Title and we’ve declared ourselves available to Felix Trinidad to no response – we’d take Maselino Masoe in a heart beat but again it can’t happen, so we want the fight with Jermain. If Sam is a chance to fight Hopkins – the path to him is a win over Taylor. Our Promoter Dan Goossen will hopefully speak and negotiate a deal with Lou later in the week.

Soliman is coming of his 17th consecutive win and has stopped 7 of his last 8 opponents. He took Ray Joval to school mid year in the USA dropping him in the 4th round and has travelled all over the world amassing his 17 victories. Unbeaten opponents are nothing new to Soliman who ducks no one – Nader Hamden (32-0) Sakio Bika – Eric Teymour were all undefeated until they faced Sam. and we regularly travel to their backyard to do it. He has never been stopped in his 36 fight career and has only ever had one standing 8 count which was a flash knockdown which was a result of balance more than the punch. Sam went onto dominate that round and comfortably won the bout. On a likely result / prediction Duncan said confidently that while he respects Jermain for his ability he is confident his charge can take Taylor into unchartered waters. Jermain will think he has fought 3 opponents by the time Sam is through with him. There’s only one way Jermain beats Sam and that’s if the local commission lets him take a chainsaw into the ring with him.

Here we go the next David Reid. :D

Sam Soliman*rolleyes* oh gawd.

Too Quickly?? are you kidding me? He's being brought along at a snails pace. By 20 pro fights guys like DLH and Mayweather were already world champions.

I think people take the whole ruining a fighter by making him fight big fights too early way to seriously.
I say it's all bull****. I think Jermain Taylor is as ready as he'll ever be to get an ass whuppin by Bernard Hopkins. Why try to make him look better going into the fight, no matter who he tries to warm up with to get to Hopkins...one thing is certain. Hopkins will destroy him..

December 28, 2004 - Jermain Taylor's promoter Lou DiBella contacted ********** to give us his undefeated middleweight contenders likely blue-print for 2005. "Bernard Hopkins is fighting Howard Eastman, and Felix Trinidad is likely fighting Winky Wright later this year,so the top two guys we were looking to fight are out of the equation," said DiBella, who later explained that Taylor will return to HBO Boxing After Dark in March or April to face the stiffest test of his career, Sam Soliman. The Taylor-Soliman winner will earn the right to become mandatory challenger to the winner of Hopkins-Eastman. Should Taylor defeat Soliman and bouts with Hopkins and Trinidad still not doable, former WBO middleweight champion Felix Sturm is the man on deck, "We've had several discussions with Sturm's people (Universum) and both sides like the fight. We probably would have done (Taylor-Sturm) first, but they already have something scheduled for March."

lol , his real schedule will be:

1- fight a featherweight tomato can

2-fight a flyweight contender (the biggest test of his career)

and at the end of the year , he will prove he can fight top middleweights by taking on jake lamotta.

lol , his real schedule will be:

1- fight a featherweight tomato can

2-fight a flyweight contender (the biggest test of his career)

and at the end of the year , he will prove he can fight top middleweights by taking on jake lamotta.


hahahahahahahahahah

They are moving this taylor kid way too quickly. I would rather see him fight 5 more good fighters before being thrown in with great fighters like Tito or hopkins.

what?

Man people say that after EVERY fight..dude just got done DOMINATING joppy and he needs 5 more fights before hopkins and trinidad? Give me a break lol..dude is ready to fight either right now...fighting sam and then hopkins is not a bad idea at all. I personally think the only dude thats capable of beating him IS hopkins...if beating him at all....other than that...i truely dont think Trinidad can beat jermaine taylor.

They are moving this taylor kid way too quickly. I would rather see him fight 5 more good fighters before being thrown in with great fighters like Tito or hopkins. I agree with you. Taylor is very good, but he needs a little seasoning. He is virtually untested. I believe that right now he is good enough to beat everyone in the division besides Hopkins and Trinidad. He is good but not a phenom, Hopkins and trinidad have been in there with the best and also happen to be the best. In 2005 we might see taylor get knocked out in the late rounds in a fight against the aforementioned.

If Taylor beats Soliman, that is a real step up. Soliman is damn tough.

I think Taylor is a phenom or the closes thing to it in boxing right now and will prove it in 2005! ;)

Taylor will fight a bus driver a former flyweight and a renta cop in 2005

Taylor will fight a bus driver a former flyweight and a renta cop in 2005
haha
i hope he gets by this fight cuz i want to see him fight trinidad

I'm fairly sure that Taylor whupped Sturm as an amateur, so I wouldn't be so sure about Sturm posing too many problems.

Hopkins would lose a wide points decision, and Tito would get thoroughly outclassed for 2 thirds of the fight before starching Taylor.

I'm fairly sure that Taylor whupped Sturm as an amateur, so I wouldn't be so sure about Sturm posing too many problems.

Hopkins would lose a wide points decision, and Tito would get thoroughly outclassed for 2 thirds of the fight before starching Taylor.


lol taylor beat sutrm in the oly by 4 points but sturm beat him before that so a taylor/sturm could be there big trio :p like a mini morales/MAB ha ha ha

BTW r u a sturm hater or a taylor nut hugger cause when someone just comes out and says o he got whupped it tends to raise questions

Taylor has potential but he doesnt seem to fullfill it

he could've knocked out joppy if he threw more punches

it's like he's scared to
he throws tha guy covers up, then he backs off

he can stop his opponents if he wants to
but he always seems scared to

i wasnt impressed with tha joppy bout as much as i thought i would

he's good

but he can be better

You may be right, but I think hes about 2 fight away from that level.


Yea, i think hes ready.

BTW r u a sturm hater or a taylor nut hugger cause when someone just comes out and says o he got whupped it tends to raise questions

Nah man, I like Sturm. I like Taylor too.

He still whupped him though :D and he'll do it to it if he can get past Soliman.

Taylor will fight a bus driver a former flyweight and a renta cop in 2005


Lmao :D Let see if he step up in comp in 2005.

They are moving this taylor kid way too quickly. I would rather see him fight 5 more good fighters before being thrown in with great fighters like Tito or hopkins.


man are u a idiot?...the guy has been pro like 5 years now...undefeated olympics get titles shots way before 5 years..their moving him to SLOW...the guy has every attribute to beat bernard hopkins

Taylor hasn't proven much in his last 2 fights joppy come on now
marquez was i think retired if not he was very inactive but if taylor get passed soliman,& strum i think he'll be really close if not ready for b-hop.

I think he should stay far away from Tito and B-Hop for right now.Hops would school him and Tito would kill him.Taylor is still under the impression that he is a big puncher.That might get him racked against a big hitter like Tito.

For some reason there are a lot of Taylor haters. I think he is one of the best American fighters we have to offer. I would pick him to beat Hopkins and give Tito a run for his money. He would pound through Winky's defense like a wet tissue. This guy is for real.

Taylor is for real but he still does the hit and run thing when his oppenent cant hit back. If he fine tunes his hooks and works, gets his footwork down a little more, and has a few tune up fights i would pick him to take out tito (to one dimensional and would be eating jab all day) and an even shot against hopkins.