By Jim Amato
In all the hoopla of the big heavyweight card next weekend and then Winky-Shane II. Followed by Vitali-vs- The Tyson Trouncer, a very important fight has been lost in the shuffle. Olympian Jermain Taylor, the heir apparent to Bernard Hopkins faces a severe test.
Taylor takes on former titleholder William Joppy. Outside of Hopkins and Felix Trinidad a good arguement came be made in Joppy's behalf that he has been the third best middleweight in the world over the last five or six years. A few years back Trinidad exposed Joppy's chin as Felix won in five rounds.
Recently Joppy was outclassed and outbrawled by Hopkins. Nevertheless Joppy remains a formidable contender and a true test for the unbeaten Taylor at this stage of his budding career.
Give Taylor and his management credit for being willing to let their prospect take on a live body. Granted Joppy is getting a little long in the tooth but he keeps himself in pretty good shape and he has a wealth of boxing knowledge behind him.
How will it go ? Well with everything lining up toward a Hopkins-Trinidad rematch, Taylor can put together a couple of solid wins and make himself the guy to fight for the Bernard-Felix winner. A win over Joppy and another top flight middleweight could give Taylor some valuble experience while waits for the smoke from Tito's second try to clear.
Although I respect Joppy, I have to go with Taylor. I just hope Jermain and his camp did not underestimate Joppy. That could be a very costly mistake !
