Photos from Hopkins open Workout

[oldgringo]

The ****ing "H" button isn't working on this computer im using dammit...

[kallsop]

Those Jedi mind tricks didn't do anything in the first fight to intimidate Taylor, and they sure as heck won't do a darn thing in the second fight with Taylor coming in as the Champion.

I'm looking forward to this one. If Hopkins come out fast and knows he has to KO Taylor to win, this could be a really terrific fight.

[drez24]

Talked too much ****? ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?! Hopkins gave Taylor absolutely no respect before their first fight and all Taylor did was give the old man respect. Then Jermaine walked in to the ring and beat Bernard's ass. What is it with you Hopkins fans? You cry more than anyone I have ever seen!

And I can see from your avatar pic of Hopkins' awkward footing (read: not getting rocked by a punch) that you aren't biased in the least. And a Ricky Hatton pic to boot. Big surprise. If you can not justify a reason to give Taylor the 12th, then you must infer that the fight was fraudulently awarded to Taylor, who was most certainly ROCKED in 10, 11, and 12. I can see you are a Hopkins hater and would love to bet you every last point I have on B-hop (see my thread in fantasy betting, 2nd page I believe). I expect you to man up and take the bet. If you do, good luck to you.

edit:

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Bozo_no_no again.

Great pics.

[Grimgash]

This could be true but I think Hopkins will be much more aggressive this time around and Taylor seems alot ****ier than last time which can lead to his Getting KTFO as we clearly saw Hopkins can hurt him when he gets aggressive.I doubt Taylor can KO Hopkins but he is getting old you never know.

Taylor getting ****y is misleading, the first fight should have been a draw and deep down he knows that. It just looks that way and it has to for the title of the bout to go off. No Respect? If Taylor sits there and says oh he was a great champ it'd be a joke. Taylor is focused and determined and come Dec 3rd Taylor by very clear cut UD or late TKO stoppage.

[oldgringo]

Taylor getting ****y is misleading, the first fight should have been a draw and deep down he knows that. It just looks that way and it has to for the title of the bout to go off. No Respect? If Taylor sits there and says oh he was a great champ it'd be a joke. Taylor is focused and determined and come Dec 3rd Taylor by very clear cut UD or late TKO stoppage.

Theres no evidence for anyone to believe that Taylor has what it takes to knock Hopkins out, so you must just be saying that just to say it.

Taylor didn't land one significant punch in the first fight, and will probably land less than 5 meaningful punches in this one. Couple that with the fact that Hop takes a punch with the best of them and you have no reason to believe that there will be a Taylor KO/TKO of Hopkins. Anything can happen, but its not very realistic.

If Hopkins makes a rough brawl out of it early, Taylor will probably land a few more good shots on Hop, but he will also be catering to an area that Hopkins is extremely familiar and comfortable with. He certainly doesn't want to go there.

The only way I can see Hopkins losing (their first fight being evidence) is if he doesn't press early on. The way he fights will determine the winner of the fight (and I know its really not THAT simple, but it will decide much of how the fight will play out).

[DiegoFuego]

Hopkins is a dead man

[Truth]

hopkins looks old..he loses again possibly by knockout

He is old, but that not going to matter.

[Truth]

Hopkins rules........

He does, but I am sure most here will say HE NEVER FAUGHT NOBODY!!!LOL!!!

[scap]

Theres no evidence for anyone to believe that Taylor has what it takes to knock Hopkins out, so you must just be saying that just to say it.

Taylor didn't land one significant punch in the first fight, and will probably land less than 5 meaningful punches in this one. Couple that with the fact that Hop takes a punch with the best of them and you have no reason to believe that there will be a Taylor KO/TKO of Hopkins. Anything can happen, but its not very realistic.

If Hopkins makes a rough brawl out of it early, Taylor will probably land a few more good shots on Hop, but he will also be catering to an area that Hopkins is extremely familiar and comfortable with. He certainly doesn't want to go there.

The only way I can see Hopkins losing (their first fight being evidence) is if he doesn't press early on. The way he fights will determine the winner of the fight (and I know its really not THAT simple, but it will decide much of how the fight will play out).

I agree with a lot of this post...

But...


Where I tend to disagree with is when you talk about how comfortable Hopkins would be with brawling.

At one time Nard was as good as thee was at "junkyard doggin" it but he has not been that type of fighter in a long long time.

The last time I remember Hopkins be a rough and tough mix it up type of fighter was against Keith Holmes...

He doesnt mix it up anymore because I believe he knows his body and in order for him to fight at an elite level he has to make sure that gas tank is always full.

I think he should have been able to stop Taylor in rounds 10 thru 12...why couldnt he? Even though he was coming on the aging Hopkins did not have a full gas tank...why not...he didnt even start fighting for 6 rounds?

If he starts fast he will 1) leave himself open as you say, but 2) and most imporatantly he will have a lot less for Taylor down the stretch, and if Nard struggles AT ALL down the stretch it will not look good in the judges eyes.

In my mind Nard inst comfortable or familiar with brawling any more...if he was we would have seen it by now...the old man knows his body.

[Bozo_no no]

The big question is surrounding Hopkin's age.

Does he have enough in the tank to engage and make it a roungh fight?

At almost 41, I don't think he has it in him to do any better than he did the 1st time around (which I thought he won by a round).

If Taylor shows more (reserved) confidence and throws more punches, he may make it very difficult for Bernard.

At the same time, the one element that's always made Bernard better is that burning desire he has when he feels everyone is out to get him. With his titles gone, and everyone talking about how old he is, he seems very fired up to prove a lot of people wrong again.

It seems at 40, his time is over. But I wouldn't count the old man out.