By Rick Reeno
William Joppy is looking to take rising star Jermain Taylor to school when the two men meet on HBO's December 4th telecast. The general feeling about Jermain Taylor is that he could be the future or Boxing but, what has he really done? William Joppy shares those feelings.
"I look at Jermain Taylor, and he is a pretty good, strong fighter, and could be a future champion. But he has a lot to learn. I can't see him beating me, I can't even see him going 12 rounds... I can see why they are all building him up. He is a former Olympic medallist, but with the skills he has right now, if he didn't go to the Olympics, they wouldn't even be talking about him. The last three years my career has been in the dormant stage. I can't see it going 12 rounds, he is a good fighter but I am going to knock him out because he has never been hit." said Joppy
Taylor has yet to be tested by a legit middleweight fighter. The few names on the resume of Taylor who are somewhat recognizable to Boxing fans are blown up jr. middleweights who are several years past their best. Joppy, who was beaten to a pulp against Hopkins, is by far the toughest fighter Jermain Taylor has faced to date.
What should be noted here is that even though Joppy is Taylor's first legit middleweight test, he is one of the more smaller middleweights in the division. Most Boxing scribes are predicting a blowout by the young Taylor. While it is true that Joppy saw his best days years ago, he should not be completely counted out when facing a fighter who has yet to be tested.
After his TKO defeat to Felix Trinidad, most fans had written Joppy off then. Joppy came back to decision the always tough Howard Eastman. The biggest problem Joppy has is inactivity, with only one fight in 2002, one fight in 2003 and take almost a year off since his last fight, Joppy is going to have some issues with rust.
After the beating Bernard Hopkins laid upon William Joppy, most fans thought it was over, Joppy on the other hand claims to have more left in him. Joppy blames personal problems for his poor performance in the Hopkins fight. Joppy, unlike De La Hoya or Trinidad, was able to last to the final bell with Hopkins.
"I am going to come back strong. My personal problems are out of the way. I am going into the ring with clear thoughts and a clear mind. I had a boatload of troubles in my head before the Hopkins fight. It's all behind me now." said Joppy
Joppy said that he is training like an animal in preparation for his comeback fight with Jermain Taylor. Joppy is hoping that a win over Taylor sends him into a rematch with undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins. The manager of Joppy, JD Brown, feels Joppy will make a Felix Trinidad like comeback.
"William Joppy will return to the ring in the same way that Trinidad did against Mayorga -- with a big knockout. William needed the time off. He has transformed his life, and will move into a different plateau. He has a clear head, and you will all see a different William Joppy. The last man left standing will be William Joppy." said Brown
