Saturday, July 17^th, HBO Pay Per View boxing telecasted Golden Boy Promotion’s genius match up between Bernard “the Executioner” Hopkins vs. Jermain ‘Bad Intentions’ Taylor for the undisputed Middleweight Championship of the World.  This fight has so many dimensions that make it intriguing.  If the cliché has not been used enough as it is, this fight is a classic match up between the young contender against the aging veteran.  And if Hopkins’ seemingly timeless physical youth is not enough proof, Taylor’s amateur background coupled with his speed and strength certainly cements the question in everyone’s mind. 

The question is obvious, who will be able to impose their gifts upon the other?  Hopkins has made a name for himself with 20 successful defences.  His savvy and ring smarts have made him a millionaire.  His brash talk and unwillingness to submit to the conceptual norms of boxing have made him an attraction.  The question that is on the minds of all spectators, almost as much as who wins this fight, is will this be the night that Hopkins turns old over night? 

Hopkins is a hair from turning 41, an age that is almost unheard of in a sport where a loss takes on the literal meaning of beaten.  Most fighters are considering retirement before they reach 35 years of age.  Will this be Hopkins’ night to turn old, or his chance to turn his 21st challenger into a loser? 

Taylor has everything that promoters and matchmakers look for.  He is young, good looking, charismatic, and full of physical talent.  He has an extensive amateur background that resulted in a Bronze Medal in the Olympics.  Tales of his trainer tying a hand wrap around his right arm and neck to keep him from throwing the right hand lest he choke himself are sure to be indicators of the advantage his jab will play.  Taylor carries speed and strength over Hopkins into this weekend’s fight.   

In a much anticipated bout, both fighters entered the ring focused and serious.  Taylor was the aggressor from the opening bell.  Hopkins was able to do what he is best at, move backwards, attempting to counter Taylor’s shots.  As expected, Taylor’s jab pushed the veteran back throughout the fight. In the first round, Taylor set the pace, peppering Hopkins with a jab, right hand cross combination.  Hopkins has always been a slow starter, but it played a role in his momentum in the fight.  The first round saw Taylor get off the better, more effective punches.  Hopkins only threw 12 punches in the round.   

In the second, Taylor would send Hopkins sprawling backward with his right hand.  And it would dominate most of the early rounds. Hopkins became more aggressive in the second, yet Taylor’s strength and speed was evident.  Taylor’s physical presence in the ring played a big factor.  It was good to see Hopkins against a true middleweight with talent, as opposed to the overweight welterweights he beat in De La Hoya and Trinidad. 

As the fight went on, Hopkins would begin to land more counterpunches.  Taylor would begin to tire by the 10^th round, and it weakened his effectiveness in rounds 10-12.   Hopkins would attempt to steal the fight in the latter rounds, but his ineffectiveness and inability to deal with Taylor’s strength and speed in rounds 1-8 would be the champion’s downfall.   

In the 5^th round, Taylor was cut on the top of the head from an accidental head butt.  Hopkins was able to land power shots in this round, but his poor punching power was not enough to discourage the hungry Taylor.  Hopkins was content to sit and wait for Taylor through most of the early and middle rounds.  Taylor was more productive in the ring, and although CompuBox numbers would reveal that Hopkins was the more accurate puncher, Taylor’s punching power and speed won him this fight.  Hopkins’ lack of punching power really played a factor in this fight.   Taylor’s fatigue in the latter rounds made this fight more competitive than it would have had he been better prepared.   Roy Jones made the comment in the fight that Hopkins’ plan was to lay back and attempt to tire the younger fighter, setting him up for a knockout.  While this sounded very good, and Taylor did in fact tire in the later rounds, Hopkins was still unable to close the deal.  Instead of dragging Taylor into deep water, Hopkins drowned his own chances of taking a decision due inactivity and ineffectiveness.  To the dismay of many, including myself, it was a split decision with scores of 116-112 (Hopkins) Jerry Roth, 115-113 Taylor (Dwayne Ford), and 115-113 Taylor (Paul Smith). 

Overall, this was Hopkins’ second time to face a legitimate Middleweight with talent.  His first came against Roy Jones Jr., a fight in which the Executioner was clearly dominated.  Against Taylor, Hopkins was unable to have an impressive showing.  Although he is still a young 40, he did not have the power and speed needed to offset Taylor’s game.  Even in the 10^th, when Hopkins would land a counter right, the best punch landed all night by either fighter, it was not enough to even hurt a tired Taylor.