Professional boxing staged it’s finest play, a story smack with drama, bitter antagonists and smoldering overtones when undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins tackled the future in Jermain Taylor last Saturday. At the end of 12 rounds, Taylor was announced the winner, lighting up a bonfire of dispute. Two of three judges favored the Arkansas fighter and one leaned toward Hopkins. Almost every single boxing journalist tabbed Hopkins the true victor.
Now comes the big question: Is Hopkins still the best fighter Pound for Pound?
Hopkins picked up steam during the last half of the 12 rounds with utter disdain for Taylor’s ability and boxing skills, even shimmying his shoulders at one point with his adversary within striking distance.
“I know I should have got a unanimous decision,” Hopkins said immediately after the fight. “It’s who hits the most and who hurts the other guy.”
Taylor attacked immediately, and though few of his punches hit the mark, they sounded good smacking off Hopkins’s shoulders and gloves. It was a fight that seemed to be scored by two judges on sound rather than sight.
Taylor’s strategy, however, paid off. “He’s a smart fighter,” Taylor said during the post fight press conference. “I learned a lot.”
What Taylor learned is it pays to be aggressive and throw punches, even if they don’t land clean. It looks good and sounds good. It was the first time in 12 years any fighter could claim superiority over Hopkins the Executioner.
Pound for Pound list: 1. Bernard Hopkins (46-3-1, 32 KOs) remains on top simply because too many felt he beat the talented Jermain Taylor. The defensive moves and strategies employed by the Philly fighter were pretty amazing. Often he had Taylor mesmerized. Take nothing away from Taylor, he’ll be around for a long time. 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (34-0, 23 KOs) may be a hair’s width away from claiming the top spot. If he actually does fight Winky Wright and put up a good effort he might just leap frog Bernard to the top spot. Size doesn’t seem to matter for Mayweather. 3. Winky Wright (49-3, 25 KOs) jumped up my list several notches with his truly dominating performance over Felix Trinidad in a middleweight fight. He’s big enough to challenge Hopkins. A possible fight with Mayweather doesn’t do much for him, but it will earn him a big pay day. 4. Marco Antonio Barrera (60-4, 42 KOs) surprised me how easily he beat Mzonke Fana for the WBC junior lightweight title. Lots of people figured he would blow out the South African fighter but they didn’t know how tough he was against Filipino slugger Randy Suico. Barrera also handled the great Erik Morales two out of three times. He’s truly a master. 5. Diego Corrales (40-2, 33 KOs) is set to rematch with Jose Luis Castillo in October. Their thrilling fight last May is considered one of the greatest in boxing history. The fighter known as Chico never has a boring fight and is considered one of the great warriors in the sport. Now he’s added boxing technique. He’s tough to beat physically and mentally. 6. Erik Morales (48-2, 34 KOs) does not avoid challenges. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Morales fight Corrales, that’s how macho the Tijuana fighter carries himself. He’d probably fight Floyd Mayweather too if his promoter would allow him. 7. Manny Pacquiao (39-3-2, 31 KOs) lost his last fight to Morales but he was still standing when the final bell rang. This is a guy who began as a flyweight folks. That’s 112 pounds and now he’s fighting five weight divisions higher. Sure he was beaten convincingly by Morales, but like his Mexican rival, he’ll take on anyone. 8. Jermain Taylor (24-0, 17 KOs) cracks my list simply because he’s very, very good. Though I felt he lost the fight with Hopkins, he showed tremendous will and tenacity against the master. Taylor may one day dominate the top position. Reminds me of a young Mike McCallum. 9. Antonio Tarver (23-3, 18 KOs) got his revenge against Glen Johnson with an effective performance. The Floridian can crack and he can box. He’s trouble for anyone when he comes with the right game plan. 10. James Toney (68-4-2, 43 KOs) was found with steroids in his system, yes I know. But that was skill that beat John Ruiz, not steroids. No amount of chemicals can make you do what he did to Ruiz. Let me put it this way, if Ruiz were given carte blanche to take steroids and fight Toney again, he’d lose even worse.
Notes from last week I sat ringside for Kassim Ouma’s defense of his IBF junior middleweight title against Russia’s Roman Karmazin. From the onset Ouma looked pretty slow and listless. Karmazin, on the other hand, looked strong and focused. Ouma fired few punches.
There were rumors that Ouma had been sick leading up to the fight held at the Orleans Arena. He gave a sick performance. One Las Vegas source said he saw Ouma throwing up into the pail every round during sparring. Too bad. Hopefully he’ll get a rematch with Karmazin, who presents a formidable force with his ability to pierce Ouma’s defense repeatedly. Healthy or sick, Ouma will have his hands full if they do meet again.
