By Frank Lotierzo
Since Jermain Taylor's controversial decision over Bernard Hopkins to capture the undisputed middleweight title a little more than two weeks ago, speculation over the decision and who really won the fight has exploded. Talk of a rematch has been followed by Hopkins appealing the decision and losing the appeal. Since the appeal, a rematch has been set for December 3rd of this year.
Hopkins-Taylor I went the exact way the boxing establishment needed it to, with the help of veteran judge Duane Ford. Forget the bogus poll on television the other night that showed 41.1% who voted thought Taylor won and 34.2% saw Hopkins as the winner. Interesting, I can't say I checked every poll that was published on the fight. However, everyone I saw favored and saw Hopkins as the winner. Not a majority of them, everyone one of them. How many do you know who had Taylor winning.
It wasn't the worst decision I've ever witnessed, but the wrong fighter had his hand raised. Hopkins just didn't distance himself enough to keep the Duane Ford faction from costing him his 21st title defense. If Ford's inept scoring of the 12th round was anymore transparent, Duane would be holding a press conference saying he doesn't know what he's watching or he's the only other thing that could lead him to see Taylor winning the 12th round. Should I say maybe he just knows what some think suits boxing best. Ford scoring round 12 for Taylor is every bit as blatantly as incompetent as Eugenia Williams scoring round five for Evander Holyfield in the first fight Holyfield-Lewis title bout. Maybe like Eugenia, Duane couldn't see the ring during the swing round of the fight.
Since around or about mid-2000, some boxing writers have bent over backwards to kiss Lou DiBella's rear end, as if he were some knight in shinning armor among boxings power brokers. I really think they thought a friendship with him would help their career. They have bought his line as I'm the only good guy in this rotten business hook, line and sinker. One writer even wrote a few months back a column imploring DiBella not to abandon boxing because it needs someone with his integrity to help clean it up. DiBella must've got a good laugh from that. As stated before, DiBella deserves credit for getting Hopkins in Don King's middleweight tournament, but lately he's greater copy more than anything else. And no doubt that Hopkins despite getting jobbed out of his title probably isn't the emotional wreck that DiBella appears to be outwardly.
Recently Lou DiBella was asked what he'd thought of anyone who thought Hopkins beat Taylor and really won the fight. Mr Eloquence was quoted as saying on a recent conference call, "I'd say he's a F**king idiot." I'm sure glad I don't have to say Lou DiBella is a "F**king Idiot," his own words and actions state it. Going by his appearance and projection before the Hopkins-Taylor decision was announced, that's exactly what he looked like. Mr. Boxing Genius himself looked everything but like a man who was about to be awarded the biggest and most important win he'll ever attain as long as he's in boxing.
DiBella is running around like he bitch slapped Hopkins when in reality, it's not quite like that. Regarding the defamation suit, only one of the four counts was proven in court against Hopkins. That's like Ron Goldman's father and Nicole Simpson Brown's family claiming OJ was Charged with double murder and found guilty in court. But what he was really found guilty of is letting the Akita (Kato) out with no leash. What he doesn't talk about are the counts that weren't proven against Hopkins.
Taken From Totalaction November 21, 2002. OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM BERNARD HOPKINS
"I am pleased that the jury found in my favor on Mr. DiBella's contract claim. The jury's verdict shows that Mr. DiBella was fairly compensated for any benefits provided to me. Mr. DiBella accused me of dumping him as an advisor without fairly paying him for his assistance with the Middleweight Championship Tournament. The jury's decision shows that was not true. I am also happy the jury found I did not libel Mr. DiBella in three of the four claims he made. I will vigorously pursue an appeal on the remaining count." (Hopkins Recently Lost The Appeal On That Count and Is To Pay DiBella $610,000)
Regarding the fight, forget the decision or how the fight was scored for a moment. When the fight concluded after 12-rounds of fighting, not just the last two or three rounds when Hopkins held the upper hand, which fighter made the better case for himself as the best middleweight in professional boxing, Hopkins or Taylor? There is only one answer to that question and I don't need to inform anyone as to what fighter it applies to, (DiBella also knows the answer). Who would you rather have representing you against an unknown middleweight if your life depended on the outcome, Hopkins or Taylor? I know which line I'd be in, that long one starting with Hopkins.
I repeated many times in the weeks leading up to the fight, the last thing the boxing establishment/HBO wanted was Hopkins beating Taylor. For anyone who thinks I called it, I overlooked one thing. I left out one very important and obvious scenario. The only worse scenario than Taylor winning a disputed decision the first time over Hopkins is Taylor getting beat convincingly in the rematch by him.
Prior to the fight I said Lou DiBella isn't a guy who is close to an insightful boxing observer, especially to the degree he thinks he is. At least compared to others regarding what's happening in the ring. However, he knows enough to realize that Hopkins had Taylor holding on for his life a few times down the stretch of the fight. That's too close for him to rush into a rematch if he can stall it if at all possible.
Well he couldn't stall it because Hopkins out thought him again and made sure when he held the power driving the first fight to become a reality, he took care of himself for a second fight if he needed it. And his suspicions paid off. Now by beating Taylor this time, if he does, he'll come out better than had he got the decision in the first fight.
