Taylor vs. Hopkins
- Thread starter MISTADON
- Start date
I guess I'm the one who always begs to differ... I thought Taylor clearly won a close decision. For the entire first half of the fight Taylor beat Hopkins to the punch as Hopkins seemed to be content with waiting for oppurtunities to catch Taylor slipping, which never materialized until the late rounds. Taylor won my respect because he stuck to the game plan the entire fight, and was not rattled by Hopkins tactics as other fighters have in the past. He even overcame adversity when he was hurt and hung on. He never let Hopkins bully him. He returned blow for blow during the clinches and gained alot of respect from Hopkins as well.
Hopkins clearly threw caution to wind in the latter rounds knowing that his belts were clearly about to change hands if he didn't pull off the miraculous which he almost did. There is no injustice in this decision. I was definitley shocked at the outcome because I've seen the okey doke pulled so many times, and because it was such a close fight, I thought the edge would go to Hopkins based on his experience and tenure as the champion, but justice prevailed as the right man won the fight. I actually thought it was a unanimous decision.
Hopkins may have outpunched Taylor, but most of those punches came in the later rounds as he tried to rally back into the fight and catch Taylor resting (as he did), but we all know you should not be allowed to win fights on late rallies as so many have done in the past ( and those fighters should be ashamed to get those decisions). When Hopkins looks back at this fight, he's gonna see alot of standing around waiting to counterpunch, and alot of caution instead of striking a more athletic, but less experienced fighter. Simply put, he waited too long to get going, and Taylor took advantage of this. I'll go more in to detail when someone opposes my views, but until then kill the noise because the right man won, and I'm still a Hopkins fan and can't wait for the rematch. He took Hopkins best shots and only when he ran out of steam did he get in trouble, so hats off to the new champion.
Hopkins clearly threw caution to wind in the latter rounds knowing that his belts were clearly about to change hands if he didn't pull off the miraculous which he almost did. There is no injustice in this decision. I was definitley shocked at the outcome because I've seen the okey doke pulled so many times, and because it was such a close fight, I thought the edge would go to Hopkins based on his experience and tenure as the champion, but justice prevailed as the right man won the fight. I actually thought it was a unanimous decision.
Hopkins may have outpunched Taylor, but most of those punches came in the later rounds as he tried to rally back into the fight and catch Taylor resting (as he did), but we all know you should not be allowed to win fights on late rallies as so many have done in the past ( and those fighters should be ashamed to get those decisions). When Hopkins looks back at this fight, he's gonna see alot of standing around waiting to counterpunch, and alot of caution instead of striking a more athletic, but less experienced fighter. Simply put, he waited too long to get going, and Taylor took advantage of this. I'll go more in to detail when someone opposes my views, but until then kill the noise because the right man won, and I'm still a Hopkins fan and can't wait for the rematch. He took Hopkins best shots and only when he ran out of steam did he get in trouble, so hats off to the new champion.
I know what you are saying, but don't let it take away from what Hopkins has done to the sport. He is still one of the best middle weights in the history of boxing.
I'm not a major fan of either fighter (Im actually an Echols fan), so my opinion is not at all biased, but Hopkins did win the fight.
To sum it up, Im glad it was Taylor who finally got the win over Hopkins (could have been worse, someone like Eastman). The rematch should be a good one.
I'm not a major fan of either fighter (Im actually an Echols fan), so my opinion is not at all biased, but Hopkins did win the fight.
To sum it up, Im glad it was Taylor who finally got the win over Hopkins (could have been worse, someone like Eastman). The rematch should be a good one.
hopkins did not win that fight... you cant do nuthing for the 1st 8 rounds then finally turn it on and win a fight.... i believe taylor made some mistakes and he still did good. he was able to adjust from fighting his usual style and score points and play the chess match with hopkins... taylor got tired towards the end and took some shots but showed he got a good chin ... taylor clearly won the fight , should have been a UD instead of a split ...
