Former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins and newly crowned champion Jermain Taylor battle for respect, as the main event feature on a pay-per-view dubbed with the moniker of "No Respect".
Will Hopkins get old? Will Taylor be better? Everything will be answered. The winner will be the fighter that made the better adjustments from the first meeting. Taylor has promised a more dominating performance, and Hopkins has promised a knockout win.
The staff of BoxingScene.com has gotten together to voice their opinions, strategies and predictions for the last major boxing event of the year.
Ron Borges: When a fighter is ready to turn 41 in barely a month, time is not on his side. Yet I still like Bernard Hopkins to avenge his controversial split decision loss to Jermain Taylor Saturday night for two reasons.
Second, Hopkins knows he started too slowly and did so little the judges were free to give the first half of the fight to his opponent. Even his business partner, Oscar De La Hoya, had it 7-2 Taylor after nine rounds. But few fighters have been the same after taking a Hopkins beating, dating all the way back to Joe Lipsey when he was undefeated and on the rise. Robert Allen wasn't the same. Felix Trinidad wasn't the same. De La Hoya hasn't fought in over a year and he may not be the same either. Now it's Taylor's turn to learn what the effects are of a night with Bernard Hopkins.
Hopkins is boxing's smartest fighter and, Taylor would tell you, one of the dirtiest but in the slickest of ways. He is angry about what happened five months ago and convinced he was beaten not by Taylor but by boxing politics.
Taylor is more confident after having gone through this experience once but that will make him bolder than he needs to be. That's when mistakes are made and if you make them against Hopkins he makes you pay not with one punch but by a corrosive attack that eventually causes you to implode. That's what I see happening Saturday night, although I would expect Taylor to look good for a time while pressing the attack early. But the more offensive he gets, the more Hopkins' boxing skills and ring intelligence will pay off.
Remember this, too. In the first fight it was Taylor who faded at the end, not Hopkins. It was Taylor who was holding on in the 12th round, not Hopkins. The margin of victory was slim, if it existed at all, for Taylor in the first fight. He'll be left with no margin for error in this one.
Hopkins TKO in 11.
Dr. Peter Edwards: Hopkins will finish what he started a few months ago, and crush Jermain Taylor in 11 rounds. I don't think Taylor has made the mental adjustment from being battered in the late rounds of their first bout.
Andy Rivera: Hopkins by late TKO.
After a slow start in the first meeting, I think Bernard will pick up the pace and go after Taylor in the early rounds. Taylor, on the other hand, may try to be more aggressive. If so, that will benefit Hopkins. My mind says Hopkins will finish what he may have done in the later rounds in their first encounter, and halt Taylor.
David P. Gresiman: After singing with an Elvis impersonator and showing off his Executioner baby doll, Jermain Taylor takes his confidence and championships into the ring and goes at Bernard Hopkins with added fervor. Hopkins lands his counters, but Taylor, less winded, takes them and returns combinations in kind. Hopkins reverts to old form, boxing carefully, seeking holes and fouling whenever possible.
I see this going one of two ways: Hopkins wins the fight, but Taylor gets the decision; or, and this is admittedly far-fetched, Taylor wins by controversial disqualification, with a frustrated Hopkins finally getting caught, the wise old man transforming into a wholly ungracious grump.
Mike Indri: No controversy or unanswered questions after this one. A more confident and assured Taylor will not allow Hopkins back into this fight during the later rounds, as he did in their first bout. While the experience of Bernard Hopkins tells him he will need to start quicker, apply more pressure and do whatever he must to win, it's just not going to happen.
The younger, stronger Taylor establishes control early and will not make the same mistake of letting the ring savvy Hopkins take command lat. Taylor will make it much easier for the judges this time.
Jermain Taylor over Bernard Hopkins via unanimous decision.
James Blears: It's so difficult to work out Bernard Hopkins. His record amount of defenses means he's already written history. But his first fight against Jermain Taylor is so puzzling.