Fernando Montiel looked puzzled a bit with his Nicaraguan opponent Evert Briceno. He tried every trick in the book to stop Briceno but the Nicaraguan was strong and determined to the very end. The crowd booed the decision for Montiel. It’s rare that Montiel has a hard fight.
Vernon Forrest looked a little rusty, but the speed and combinations were there. You should have seen him later that night dancing like he just don’t care. The big question is which weight division will he go? Vicente Escobedo scorched Santa Ana’s Edgar Vargas in a battle of OC that took place in Las Vegas. Escobedo now makes Newport Beach his home and saw some openings and blasted his way through. “He was quick” Escobedo said of Vargas.
Abner Mares looked pretty good. Up to now, defense or the lack of it, has been his weakness as he constantly got tagged by guys he should not get tagged by. With Floyd Mayweather Sr. in his corner that changed dramatically. Defense is a number one priority with Mayweather, who has Mares looking sharp as a number two pencil.
“I’m not a part-time, full-time or sometime great trainer, I’m the all-time greatest trainer in the world,” said Mayweather.
Southern Cal Local fights Coachella’s Timothy Bradley (6-0) brings his show to Los Angeles on Thursday when he faces Brazil’s Marcos Andre Rocha Costa (1-1) in a junior welterweight main event. The fight card is promoted by Thompson Promotions and will be held at the prestigious and historic Los Angeles Athletic Club. The doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets call (213) 630-5255. Bradley looks like the real thing. He’d probably be even better as a lightweight, but he feels comfortable at 140.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the L.A. Athletic Club is located at 431 W. 7th Street. For tickets and information call (213) 630-5255.
A few miles west in Hollywood, and also on Thursday, California heavyweight title-holder Damian Wills (15-0-1, 13 KOs) meets Wesley Martin (16-49-8) in the main event at the Henry Fonda Theater presented by P4P Promotions. The doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets and information call (323) 525-0120. The Henry Fonda theater is located at 6126 Hollywood Blvd.
Northern California fights Sam Soliman (30-7) meets Fernando Zuniga (23-7) in a middleweight elimination bout at the Palace Indian Gaming Center in Lemoore, California on Thursday. Forget about the seven losses in his career, most came years ago and against top flight competition. The Aussie middleweight was in attendance at the Hopkins-Taylor match last Saturday and was excited to witness the event. “Boxing is in my blood,” said Soliman, who has scored three successive knockouts. “I’ve been boxing since I was 12.”
Jessica Rakoczy will also be on that fight card facing veteran Jane Couch.
For tickets and information call (866) 472-5223.
In San Jose, on Thursday, Fernando Beltran faces (25-1-1, 17 KOs) faces Felix Flores (20-4, 14 KOs) in a bantamweight main event held at the HP Pavilion. Aside from the fight card, East L.A.’s Sergio Mora will be a special guest. Mora was the champion of NBC’s the Contender and will be fighting soon in September. For tickets or information call (408) 998-TIXS.
Friday, in Las Vegas, Luis Arceo (19-1-2) meets Shamir Reyes (17-3-2) in a lightweight bout held at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino. For tickets and information contact Guilty Promotions at (631) 258-9905.
In Santa Ynez, at the Chumash Casino Resort, Ahmed Kaddour (18-2) faces skillful Maxell Taylor (12-1) in a junior middleweight contest. It’s Kaddour’s first fight since the NBC Contender series. For tickets or information call (800) 585-3737.
Chi Town In Chicago, Illinois, Hitz Boxing presents John Duddy (10-0) against Pat Coleman (29-11) at the All State Arena on Friday. For tickets and information call (630) 787-6600.
Fights on television Thursday, Fox Sports Net, 8 p.m., Sam Soliman (30-7) vs. Fernando Zuniga (23-7). Fri. ESPN2, 6 p.m., Art Simonyan (14-1-1) vs. Agapito Sanchez (34-11-3). Fri. Telefutura, 9 p.m., Edel Ruiz (25-13-4) vs. Ricardo Castillo (24-1). Fri, Showtime, 11 p.m., Ahmed Kaddour (18-2) vs. Maxell Taylor (12-1). Fri. Telemundo, 11:30 p.m., Cecilio Santos (17-4-2) vs. Gerson Guerrero (29-6). Tues. ESPN2, 5 p.m., Ivan Hernandez (21-1-1) vs. Miguel Delgado (20-3).