^^^ MOST PEOPLE HAD THE FIGHT EVEN FOR THE FIRST 8 ROUNDS, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID WE ALL KNOW WHO DOMINATED THE LAST 4 ROUNDS, IF HOPKINS JUST WON 2 OF THE FIRST 8 ROUNDS IT WOULD BE A DRAW AND HE DEFINITY WON THE 3RD ROUND AND I THINK 1 OTHER ROUND,
IF TAYLOR WON WHY WAS HE CALLING FOR A REMATCH SO QUICK, THATS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE SAID WHEN HE WAS INTERVIEWED RIGHT AFTER THE FIGHT,
TO SUM IT UP TAYLOR WAS NOT IMPRESSIVE, HE DID NOT REALLY CONNECT WITH ANYTHING LIKE HOPKINS DID TO HIM, MOST OF THE PUNCHES HE LANDED WERE WILD PUNCHES THAT GRAZED HOPKINS, JUST LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN POWER PUNCHES THAT TELLS THE WHOLE STORY, HOPKINS WAS ROBBED PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
IF TAYLOR WON WHY WAS HE CALLING FOR A REMATCH SO QUICK, THATS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE SAID WHEN HE WAS INTERVIEWED RIGHT AFTER THE FIGHT,
TO SUM IT UP TAYLOR WAS NOT IMPRESSIVE, HE DID NOT REALLY CONNECT WITH ANYTHING LIKE HOPKINS DID TO HIM, MOST OF THE PUNCHES HE LANDED WERE WILD PUNCHES THAT GRAZED HOPKINS, JUST LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN POWER PUNCHES THAT TELLS THE WHOLE STORY, HOPKINS WAS ROBBED PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
Yall obviously are reading between the lines too closely. Taylor called for a rematch because it was in his contract and he knew if he didn't call for it it was going to happen anyway... He knew he won the fight, but he also knew it should have been won more convincingly or peolple would be crying. I don't know what fight yall was watchin to call it even for 8 rounds... Yall were obviously pulling for Hopkins if you thought him standin around doing nothing merits him a draw for 8 rounds... I'll give him the last 4 rounds easy because he brought the pain and earned them, and I'll also give 8 (or at the least 7) rounds to Taylor because he outworked the slow starting Hopkins.
I know yall want Hopkins to still be champ and he'll get his shot in the rematch, but to call the fight any other way than for Taylor is ludicrous. I thought yall was real to life boxing fans, but I guess yall just as biased as any other whiner pullin for his fighter when he can't accept his loss.
I know yall want Hopkins to still be champ and he'll get his shot in the rematch, but to call the fight any other way than for Taylor is ludicrous. I thought yall was real to life boxing fans, but I guess yall just as biased as any other whiner pullin for his fighter when he can't accept his loss.
I can see how Taylor won on points, put the last few rounds Hopkins was fucking him up. Hopkins never got hurt in the fight, not once. Taylor on the other hand was noticeably shaken in the last couple rounds, his legs appeared wobbly at times.
Hopkins is a better fighter, IMO. Taylor may have won the first 6 rounds on points, but in the end Hopkins was fucking him up.
Hopkins strategy was to wear down the young boxer, which he did. Its just by doing that, he had to sacrifice the early rounds which ultimately cost him the fight.
Hopkins is a better fighter, IMO. Taylor may have won the first 6 rounds on points, but in the end Hopkins was fucking him up.
Hopkins strategy was to wear down the young boxer, which he did. Its just by doing that, he had to sacrifice the early rounds which ultimately cost him the fight.
Hopkins nor Taylor are my fighters at Middleweight. I am for Echols and Calzaghe, so I can't be biased. You have to take the belt, Taylor didn't do that. Close rounds go to the champ, that is how it is..especially when you have 3 Nevada judges at ring side. Hopkins won 3, 5, and 9 and up....at least calling for a draw. I also think Hopkins won another round (I think it was the eigth, I have to watch it again), giving him the nod.
I have seen much worse decisions.
Here's my review....
Hopkins- Taylor
R.1 9- 10
(Feel out round. JT wins on higher activity)
R.2 9- 10
(Close round with JT landing a glancing right hand that had B-Hop off balance.
Everyone “thinks” the punch hurt B-Hop.
B-Hop started taking control in the second half with clean right hands which the HBO crew were not noticing)
R.3 10- 9
(B-Hop starting to counter effectively. Lands clean left hook at 1:44 which the HBO crew ignored. Lampley credits JT with a body shot instead.)