He appeared to chuck away at least the first half of the fight throwing very few punches. Was he carefully conserving fuel in an aging gas tank or what?
When he did come on strong and Taylor start to fade badly, it was just too late. In spite of all his admirable and remarkable physical discipline in keeping a 40-year-old body at the 160-pound limit, retaining at title at this advanced age is difficult. While wresting it back off a younger man is much harder.
The split with trainer Bouie Fischer couldn't have come at a worse time and this could be a very significant and damaging factor. Bernard can punch like a mule kick, but unfortunately he can also often be very mule-headed.
Taylor has more scope and room to improve his fitness and strategy from the first time around. I go for him and I've got a sneaking feeling that Bernard might suffer a surprise stoppage.
Incidentally, I just hate the title of this fight. Why would either fighter have no respect for the other? Both are superb and dedicated athletes.
Taylor by TKO.
Keith Terceira: I don't think Hopkins is ready to go quietly into retirement. What I do predict is one of the greatest trilogies in boxing history with Taylor getting the schooled this time around.
Hopkins is a master at analyzing film and will dissect the first fight, finding the means to pulloff the win and setup the finale, padding his retirement account. Taylor needs find a way to break Hopkins down more in the early rounds so Hopkins doesn't get stronger as the fight goes on or it won't go to the scorecards.
My prediction is Hopkins by unanimous decision in WW II.
Ja Lang G. Greene: Taylor is bigger, stronger, and faster than Hopkins. The question for most, however, is Taylor better?
I think Hopkins will start faster, since most of the media has been dogging him about his slow start in the first fight. Anyone that knows Bernard's style understands that he is methodical and deliberate in his approach. Deviating from what got him to the top, will make him more susceptible in this fight to the young gun.
Only Bernard knows why he started so late in the first fight failing to pull the trigger until it was too late ... as a man you know when you're outgunned. And believe me, brother, Hopkins is no different than past greats at the end of their run.
It's a pick em fight, but go with the youth movement.
Taylor by split decision.
Sammy Rozenberg: Taylor needs to be brave in order to win here. He needs to live up to the fight title and show Hopkins no respect.
I expect Taylor to start strong and defeat Bernard by unanimous decision.
Eric Rineer: This shapes up to be another great fight. Bernard was able to rally late in the first fight and almost pulled out the win. I think he will get off to a better start in the rematch, but I don't see him regaining his belts.
Jermain is a tiger in the ring and he's going to have himself in better shape this time. I don't see him getting winded. Jermain was very impressive in fight No. 1. He not only dethroned one of the all-time greats in the division, he also fought through adversity: He didn't lose his composure after getting nailed with blatant head butts. That is the mark of a true champion.
I'm taking nothing away from Bernard Hopkins. He is a great warrior and one of the best of our time. But I think youth prevails again on Saturday night.
Taylor by unanimous decision.
Matthew Hurley: I've been back and forth on this rematch since Taylor won a disputed decision in their first go-round. I had Hopkins edging out Taylor on my card in that fight, but I was impressed with Taylor. He proved he belonged in the ring with the long reigning champion.
In the weeks leading up to the rematch I've been leaning towards Taylor in another close, disputed decision win. What happened to change my mind? I don't know, but now I'm going with Hopkins again. If it's close and goes to the scorecards Taylor will win. I don't think Hopkins allows that to happen this time around.
I look for a similar fight but with a more steady Hopkins attack, particularly to the body. I see a very close fight until Bernard takes an exhausted Taylor out late.
Hopkins TKO in 11.
Ron Gallegos: I watched the first fight twice, and it just appeared that for six to seven rounds, Bernard was disinterested. He gave those rounds away. Whether it was his corner that finally issued the wake-up call or Bernard having an epiphany, he transposed around the seventh into the fearsome Bernard that has left the boxing world in awe of his talent and skills. Maybe too little, too late.
