By Don Colgan

Bernard Hopkin’s dominant, near shutout performance over Antonio Tarver in their recent IBO Light Heavyweight Championship bout should have surprised no one.  Hopkins' is the modern day version of the “Old Mongoose”, Archie Moore, fully capable of executing a stellar performance and further elevating his secure position among boxing’s all time great titleholders.

Those who declared his championship days over following consecutive decision defeats at the hands of young Jermain Taylor were sadder, yet infinitely wiser following Hopkins' drubbing of Tarver.  The Philadelphia Champion’s twenty championship defenses placed him firmly alongside Ketchel, Robinson,  Monzon and Hagler, the historical elite of the great Middleweight class.

Many thought Bernard’s stunning career had reached it’s end after the two defeats by Taylor.  Although both verdicts were justifiable, Hopkins came close to retaining,  and regaining his championship against a young, talented and dynamic foeman in Taylor.  Hopkins fought, and he lost!

Hopkins’s Middleweight Championship belt is in the hands of a worthy successor in Taylor.  This is no John H. Stracey, who ended Jose Napoles long reign as Welterweight Champion with a 6th round TKO in 1975, only to relinquish the crown a year later at the hands of Carlos Palomino.

Taylor has the potential to reign for a lengthy period of time and be, potentially, a titleholder as well regarded, and dominant as Hopkins.  This forecast is not in any way diminished by the recent thrilling majority draw between Taylor and Winky Wright, a bout in which many saw Taylor the winner.  Wright often out punched the titleholder, scoring in bursts and carrying the fight to Taylor, particularly in rounds two, four and six. 

However, there is no way he won the bout.

Taylor simply outfought Wright.  His power punch ratio was clearly superior and Wright was visibly shaken on several occasions, most notably in the opening session with a jarring right-cross penetrated Winky’s defense and buckled his knees.  The titleholder bore some resemblance to the late, great Henry Armstrong, attacking relentlessly with hurting shots while absorbing minimal punishment along the route.  The bout was deceptively close as the judges rewarded Wright for his punch rate, not taking into consideration that his attack was doing little in the way of consequential damage to the champion.

Winky was a solid test for young Taylor.  Yet the verdict was clearly flawed.  Had the contest been over the former championship distance of 15 rounds, Taylor would have finished strongly, probably sweeping the final three sessions or even scoring a last minute stoppage.  He has the ring generalship, evolving power, potent jab, solid defense and championship heart to join the ranks of Robinson, Monzon, Hagler and Hopkins as a long standing and worthy Middleweight titleholder. 

In the return bout, he should have less trouble with Wright.  It remains a formidable defense for Taylor yet his familiarity with Winky’s style and absolute disdain of Wright’s power should enable the Champion to win comfortably and possibly inside the distance. 

Jermain is growing into a serious puncher to compliment his boxing skills and mental toughness.  Now under the stewardship of Emmanuel Steward, his potential for a lengthy and perhaps dominant reign is growing with each passing bout. 

Taylor has weaknesses.  He appears, on occasion, to lose steam as a bout enters the late rounds.  This is an area where Steward can achieve improvement for the champion.  Round 12 of Taylor-Wright was a dance and, although the champion was moving forward and forcing the action, his shots lost some of their potency.  He had a golden opportunity to make a decisive final impression and he did not, permitting many views to think Winky might have done enough to earn a narrow decision.

Taylor has the sweet bird of youth by the tail and should only improve in terms of durability as his career evolves.  Considering the champion has had no rest over the past year and a half, meeting Hopkins twice and than putting his crown on the line against a true title threat in Wright, it is understandable that he tired over the final stanza.

Understandable yet avoidable.

Steward can do for Taylor what Angelo Dundee did for Muhammad Ali and Yank Durham did for Joe Frazier.  A legendary trainer who has been a dominant figure in boxing for decades, mentoring Thomas Hearns, Oscar DeLaHoya, Evander Holyfield down to Vitali Klitschko, his championship pedigree is Taylor’s most powerful asset.   He must further build the champion’s mental and physical stamina, enhance his development into a ferocious puncher, and help Taylor develop a mindset when he enters the ring that will not permit a lesser fighter such as Wright to blemish his record again.

Historically, the Middleweight class has supplied unparalleled thrills and perhaps the largest contingent of legendary, superior champions of all the weight classes.  Even champions such as Bobo Olsen, Paul Pender, Gen Fuller and the worthy Emile Griffith have been enduring figures on the landscape of this great division.  Not great champions, yet durable, skillful titleholders.  It is a division of lasting historical greatness, and Jermain Taylor has a stellar opportunity to join the division’s family of great champions.