R.4 10- 9
(In this round, the broadcasting crew’s bias towards JT becomes apparent.
B-Hop is landing clean shots but the HBO crew ignores them. Jones contemplates B-Hop on a good left hook. At 2:00 JT jumps on B-Hop and misses 2 punches. Holds and hits B-Hop with a glancing right hand. B-Hop counters with a hard right hand but Lampley ignores it and says JT lands again and B-Hop responds by holding????
At 1:12 Lampley gets excited over a missed JT uppercut, ignores a clean B-Hop left hook. At 1:02 fighters exchange punches, JT lands a weak left hook at the end of a 3 punch combo. B-Hop counters with a hard left hook, HBO’s crew ignores it.
B-Hop lands another clean left hook at :59 and Lampley credits JT for backing up B-Hop???? However Jones gave him credit for the punch. B-Hop lands a hard left hook at :42 and Lampley follows by saying that the round is still on the table????
Jones gives the round to B-Hop….)
R.5 10- 9
(B-Hop clearly takes this round with clean hard right hands. Taylor tries to steal the round with a last minute flurry.)
R.6 9- 10
(B-Hop takes the round off. Taylor puts a couple flurries together and lands a few jabs.
B-Hop lands a couple of hard right hands toward the end of the round. Letterman says Hopkins is only making faces. Has only given B-Hop the 5th round????)
R.7 10- 9
(Slow round with both fighters not doing much. JT lands a few pity pat jabs. B-Hop has landed the harder and cleaner shots. Fisher likes what he sees in his fighter, however JT’s trainer starts to show concern. The broadcasting crew is puzzled by what they are hearing from the corners.)
R.8 9- 10
(Close round where both fighters aren’t doing much. JT’s more active landing light punches through out the round. B-Hop landed 3 hard punches through out the round.
The round could’ve been called even but I gave JT the benefit of the doubt.)
R.9 10- 9
(At 2:43 B-Hop lands a hard right hand but some how Jones is the only one who sees it. Lampley points out a hard body shot by JT in the following exchange.
B-Hop is now backing up JT in the second half of the round, landing hard right hands.
JT’s trainer ADMITS the fight is close. Lampley again is puzzled because some how he sees a different fight than what the corners are seeing. At this point Letterman has JT up 7 rounds to 2????)
R.10 10- 9
(Taylor’s clearly tired now. B-Hop is landing hard punches in the first half of the round but the HBO crew isn’t taking notice. B-Hop hurts JT with hard right hands in the final minute. JT lands a couple of good punches in between. B-Hop lands another hard right hand at the end of the round. Lampley questions whether it’s enough for him to win the round???? JT’s trainer is pleading with JT to win the final two rounds.)
R.11 10- 9
(B-Hop’s giving JT a beating now. Hurts JT again.
Lampley’s looking for anything to contemplate JT.
JT’s trainer tells him that he MUST win the final round. He asks JT to dig down inside to win the final round at all costs. Meanwhile Fisher is very relaxed and so is B-Hop)
R.12 10- 9
(B-Hop is landing frequently with clean right hands. JT countered with two good shots.
Lampley has JT winning the first half of the round. B-Hop hurts JT at 1:00 left in round.
B-Hop outlands JT 12-5 in power shots, yet Lampley implies the round was close.
And as we all know, all judges gave the final round to B-Hop except for Duane Ford.
His card would’ve been a draw had he given the round to B-Hop, making the fight a draw.
Mighty suspicious to me since even Letterman gave the round to B-Hop, after all B-Hop clearly won the round in which he even hurt JT.)
Total-
Hopkins 116- Taylor 112
(There’s just no way I had JT winning the fight. I don’t even think it was close. It was the typical B-Hop fight where he starts off slow but then takes control and ends up wearing his opponent down. The best JT would’ve gotten is a draw, but even then that would require much imagination. Echols gave B-Hop tougher fights than this. And looking at JT’s face it’s clear who won the fight. Even if you some how had JT winning on points, he took a pounding….)
I can't help but wonder how people would've scored this fight if HBO's broadcasting crew hadn't been so biased. I doubt anyone would've even had it for Taylor if it weren't for the crew's bias.
Hopkins- Taylor
R.1 9- 10
(Feel out round. JT wins on higher activity)
R.2 9- 10
(Close round with JT landing a glancing right hand that had B-Hop off balance.
