Hopkins eyes revenge over Taylor

Bernard Hopkins has labelled Jermain Taylor a "fake champion" ahead of their 3 December re-match in Las Vegas. Taylor took the undisputed middleweight world crown from Hopkins in July on a controversial split decision, ending his 10-year reign in the division. "A draw would have been robbery," said Hopkins said. "He knows he didn't win, he knows he didn't deserve it," Taylor said: "I don't respect him, not a bit. There's no fear in my heart. I'm looking forward to knocking him out." In their first fight, Hopkins won the final four rounds on the cards of all but one judge. But that scoring for Taylor in the 12th made the difference between a Taylor triumph and a draw that would have kept the crown in Hopkins' hands. Hopkins, 40, fell to 46-3 with one draw in his first loss since dropping a 12-round decision to Roy Jones in 1993. Taylor improved to 24-0. Taylor added: "I don't intend to give my championship up anytime soon. I want to hang onto it for a long time. That's what I'm going to do." But Hopkins warned: "I hope he comes in confident. Being nervous saved him from being knocked out last time." He added: "I'm not going to take a chance on letting the judges beat me like they did last time. Jermain Taylor must get knocked out - I believe I can't win unless that happens." :boxing: