By Mark Vester
In a recent interview with BoxingScene staff writer Ron Borges, middleweight champion Jermain Taylor appears to be beaming with confidence after viewing Bernard Hopkins' dominating victory over light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver.
"He destroyed Tarver," Taylor said to the Boston Globe. "He didn't do Jermain like that. What they say is true about winning a championship. They say it makes you a 25 percent better fighter. Just the fact of knowing you're No. 1 gives you that extra confidence."
Taylor went through a vigorous training camp at the world famous Kronk gym, as hall-of-fame trainer Emanuel Steward has been teaching him how to further bring out his speed and sharpen his boxing skills. Taylor feels that because Steward is in his corner, he is more confident coming into this bout, than he was in either of his bouts with Bernard Hopkins.
"Emanuel teaches you to use all your skills that you have. He's the type of guy who comes in and, if you make a mistake, he jumps in there, takes it with two hands, and makes it better. He's a teacher who brings all your skills out that you have and makes you use those skills. It's not all about strength with him. I'm a lot more relaxed in the ring. I'm taking more control. I feel like I'm a better fighter."