Everyone “thinks” the punch hurt B-Hop.
B-Hop started taking control in the second half with clean right hands which the HBO crew were not noticing)
R.3 10- 9
(B-Hop starting to counter effectively. Lands clean left hook at 1:44 which the HBO crew ignored. Lampley credits JT with a body shot instead.)
R.4 10- 9
(In this round, the broadcasting crew’s bias towards JT becomes apparent.
B-Hop is landing clean shots but the HBO crew ignores them. Jones contemplates B-Hop on a good left hook. At 2:00 JT jumps on B-Hop and misses 2 punches. Holds and hits B-Hop with a glancing right hand. B-Hop counters with a hard right hand but Lampley ignores it and says JT lands again and B-Hop responds by holding????
At 1:12 Lampley gets excited over a missed JT uppercut, ignores a clean B-Hop left hook. At 1:02 fighters exchange punches, JT lands a weak left hook at the end of a 3 punch combo. B-Hop counters with a hard left hook, HBO’s crew ignores it.
B-Hop lands another clean left hook at :59 and Lampley credits JT for backing up B-Hop???? However Jones gave him credit for the punch. B-Hop lands a hard left hook at :42 and Lampley follows by saying that the round is still on the table????
Jones gives the round to B-Hop….)
R.5 10- 9
(B-Hop clearly takes this round with clean hard right hands. Taylor tries to steal the round with a last minute flurry.)
R.6 9- 10
(B-Hop takes the round off. Taylor puts a couple flurries together and lands a few jabs.
B-Hop lands a couple of hard right hands toward the end of the round. Letterman says Hopkins is only making faces. Has only given B-Hop the 5th round????)
R.7 10- 9
(Slow round with both fighters not doing much. JT lands a few pity pat jabs. B-Hop has landed the harder and cleaner shots. Fisher likes what he sees in his fighter, however JT’s trainer starts to show concern. The broadcasting crew is puzzled by what they are hearing from the corners.)
R.8 9- 10
(Close round where both fighters aren’t doing much. JT’s more active landing light punches through out the round. B-Hop landed 3 hard punches through out the round.
The round could’ve been called even but I gave JT the benefit of the doubt.)
R.9 10- 9
(At 2:43 B-Hop lands a hard right hand but some how Jones is the only one who sees it. Lampley points out a hard body shot by JT in the following exchange.
B-Hop is now backing up JT in the second half of the round, landing hard right hands.
JT’s trainer ADMITS the fight is close. Lampley again is puzzled because some how he sees a different fight than what the corners are seeing. At this point Letterman has JT up 7 rounds to 2????)
R.10 10- 9
(Taylor’s clearly tired now. B-Hop is landing hard punches in the first half of the round but the HBO crew isn’t taking notice. B-Hop hurts JT with hard right hands in the final minute. JT lands a couple of good punches in between. B-Hop lands another hard right hand at the end of the round. Lampley questions whether it’s enough for him to win the round???? JT’s trainer is pleading with JT to win the final two rounds.)
R.11 10- 9
(B-Hop’s giving JT a beating now. Hurts JT again.
Lampley’s looking for anything to contemplate JT.
JT’s trainer tells him that he MUST win the final round. He asks JT to dig down inside to win the final round at all costs. Meanwhile Fisher is very relaxed and so is B-Hop)
R.12 10- 9
(B-Hop is landing frequently with clean right hands. JT countered with two good shots.
Lampley has JT winning the first half of the round. B-Hop hurts JT at 1:00 left in round.
B-Hop outlands JT 12-5 in power shots, yet Lampley implies the round was close.
And as we all know, all judges gave the final round to B-Hop except for Duane Ford.
His card would’ve been a draw had he given the round to B-Hop, making the fight a draw.
Mighty suspicious to me since even Letterman gave the round to B-Hop, after all B-Hop clearly won the round in which he even hurt JT.)
Total-
Hopkins 116- Taylor 112
(There’s just no way I had JT winning the fight. I don’t even think it was close. It was the typical B-Hop fight where he starts off slow but then takes control and ends up wearing his opponent down. The best JT would’ve gotten is a draw, but even then that would require much imagination. Echols gave B-Hop tougher fights than this. And looking at JT’s face it’s clear who won the fight. Even if you some how had JT winning on points, he took a pounding….)
I can't help but wonder how people would've scored this fight if HBO's broadcasting crew hadn't been so biased. I doubt anyone would've even had it for Taylor if it weren't for the crew's bias.
Neither Taylor or Hopkins are my favorite middleweights... My favorite middleweights have been retired for years now... I'm a O.G. but I'll always respect Hopkins from where he came from and Taylor for where he's possibly going...
Mig... You like me, you got passion for the sport so I won't be hard on ya for your views. I honestly doubt any one would have had it for Hopkins if wasn't the champion. I call it like I see it. Look at the compubox numbers from 1-8 and the compu box from 9-12. Taylor won the fight hands down. Hopkins has nuthin to be ashamed about losing this fight to a upcoming warrior. He pushed Hopkins to put up more of a fight than I've seen from him in a long time. That alone tells you he found out he was in for a fight.
Of course Taylor is still slightly green, but he still did enough to take the belts. Fuck that give the close rounds to the champ shit... Give it to the guy who earned it for 3 minutes, and in my opinion it was Taylor 1-8 and Hopkins 9-12. Count those ya self to see who won...
Mig... You like me, you got passion for the sport so I won't be hard on ya for your views. I honestly doubt any one would have had it for Hopkins if wasn't the champion. I call it like I see it. Look at the compubox numbers from 1-8 and the compu box from 9-12. Taylor won the fight hands down. Hopkins has nuthin to be ashamed about losing this fight to a upcoming warrior. He pushed Hopkins to put up more of a fight than I've seen from him in a long time. That alone tells you he found out he was in for a fight.
Of course Taylor is still slightly green, but he still did enough to take the belts. Fuck that give the close rounds to the champ shit... Give it to the guy who earned it for 3 minutes, and in my opinion it was Taylor 1-8 and Hopkins 9-12. Count those ya self to see who won...
I hear you but I just didn't see that many close rounds.
JT is a good fighter, and gave B-hop trouble in the early rounds but Hopkins had him figured out towards the middle of the fight.
I had it even after 8 rounds until B-Hop, the older fighter showed his better conditionning and took control of the fight.
I like to score fights as I see them to the best of my ability.
I like both fighters, but I just didn't see Taylor winning the fight.
And judging from his and his trainers reaction to the decision, they looked a bit surprised.
Taylor even seemed apologetic in the interview.
Oh well, boxing is a business so there will be a rematch....
What are everyone's picks for the rematch?
JT is a good fighter, and gave B-hop trouble in the early rounds but Hopkins had him figured out towards the middle of the fight.
I had it even after 8 rounds until B-Hop, the older fighter showed his better conditionning and took control of the fight.
I like to score fights as I see them to the best of my ability.
I like both fighters, but I just didn't see Taylor winning the fight.
And judging from his and his trainers reaction to the decision, they looked a bit surprised.
Taylor even seemed apologetic in the interview.
Oh well, boxing is a business so there will be a rematch....
What are everyone's picks for the rematch?
Hopkins at the post fight press conference:
"I proved a lot of things tonight. I did not turn old like all of you thought and I out-worked this young lion. I won't cry over spilled milk because I feel good. Did you see his body language after the fight? I went over to his corner to console him. Jermain said, 'You are the champ. Good fight. You are the champ, man.' Lou DiBella said, 'Bernard good fight. You are still the man.' They said this with their heads hung low. What does that tell you? I went and said to him, 'Hey, I guess country boys can fight,' to congratulate him for a brave fight but I went there to console him. His head was low and his body language told everybody that he felt he lost."
"I proved a lot of things tonight. I did not turn old like all of you thought and I out-worked this young lion. I won't cry over spilled milk because I feel good. Did you see his body language after the fight? I went over to his corner to console him. Jermain said, 'You are the champ. Good fight. You are the champ, man.' Lou DiBella said, 'Bernard good fight. You are still the man.' They said this with their heads hung low. What does that tell you? I went and said to him, 'Hey, I guess country boys can fight,' to congratulate him for a brave fight but I went there to console him. His head was low and his body language told everybody that he felt he lost."