Hopkins v. Taylor 1: My IN-DEPTH analysis (take note)

**FUBAR** · 08-11-2005, 09:37 PM

Well I definitely don't think it was that far apart dude, and Hopkins started way too slow for his own good but the beating he laid on Taylor was definitely worth a slim win or a draw.

**Sliquestylez** · 08-11-2005, 09:44 PM

The fight is too close to call. If you have to beat a champ, I think you have to do it convincingly and Taylor will have another chance if theres' a rematch.

**scottydottie** · 08-11-2005, 09:45 PM

Originally posted by restless_438

I had some time on my hands and i wanted to really focus on this fight, watching it for about the 3rd time so i took many notes and here's what i came up with. If you really disagree with something, watch the fight close as i did, i have many times noted as well for your convenience. Print it out and watch if need be

Hopkins vs. Taylor 1

Round 1:
This was very much a 'nerves' round. Not much action from either fighter. Out of the few punches thrown, Hopkins was more accurate.
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9

Round 2:
Sometime in the first 1:30 (first half) of the round, Taylor hit Hopkins with a shot, caught him off balance, and sent the Vegas crowd into a frenzy. The crowd really didn't seem to watch the action very closely, just what they could tell. But we have the advantage of having a better view i guess.
At around :32, Holding by Taylor while Hopkins delivered a few rights to the body and head, scoring. Slight bit of trading punches at :10 to end the round.

Stats: Hopkins Landed 7, Threw 32
Taylor Landed 15, Threw 72
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9 (not enough by Taylor to give him the round, harder more effective punching by Hopkins)

Round 3:
In the 1st half, not much. Some good, few jabs by Taylor. (Crowd freaks again)
2nd half: A few counter shots by Hopkins.
Taylor was easily more aggresive in this round.
Hopkins 9 Taylor 10 (Taylor working a bit more here)

Round 4:
At 2:02, Taylor gets Hopkins with good shots on the ropes. A few more jabs by Taylor.
2nd half: More good jabs and a few 'spoty' shots by Taylor to score points.
(You can see Lou DiBella on the right screaming his ass off at Hopkins, it was a big thrill for him in the stands

)

Stats: Hopkins Landed 5, Threw 31
Taylor Landed 12, Threw 88
Hopkins 9 Taylor 10

Round 5:
Very uneventful 1st minute
At about 1:58, Nady calls time to look at Taylor's cut.
Very quickly looked at (cause it wasn't much).
About 10-15 after times back in, Taylor attacks Hopkins with a right which catches Hops off guard.
2nd half: 2 good rights by Hopkins, Taylor clinches. (Hopkins gets ****y here) Left hook by Hopkins.
At about :30, Taylor with a small jab is countered with a good right from Hopkins.
At :07, Taylor misses with many shots as Hopkins taunts with some small trading to end the round.

interesting stat: 7 punches by Hopkins, All Power shots
(in corner, trainer tell Taylor he's letting Hopkins set the pace)
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9 (Again Hops with more connects and more ring controlling)

Round 6:
Right by Taylor, a few more 'spoty' shots by Taylor to put in work. More jabs.
Good punching by Taylor in 1st half
2nd half: Holding by Taylor
Couple bodyshots by Taylor
Good round for Taylor

Stats: Hopkins Landed 4, Threw 17 24%
Taylor Landed 17, Threw 45 38%
Hopkins 9 Taylor 10
(After the round, there was mindless, pointless comments by a completely biased Lederman after the round. This actually came out of his mouth about Taylor: "He's winning it easy" Really? cause i have it even up to this point 3 rounds to 3.

Round 7:
Even shots in the 1st minute. This is something i want everyone to carefully watch, at around 1:00, when their in the corner, Taylor holds coming in as Hopkins gets in some shots, but then it's Hopkins holding as they come out.
Pretty uneventful in last :45

Stats: Hopkins Landed 35, Threw 127 28%
Taylor Landed 58, Threw 262 22%
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9

Round 8:
Mostly traded punches in 1st minute. (Crowd actually boos)
Bit more trading, Hopkins avoiding shots.
2nd half: (more booing)
At about 1:04 Taylor with a small left hook is countered by a power left from Hopkins as Taylor exposes himself.
Taylor backs off.
Holding back of the head by Hopkins and is warned. (More booing)

Stats: Hopkins Landed 9, Threw 62 15%
Taylor Landed 24, Threw 180 13%
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9 (Hopkins with more connects, builds more confidence this round)

Round 9:
Good shots by Taylor around 2:28
More shots from Taylor
2nd half: good shots inside by Hopkins, Taylor holds
1:00, very uneventful.
Taylor a few small shots.

