Is Taylor Mentally Prepared for Hopkins?

I think he is mentally prepared Jermaine to me always seems very cool and collected and I dont think the pressure of the big title fight is going to get to him.

I think a petrified Taylor will pull out a blistering performance in blitzing an unsuspecting Hopkins, setting up a showdown with a redemption seeking Trinidad. Oh what a glorious day that will be :cool:

I admire Hopkins for taking this fight with Taylor, he could have taken easier options such as Trinidad and Soloman, but no, he is in with the number 2 middleweight in the world, hats off!

Taylor is Ultimately Unprepared. One school of thought. Taylor is an excellent prospect. He still has some questionmarks unanswered. One is: Can he deal with adversity. The kind where you are seriously hurt, and overcome it. I suppose the best way to find this out would be to throw him to the lions (proverbially). Meaning an immediate fight with Hopkins may serve this purpose. Another school of thought Once again though, I do not feel that he is ultimately prepared for this fight. The only win at middleweight that impressed me, was his last victory over William Joppy. He distanced himself well and dictated the tempo of the fight, frustrating the smaller outgunned ex-champ. His victory over Raul Marquez should not be emphasized. Raul was fighting professional bouts when Taylor had a "curfew" established by his mother. His age was the tell tale factor in that fight, and a younger Marquez would have given Taylor some serious problems. Easing into the picture He needs to step it up a notch further; in order to "test his metal" so to speak. The tools are there, but facing Hopkins at this point might be asking too much of him. There are other names in the division who are worthy of him fighting at this point: Those may include: Felix Sturm Mikkel Kessler Lacy at super-middle (rematch which would be interesting to say the least) Winner of the Tito/Wright fight Howard Eastman one of these should be the route that he is going to take. I suppose he and his promotion think otherwise....... :rolleyes: Asking alot of a fighter who I think has Worlds of Potential, but is overrated by fans at this point. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

I think you got it the other way around. Taylor NEEDS to get in the early work. Once Hop figures out what he wants to do and gets comfortable with him Taylor is going to have a rough time trying to crack Nards D. I'd also be interested to see how good Taylors conditioning down the stretch is. We all know what X is going to bring to the table and thats a 24 in waist. :D but i can see taylor leaning on hopkins with his size and tiring the 40+ year old fighter. taylor also has a very nice jab if he decides to work on the outside.

I tend to agree with the other posters. Taylor seems......not the finished article. He has had a pretty easy ride so far and he has liked it. Hopkins will beat this guy, he`s too sound and compact for Taylor. Nard: W12

I think Taylor's hand speed is going to cause problems for Hopkins, Taylor has to take it to Hopkins early and get his respect, I think Taylor is going to win this fight, with Taylor's hand speed it could be a KO,

too soon for taylor i agree but will not have the respect if he doesnt fight hopkins... he doesnt look confident at all always embracing bhop as a king... bhop will wear him down to a decision...

I see this is being a pretty slow defensive fight. Taylor is big and stong and has the strong jab. What is also interesting is that they are both 6'1, but Taylor looks about 20 pounds heavier than Hop. It looks like I am in the minority here, but I think that Hop needs a guy to come after him so Hop can pot shot and counter all night. If this was 2-3 years ago, Hop KO 8-9, but in June or July, Taylor doesn't do anything stupid and wins the UD and everyone talks about how old and washed up Hop was when Taylor beats him. i agree with your statement about Hopkins pot-shotting Taylor all night, but i have to jump ship after that. someone made a valid point that Taylor is in the position where he pretty much has to fight Hopkins or lose a lot of respect. i don't think he wants this. Hopkins beats you as much mentally as he breaks you down physically. Hopkins is a master at psychological warfare. the man is brilliant when it comes to taking you out of your fight plan. look what he did to Trinidad. that fight was over when the PR flag was thrown down. if Taylor has reservations going into the ring with Hopkins, it's over already.

