The Jermain Taylor - Bernard Hopkins rematch was billed as "No Respect,"  but we saw the total opposite as these fighters showed too much respect for each other. Tonight's fight reflected the first in many ways; with both men standing in front of each other waiting for the other to make the first move. Nearly ever round was close enough that all either fighter had to do was have a strong flurry in the final 30 seconds to take the round. In short, this fight was boring and it reminded me just how boring their first fight was.

 

       Yes I enjoy a tactical fight but I can only enjoy that for so long until it simply becomes two men staring at each other. As in their first fight, Jermain Taylor claimed the early rounds, while the story with Hopkins was the same, too little to late. Punches were landed but they were few and far between.

 

       Hopkins landed the best punches of the night in the 12th round and looked to have Taylor stunned. HBO's Larry Merchant summed it up best in the ninth round when he said, "Every punch landed is like gold in this fight." In the end, all three judges scored it the same, 115-113 for undisputed champion Jermain Taylor who improves his record to 25-0 (17 KO's) while Bernard Hopkins falls to 46-3-1 (32 KO's).

      122 pound WBC champion Oscar Larios put his title on the line against IBF champion Israel Vazquez. It was the third meeting between the two, with the series tied at 1-1. Vazquez wasted no time in this fight, sending Larios to the canvas in the first round. Larios beat the count but only lasted until the third round when a nasty cut over his left eye opened forced the ringside doctor to advice referee Tony Weeks to call a halt to the match. Israel Vazquez now adds the WBC title to his collection and improves his record to 39-3 (29 KO's) while Oscar Larios drops to 56-4-1 (36 KO's).

       The night got started with former welterweight champion Ike Quartey against Carlos Bojorquez. Quartey wasted no time getting his piston like jab started, controlling the bout. Bojorquez was game in the early rounds but was simply out classed by Quartey as the fight went on.  Bojorquez took shot after shot without going down, he showed he was tough, but he took unnecessary punishment. Referee Joe Cortez saw enough at the 2:12 mark of the tenth round and stopped the fight. With the win Ike Quartey now stands at 37-2-1 (31 KO's) while Carlos Bojorquez drops to 25-8-6 (21 KO's).
 

12-03-05