by Don Colgan
Fifty three years ago, the incomparable Sugar Ray Robinson embarked upon a widely publicized European tour in which he boxed exhibitions in Germany, France and Britain, permitting local heroes the privilege of sharing the roped square for a few moments with the great champion.
Robinson was accorded a welcome worthy of a visiting head of state. The Middleweight Champion, behind the wheel of his trademark pink Cadillac, froze traffic on the Elysee De Champs as adoring Parisians mobbed the Sugarman.
Tucked away on Ray's itinerary was a real fight. A fifteen round championship defense against a rugged British ex sailor who had legitimate credentials as a middleweight contender. Ray had no edge that night. The marvelous ring skills were largely absent as his “European Vacation” left the champion overconfident and mentally unprepared. Ray was clearly outpointed and returned home with his entourage intact and his championship belt strapped firmly across Turpin's waist.
The rest of the story is now fistic lore and Turpin granted Sugar an immediate return and came within an eyelash of retaining the crown until a bloodied Robinson rose from the near dead to batter Turpin into a sudden 10th round TKO defeat.
Ray was a champion for the ages, Turpin a better than average contender who saw a golden chance and took it. As the Bernard Hopkins-Jermain Taylor return bout approaches, there is a comparison to be drawn.
It is difficult to argue that Bernard Hopkins is not one of the five greatest middleweights of all time. A near decade of total domination supported by an astounding twenty successful championship defenses earns him the right to be mentioned in the same breath as Ketchell, Robinson, Monzon and Hagler.
Ultimately, at age 40, Hopkins was edged off of the throne, losing a disputed majority verdict to young Jermain Taylor. Hopkins pulled an “Ali” in this contest, permitting himself to fall behind as he conserved his energy for a late rounds assault. The great titleholder miscalculated and could not make it all the way back. Make no mistake, Taylor won! Make no mistake, had the bout been for the true championship distance of fifteen rounds, Taylor would have lost the decision and quite possibly have been stopped.
Taylor's conduct in the press, and his swelling disrespect of Hopkins as their December 3 Las Vegas return approaches, suggests the young titleholder has put too much stock in his narrow points triumph. His assertion that he always improves upon a first performance and will dominate, and probably halt Hopkins is a foolish statement. Hopkins requires no motivation! He is a proud and great champion who carelesslly permitted his championship to slip away. Taylor will see Bernard Hopkins at 110% next Saturday night and all of the trash talk in the world won't help the champion retain his crown.
The Philadelphia battler is acutely aware that a second defeat would relegate him into Roy Jones territory. Unlike Jones, Hopkins has plenty left in the tank at 41. Great fighters often do. See Robinson and Moore at age 40.
Hopkins will be in superb condition. He will have a winning battle plan that will rendor his age as a non factor. Look for the challenger to open fast, staying on the perimeter of Taylor's combination punching and roughing up Taylor on the inside over the first five sessions. The champion will quickly realize that Hopkins is no stepping stone, he is a champion for the ages. As the bout moves into the middle rounds and Taylor continues to fall behind, he will arrive at the realization that, on this night, he doesn't have the answer for Hopkins.
Jermain Taylor is a skilled young fighter. He is no Billy Backus. He is a multi talented wingman with the same credentials Randolph Turpin had when he entered the ring against Sugar Ray Robinson that long ago evening in London. It is unique that Hopkin's lengthy championship reign has flown somewhat under boxing's radar. Both Monzon and later Halger, grew in stature proportionate with their domination of their respective classes. Bernard has had several stiff title defenses and his share of easier ones. He was entitled. Hagler had his Caveman Lee and Monzon his Tom Bogs.
Look for a dominant, near prime performance from Bernard Hopkins and a return to the undisputed Middleweight Championship of the world on December 3.
