Its Official: Hopkins will DESTROY Taylor

Before closing, I asked Bernard two questions. The first one being how many names still remain on the “execution list”? His response was two, Glen Johnson and “Tito” Trinidad. With that said, that was a segue into my second question, what are your plans for the immediate future? His response was, “After executing Jermain Taylor, I will move up to 175 to fight Glen Johnson. I am going to do what Sugar Ray Robinson did and make history. "And before gracefully bowing out, I want Trinidad! I have been trying for that fight since I knocked him out, instead he opted to fight Cherifi, you remember that right?.....Don’t King and the Trinidad’s want a shot at me again, I mean I did knock him out.” So as we draw closer to the date of the fight, “eXpect the uneXpected”… And??? I believe we all read the original and this is what we're talking about. LOL

This might be B-Hop's 1st real tough challenge fo a while. An upset isn't inconceivable cuz ma homeboy Taylor will put on a beatin like he always done! Taylor's speed, power and his jab will give him the victory in my opinion. All of B-Hop's recent opponents haven't had the intensity and skills that Taylor posseses nah mean. It'll be Execution Day fo Hopkins on July! Believe that!

Jones vs Hopkins would be a great fight for both fighters, although it is still hard to fathom that Jones will ever comeback. There would be little risk for both fighters, I don't think either one could hurt one another although Jones has been the bigger man for quite some time. Hopkins is great when people come to him, Jones will not and will stay on the outside and box Hopkins. I would favor Jones in the rematch.I totally disagree. Both Hopkins and Jones have something to loose.. If Hopkins looses.. he will loose to someone who was just KTFO.. and who is no longer a top fighter (Until proven otherwise). What would people say about Hopkins then? He is a phony champ who used to beat up on the little guys who had to step up in weight to face him?? If RJJ looses: Think about how we feel about Ruiz when two middleweights came up 2 weight classes and gave him Boxing lessons 101. This will destroy RJJ legacy completely.

I think Hopkins is still obsessed with getting a rematch with Jones. If he makes the descision to go to Lt heavyweight I think it will be on the condition that a fight with Roy Jones is a possibliy. Hopkins has said for a long time he wants his last fight of his career to be against Jones and fighting him at 175 might be his only chance for that. If Jones looses to Woods or does shitty than I bet you will hear no more talk of Hopkins going to 175. Jones vs Hopkins would be a great fight for both fighters, although it is still hard to fathom that Jones will ever comeback. There would be little risk for both fighters, I dont think either one could hurt one another although Jones has been the bigger man for quite some time. Hopkins is great when people come to him, Jones will not and will stay on the outside and box Hopkins. I would favor Jones in the rematch.

I think Hopkins is still obsessed with getting a rematch with Jones. If he makes the descision to go to Lt heavyweight I think it will be on the condition that a fight with Roy Jones is a possibliy. Hopkins has said for a long time he wants his last fight of his career to be against Jones and fighting him at 175 might be his only chance for that. If Jones looses to Woods or does shitty than I bet you will hear no more talk of Hopkins going to 175.

Hopkins may beat Johnson as he already has a 'W' advantage over him. And will mentally beat him again before the fight would even start. Tarver, on the other hand, who did not give a shit for the supper human RJJ.. would surely not give a shit about Hopkins and his "22" defenses. Tarver is TOO MUCH for Hopkins. Size, Power, Speed, Pressure, Attitude, Age.. all would work in favor of Tarver.

If Hopkins wins, are there any other options for him besides Johnosn and Winky? I know that Jeff Lacy has been mentioned as well...though maybe that was just Lacy trying to call out Hopkins. I guess at middleweight now there's nothing left but prospects and guys he's already beat up once or twice. As for the Taylor fight, I'm a Hopkins fan but he better watch out cause Taylor is a pretty smart guy. Unlike say Trinidad he can change his gameplan in the middle of a fight. Look at the way he was devastating Joppy with those uppercuts in the middle rounds of their fight. I know it was just Joppy, but it was still impressive for such a young fighter. I would still pick Hopkins based on experience, but it could be close.

True, but Hopkins is always eating properly, etc. He weighed in on fight night vs Eastman at 173, so he at least walsk around at that weight these days. He could add a bit of muscle or he could just choose not to drain himself to make weight, either way he canmake 175 well. I agree size might be a factor, because he will be naturally smaller than Tarver, but he can handle the weight well. Roy moved up more and he handled the weight very well. I am still very edgy on Hopkins moving up. Hopkins could come in at 175 easily I am sure, but what makes me fear it is if he fought Tarver. Tarver would weigh in at 175 and come in above 180 pounds. I would expect a bigger fighter to bully Hopkins around and use the sheer size advantage. Hopkins has never been in with a guy of that size and I am unsure of how he could deal with it. I would still rather Hopkins stay at 160, more exciting fights at that level then at 175.

hmm True, but Hopkins is always eating properly, etc. He weighed in on fight night vs Eastman at 173, so he at least walsk around at that weight these days. He could add a bit of muscle or he could just choose not to drain himself to make weight, either way he canmake 175 well. I agree size might be a factor, because he will be naturally smaller than Tarver, but he can handle the weight well. Roy moved up more and he handled the weight very well.

