The Bernard Hopkins Jermain Taylor fight was built up as a must see fight based on age against youth. The younger, hungrier Taylor against the experienced Hopkins who had potential big paydays ahead of him against light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver or in a possible rematch against Roy Jones Jr. As the fight got under way it was typical Hopkins, who sat back waiting for his opponent to make a mistake so he could take advantage of the opening in front of him. However, while Hopkins waited for his opening, Taylor took full advantage of the laid back Hopkins by coming forward and being the aggressor, thus, winning the early rounds of the fight.  

As the middle rounds approached, Hopkins still seemed to be in no hurry to get his offensive out put going. As Hopkins laid back all Taylor had to do was come forward now and then and throw punches to take the rounds never seriously putting himself in harm’s way of Hopkins’ right hand. Just as in the early rounds, Taylor appeared to be the better man in the middle rounds. But, just when you thought Hopkins was content on giving all the rounds away to Taylor, he starts to open up. Too bad for Hopkins and everyone watching the fight that he waited until the tenth round to finally get things going. As the championship rounds got started, so did the champion, landing his right hand and managing to shake up Taylor a few times; but it simply wasn't enough to take over on the scorecards.  

As the bell rang to end the 12th and final round it seemed clear that after ten years the middleweight division would crown a new world champion. But you can never forget this is boxing and thing's don't always seem to go as you think they should. Bernard Hopkins has been the middleweight champion for over ten years, he was trying to make the 21st defense of his title, which means in most cases the opponent has to dominate the rounds to know for sure he has won them. After what seemed to be a while the scorecards were finally read as 116-112 Hopkins and 115-113 twice for Taylor. It won't be written as a huge upset in the history books, it will simply be written that Jermain Taylor was the better man on July 15 2005. With the victory Jermain Taylor becomes the undisputed middleweight champion of the world and improves his record to 24-0 (17 KO's) while Bernard Hopkins falls to 46-3-1 (32 KO's).