Jermain Taylor reminds me (too much) of Michael Grant, an awesome athlete who just ain't ready for the big time in prizefighting, I love Taylor's fight style and he has great ability but Bernard Hopkins is on a whole new level for Jermain and we don't know how the kid will react to the bright lights on the big stage, Bernard has "been there done that" many times over Grant with a better chin...maybe :D

Jermain Taylor reminds me (too much) of Michael Grant, an awesome athlete who just ain't ready for the big time in prizefighting, I love Taylor's fight style and he has great ability but Bernard Hopkins is on a whole new level for Jermain and we don't know how the kid will react to the bright lights on the big stage, Bernard has "been there done that" many times over

Hopkins is easily the most sound defensive boxer I've ever seen, and he really wears his opponents down. I don't think I've seen enough of Taylor to be convinced that he would beat Hopkins. Mind you, Hopkins is old, and the longer you box, the closer you get to your first loss.

taylor might start off poorly but hopkins usually takes it slow in the begining anyway. taylor will take the fight to b-hop from 4 on. I think you got it the other way around. Taylor NEEDS to get in the early work. Once Hop figures out what he wants to do and gets comfortable with him Taylor is going to have a rough time trying to crack Nards D. I'd also be interested to see how good Taylors conditioning down the stretch is. We all know what X is going to bring to the table and thats a 24 in waist. :D

taylor might start off poorly but hopkins usually takes it slow in the begining anyway. taylor will take the fight to b-hop from 4 on.

I don't think Hop has the power to really fuck Taylor's career up. I think Tito would be more suited to doing that kind of damage to Taylor. I still think Hopkins is crafty enough to grind out a decision and take Taylors heart out in the championship rounds. Taylor has a legitimate chance to press the action in the early rounds and make it harder on Hopkins later on in the fight, but who knows if he'll jump out early and take initiative. AND, if Taylor wins I won't say that Hop was old and washed up. If Taylor wins, that's a GREAT win against one of the best middleweights ever. I think Hopkins is far from washed up. i could see hopkins pounding on taylor like he did joppy i just dont see taylor taken it as good as joppy somehtin about him i dont like the way he moves form punches the way he seems to hurt easy when he does get hit im just not sold on taylor

I don't think Hop has the power to really fuck Taylor's career up. I think Tito would be more suited to doing that kind of damage to Taylor. I still think Hopkins is crafty enough to grind out a decision and take Taylors heart out in the championship rounds. Taylor has a legitimate chance to press the action in the early rounds and make it harder on Hopkins later on in the fight, but who knows if he'll jump out early and take initiative. AND, if Taylor wins I won't say that Hop was old and washed up. If Taylor wins, that's a GREAT win against one of the best middleweights ever. I think Hopkins is far from washed up.

just like meldrick before him hes being thrown in with the lion way to early and he may end up like him too taken a bad beating

I disagree with you guys and I think that Taylor can beat him and I am picking him. Bernard is slowing down. Sure Taylor couldve waited until he was more seasoned and Bernard was fading but like a true warrior he wanted the best Hopkins as possible so no one could take away from his win. You cant go by what Taylor says. He is the must humble and respectful guy in the sport. If he was so scared then why did he try so hard to get this fight? He always talks that way. Every fight he has he says stuff like that. When he gets into the ring he will fight hard with no fear and he thinks he can really win the fight. I think he is faster, stronger, and younger then Bernard. All X has is the experince, which is huge but there is no way he will dominate this you talented kid with all these physical skills. He might win but he wont dominate. X is slowing and Taylor is hungry. There will be a new face in boxing come July and then he will beat Tito

I see this is being a pretty slow defensive fight. Taylor is big and stong and has the strong jab. What is also interesting is that they are both 6'1, but Taylor looks about 20 pounds heavier than Hop. It looks like I am in the minority here, but I think that Hop needs a guy to come after him so Hop can pot shot and counter all night. If this was 2-3 years ago, Hop KO 8-9, but in June or July, Taylor doesn't do anything stupid and wins the UD and everyone talks about how old and washed up Hop was when Taylor beats him.

i love the article...yeah taylor is nto ready,maybe in 5 years he will be good but i dont see it now,hopkins will scare him at the weight-ina dn ko him on fight night.