Going up in weight won't hurt Hopkins at all. If he goes up and tries to come back down, then yes, it will hurt him. Many great fighters have moved up in weight late in their careers and had success. Coming back down is where they mess up. Hopkins would add the weight just as smart as Roy did and he will be in perfect shape at 175 lbs. Roy wasnt also 40 years old, Hopkins has fought so long at 160 I believe moving up to 175 wouldnt be smart. 168 maybe because that is what Hopkins walks around at. But a 175 fighter would probably come in around 180-185. Size would be a HUGE factor for Hopkins, especially if he fought someone like Tarver.

hmm I would still prefer him to stay at 160, I wouldnt even want to see Hopkins at 168. Adding the additional weight at his age and stage of his career could really do some damage, no matter how great of shape he thinks he is in. Going up in weight won't hurt Hopkins at all. If he goes up and tries to come back down, then yes, it will hurt him. Many great fighters have moved up in weight late in their careers and had success. Coming back down is where they mess up. Hopkins would add the weight just as smart as Roy did and he will be in perfect shape at 175 lbs.

First of all... What makes you think that Johnson will still have the belts?? I seriously see Tarver winning the rematch. And if Johnson no longer has the belts, that Hopkins is not gaining anything by stepping up. I think hopkins knows it and those are just words he is throwing and will not back them. I do not see Hopkins fighting Tarver... he will get destroyed! I agree with almost everything you say...I don't think Nard is going up unless Johnson has the belts and as you said that is probably not going to happen, Glenn is a bit too loose of a fighter anyways and Nard will disect him and win on points. Now with Tarver I don't believe the fight will happen and I am glad...it will be a boring ass fight! Tarver far too much acts like a cautious pussy in the ring and against Bernard it would be no different...Im not saying Nard would be courageous either...point is tht both men would bore us to death and anger the sport with a $50 PPV fight that wasn't in all reality worth a damn buck.

Shed some light for me. Hopkins wants Johnson at 175. OK. Johnson HAS Tarver and that fight is a toss up. OK. Why wouldnt Bhop want Tarver? Tarver is so overrated to me. What does Tarver have that Johnson doesnt, as it pertains to fighting Bhop? Help a brotha.... Bernard has already KO'D Johnson and beat him. Glen originally fought at 160 and is a small guy. Tarver is a big guy with a punch, he is a lot bigger than Hopkins and Hopkins hasnt fought a guy who was bigger than he was in years. Tarver is just to much for the middleweight that Hopkins is, Tarver is just to big.

Johnson vs Tarver is a toss up, I was just speculating. Hopkins would move up to fight Johnson if he won but if Tarver won, Hopkins wouldnt want none of that, that is obvious. Besides if Tarver wins you can surely expect a third fight from them and that would give Hopkins his smokescreen comments on staying out of 175. Either way Hopkins has a tough fight ahead if he goes to 175 or stays at 160 and fights Winky. Hell Taylor will give Hopkins trouble I am sure, but Hopkins is to damn unpredictable. Shed some light for me. Hopkins wants Johnson at 175. OK. Johnson HAS Tarver and that fight is a toss up. OK. Why wouldnt Bhop want Tarver? Tarver is so overrated to me. What does Tarver have that Johnson doesnt, as it pertains to fighting Bhop? Help a brotha....

First of all... What makes you think that Johnson will still have the belts?? I seriously see Tarver winning the rematch. And if Johnson no longer has the belts, that Hopkins is not gaining anything by stepping up. I think hopkins knows it and those are just words he is throwing and will not back them. I do not see Hopkins fighting Tarver... he will get destroyed! Johnson vs Tarver is a toss up, I was just speculating. Hopkins would move up to fight Johnson if he won but if Tarver won, Hopkins wouldnt want none of that, that is obvious. Besides if Tarver wins you can surely expect a third fight from them and that would give Hopkins his smokescreen comments on staying out of 175. Either way Hopkins has a tough fight ahead if he goes to 175 or stays at 160 and fights Winky. Hell Taylor will give Hopkins trouble I am sure, but Hopkins is to damn unpredictable.

I do not see Hopkins fighting Tarver... he will get destroyed! REALLY? HOW? WHY? do you say? BTW, this may be dumb but why is hopkins talking about going to 175 and skippin 168 and he was offered big money to fight Calzaghe??

First of all... What makes you think that Johnson will still have the belts?? I seriously see Tarver winning the rematch. And if Johnson no longer has the belts, that Hopkins is not gaining anything by stepping up. I think hopkins knows it and those are just words he is throwing and will not back them. I do not see Hopkins fighting Tarver... he will get destroyed!

Never mind. Thanks spinxj

Where did you get this info? Fightnews, did you get it??

Hopkins is going to get koed. Taylor is not talking he is training his ass off and he will win. He says on boxingtalk how everyone Hopkins fights lets him get into their head, he says he doesnt care what Hopkins does or has to say. Taylor will be the new king. ;) Taylor and Hopkins are 2 world class champions who have my respect, I expect the best out of both of these fighters. Both have something to prove and it will make it a great fight, I expect it to be very tactical. I am a bit concerned for Taylor as his only real step up is Joppy and he hasnt dealt with the things Hopkins will do in the ring to him. Taylor might be a little green in that department, he hasnt seen all of the tricks. Taylor has a strong jab and if he can keep to that he could beat Hopkins. If Taylor loses it wont hurt him much and he will just get thrown right back into a title match later down the road, the only person and can damage is Hopkins. I hope he trains his ass off.