Stats: Hopkins Landed 51, Threw 185 28%
Taylor Landed 69, Threw 346 20% (here's age and experience right here!)
Hopkins 9 Taylor 10

Round 10:
Even action the 1st minute.
Pretty much even the first half of the round.
2nd half: at :57 AMAZING right from hopkins, stuns Taylor and has him on the ropes. Taylor desperately holds, he doesn't listen to Nady as he calls him off. (Crowd likes Hopkins now)
2 shots behind the head by Hopkins as Taylor turns.
:30 Taylor is tired,
Easy Hopkins round

Stats: Hopkins Landed 15, Threw 43 35%
Taylor Landed 3, Threw 9 16%
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9
(Note: Lederman's card is a joke at this point, pretty disapointed with his judgement here, should be more professional than that.)

Round 11:
(Note: Taylor wasn't even ready at the bell.)
Good overhead right by Hopkins.
Hopkins pushing Taylor back delivers punches. (You'll see at around 2:03, Taylor LAYS on Hopkins as Hops is on the ropes.)
More laying by Taylor in the center of the ring.
2nd half: more Hopkins shots
:30 Hopkins has Taylor reeling on the ropes temporarily.
Another Easy Hopkins round
(Note: I noticed that Taylor really disguised his tiredness well in the 1st half of this round)

Compubox Stats: funny, HBO didn't post stats this round, i wonder why? so i looked them up: Hopkins Landed 17, Threw 40 42%
Taylor Landed 4, Threw 28 14%
Cute HBO, real cute.
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9

Final Round 12:
Uneventful 1st minute.
Good right by Hopkins, Taylor TURNs AROUND.
Hopkins obviously has the better of him at this point.
A hard four shots or so around 1:00 Hurts Taylor.
A final Easy Hopkins round.

Didn't see any stats for this one on TV either..
Compubox Stats: Hopkins Landed 12, Threw 45 27%
Taylor Landed 5, Threw 37 14%
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9

Notes from fight:
Biased Lederman made all the blind fight fans think Taylor was winning big.
Hopkins took a few warnings for low blows, etc.

Final decision:
Hopkins- 8 rounds Taylor- 4 rounds (all 10/9 rounds)

Hopkins 116
Taylor 112

and i'm spent.. please make decent responses as i did this as fairly as i saw it.

Everybody has different views, and i think Hopkins won as well.

**kallsop** · 08-11-2005, 09:49 PM

Wow, you must have a lot of time on your hands

For better or worse, Las Vegas judging has the reputation for favoring the more aggressive fighter. Taylor won because he was busier and moving forwards in the early rounds. Punchstats pretty much confirm the final judges decision.

It isn't any more complicated than that.

I'm looking forward to the rematch. Hopkins will need to put in more effort in the early rounds, when Taylor is most dangerous, but will that make Hopkins fade later in the fight? He already tried the strategy of conserving and hoping to KO Taylor. Didn't work first time, won't work second time.

Tactically, I like Taylor in the second fight. It's to his advantage if Hopkins come out at a faster pace. Hopkins best strategy is to make the fight dirty with headbutts and low blows and punching behind the head. Taylor didn't know how to handle that. I bet Hopkins is thinking the same thing. If I were training Taylor, I would improve his conditioning and have him sparring with some street fighters. This could be an easy fight for Taylor.

**Mikeystlasvegas22** · 08-11-2005, 09:54 PM

U KNOW MY Take on this Hopkins is going to knock out taylor in the second fight then, we will see roy jones winning the tarver fight.... then we will see the THE FIGHT NO.2 HOPKINS VS JONES

**DiegoFuego** · 08-11-2005, 11:06 PM

Originally posted by restless_438

I had some time on my hands and i wanted to really focus on this fight, watching it for about the 3rd time so i took many notes and here's what i came up with. If you really disagree with something, watch the fight close as i did, i have many times noted as well for your convenience. Print it out and watch if need be

Hopkins vs. Taylor 1

Round 1:
This was very much a 'nerves' round. Not much action from either fighter. Out of the few punches thrown, Hopkins was more accurate.
Hopkins 10 Taylor 9

and this is where I stopped reading your post

**Manny_P** · 08-11-2005, 11:12 PM

nyahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. It's been a month meng! Let it go and stop crying. I stopped readin ta moment I saw you scored round 1 to Hop. LOL!

**Manny_P** · 08-11-2005, 11:13 PM

Originally posted by DiegoFuego

and this is where I stopped reading your post

nyahahahahaha. you beat me to it.

**Super_Lightweight** · 08-11-2005, 11:18 PM

hmm

I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. You scored this as big a win for Hopkins as the one Jones got over Hopkins in 1993. That is just plain inexcusable. I hate using that "n" word, but you know what I wanna say. Manny P, help me out here.

Hopkins v. Taylor 1: My IN-DEPTH analysis (take note)