Bernard genuinely felt he had won the fight, not the false bravado and feigned surprise at a decision that was known but was hoped to be a different outcome. No, he genuinely felt that he had done enough over the few last rounds to win. In truth, he did have Jermain seemingly on stupid street and ready to go.
As for this latest chapter, I look for Bernard to take out the young lion. Assuming, Bernard has not acquired the boxer's malady of "growing old over night," he will come out with a renewed vigor, ferocity and most importantly, focus.
Look for Bernard by KO in the seventh. It will not be a one-punch classic shot delivered to end the affair, but rather a barrage of body shots for six to seven rounds and the end will be the result of attrition.
Ronnie Nathanielsz: While I have the greatest respect for Bernard Hopkins, as a fighter and for what he has achieved, I always figured that Jermain Taylor would eventually emerge as champion. Now that he has won the title, I expect him to retain it and handsomely this time.
Taylor is too quick, hits too hard and is too young for Hopkins to handle.
Tim Smith: I like Taylor by decision.
I think Hopkins can't start fast. It's against his nature. And if he starts fast that plays into Taylor's strengths, since he's younger and stronger. I don't think Taylor can KO Hopkins, because the veteran is too crafty to get himself caught in that position or make those kinds of mistakes. Taylor seems to have learned a lot about Hopkins in that first fight. I think he'll put it to use in the rematch.
Steve Cummings: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Hopkins beat him the first time, despite the judging, and he'll do it again. Just like the old adage says, the fighter who wins the first bout wins the second bout, but more impressively. Hopkins had Taylor going in the late rounds but he got jobbed in the decision and there's no time like the present for the 40-plus year old fighter to get away from his usual slow starts and press the action right away.
That being the case, this could erupt into a firefight very quickly and Taylor's got the power to stop the old man. But I'm not on the fence, despite that caveat. Bernard's smart, tough and really, really pissed about the decision in the first fight and the disrespect Taylor's been showing him.
Bernard Hopkins overwhelms Jermain Taylor no later than Round 7.
Nigel Clarke: Hopkins with a ninth-round KO. Hopkins will execute early and dominate the inside fighting.
Paul Gallegos: Everyone I know is betting on Hopkins to redeem himself. I know that he has the talent, desire, and will to do so. Taylor has gained a lot of confidence since his controversial victory. The question is, is this confidence enough? Did Taylor do anything in his camp to adjust to the Hopkins onslaught?
Hopkins is not going to take the first half of this fight off. I think that he is really going to try to blitz the young lion. If Jermain weathers this storm, then he should prevail. If he can't handle the pressure, then Hopkins will inflict serious damage upon the side of his head and will have him out of there by Round 5. I see Taylor's chin being a little stronger than Hopkins' will.
Taylor by a close majority decision.
Joe Harrison: Age is catching up with Hopkins. This time, Taylor will make fewer mistakes and will control the pace of the entire fight. Hopkins won't be able to keep up with Taylor, but may use his experience to stay in the fight and go the distance. That won't be enough.
Taylor over Hopkins by unanimous decision.
Adam Pollack: Hopkins learned that he can hit Taylor when Jermain is tired. But what about when he isn't? Jermain has the experience of going 12 now, and has realized that he can hang with Bernard. We also saw that Jermain had enough speed and power to keep Bernard cautious for most of the fight. So if Hopkins takes more risks, he'll get hit and hurt and tired more himself, and he's not getting any younger.
Hopkins is in a catch 22 situation. He needs to be more active and take more risks to win, but in doing so he may actually make it an easier fight for Jermain. Jermain needs to better pace himself, throw to the body more and not always telegraph and overthrow his right, which cost him a lot of counter shots and misses last time. Tough call but I only see Jermain getting better, whereas at his age, Bernard can only get worse.
I'm going with Jermain.
Larry Tornambe: Hopkins will surely fight from the opening bell and not give an inch. Taylor will be able to hang with Bernard and over 12 rounds will have the higher output of punches.
Taylor by 12-round decision.
Dave Wilcox: This is a pick-'em fight. Too close to call in my opinion.
Taylor showed heart, speed, skill and a damn good chin in the first encounter. Hopkins did what he always does, and against Taylor it didn't work. Hopkins fought nicely and wore down his opponent for the customary Hopkins late round take over. This time against Taylor, something strange happened. Taylor fought back. I hate to pick against the young talented guy and I'm also a huge fan of Bernard Hopkins so I hope he can pull it out.
Unfortunately, everytime I play the rematch out in my mind, the only way Hopkins can win is by doing something he has never done. He needs to come out fast and look to inflict early pain on Taylor. As much as I hate to say it, Hopkins has to knockout Taylor to win. If he fights his usual game plan, the chances of victory diminish for Hopkins. Bernard must look for an early knockout to win.
Having said that, I have to say Taylor will probably win this fight by split decision. Too many things in his favor here ... or should I say that HBO NEEDS him to win.
Rick Reeno: Very tough to call. I have always believed that when one fighter sweeps the late rounds of a fight in order to win the fight, he will come back stronger in a rematch.
We all saw what a 40-year-old Hopkins did to Taylor. I would not want to see Taylor in the ring with a 30-year old Hopkins. In my opinion, Taylor is still too green, does not have the proper experience, and may not have the mental edge to win this fight. I'm going to side with the old man and predict a Hopkins win by unanimous decision.
Tom Donselson: Bernard Hopkins is one of boxing's smartest fighters, which is why he has stayed at the top of the middleweight division past his 40th birthday. Over the past few years, Hopkins has fought in spurts, but not before finding the weakness of his prey.
The problem with his last fight is that he failed to fight enough in the first eight rounds and basically gave the fight to Taylor. When he came on in the last four rounds, he dominated with superior techniques and showed why he is one of the greatest middleweights of all time.
For Taylor, he has the speed advantage, but Hopkins is the better technician. Taylor is the young lion but Hopkins is fighting one last war. Hopkins at the age of 40 can't fight every minute of every round but he can fight just enough in each round to win. Hopkins is an accurate puncher and therefore doesn't need to throw as many punches to nail his opponent. Taylor proved a more wild puncher in their first encounter and unless he is more accurate; he will lose the rematch.
Hopkins by a close a decision.
Mark Workman: I don't think this fight is going to be as close as the first one. Normally, I'd take age a bit more into consideration when it comes to a bout between a young fighter and a much older one. But Bernard Hopkins is no ordinary 40-year-old fighter.
Some of the things that Taylor has said in the press recently and his demeanor at a recent press conference has me wondering if maybe he's become so overconfident from listening to his own hype that he's taking Hopkins lightly. If that's truly the case, he's looking to lose this fight.
Confidence is one thing. And a good thing. But letting it get to the point of blinding yourself to reality is a whole other thing. And the reality is that Taylor's fighting one of the best middleweights that ever lived. Maybe he's just trying to convince himself of something that he's really not very sure of inside.
Having said all of this, I'm going with the old man — experience over youth. I see Hopkins winning by unanimous decision. But if he makes the same mistake he did in the first fight and gives away the early rounds, I think he'll go for broke in the end and knock Taylor out in the 12th round. He really has no other choice because he doesn't want to lose to Taylor again.
Don Colgan: Hopkins by unanimous decision.
He is a great fighter, a great champion and is fully focused. Jermain Taylor has the advantages of youth and has the championship. After Saturday night he'll still be young, yet Hopkins will have the title. Hopkins will not make the mistake of falling behind Saturday night.
David Sauvage: Taylor is stronger, faster, sharper and younger. The only thing Hopkins has going for him is smarts. And I think Taylor is smart enough to catch up to him. Taylor has nowhere to go but up, and Hopkins has nowhere to go but down — and that's where he'll end up, on the canvas.
Taylor by TKO.
