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Pastimes : Boxing: The Sweet Science -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sedohr Nod who wrote (10287)	6/11/2006 8:24:54 AM
From: Bwe	Respond to of 10489

Hopkins has the unique ability to completely take away what the other fighter does best and forces them to fight his fight at his pace. Hopkins completely took away Tarver's jab from the opening bell. He had Tarver following him around the ring like a puppy dog while eating Hopkins' jumping in rough house flurries and potshot right hands. Tarver developed a nasty mouse under his left eye very early in the fight and also on the other eye as the fight progressed. Hopkins was able to back Tarver up at will and Tarver couldn't solve the Hopkins riddle if they fought 100 rounds. There was good action in the fight but any Hopkins fight now a days is going to be one part chess match, one part opportunistic offense and one part slick defense by one of the all time great ring technicians. Hopkins was much more assertive in the early rounds of the Tarver fight than he was against Taylor. Hopkins is not the combination puncher he used to be, however, he was able to pull the trigger often with sharp, deadly accurate right hands and also with strong punches after he moved Tarver against the ropes. Hopkins body looked way better physically than Tarvers. Hopkins was a sculpted 174 to Tarver's drawn appearance at the same weight. Hopkins admitted after the fight that he could have and maybe should have fought at light heavyweight around 5 years ago but middleweight was where the money was. His performance last night bear out that assertion. The crowd was really into Hopkins as the fight took place in Atlantic City, right near Hopkins' hometown of Philadelphia. There was a very good big fight atmosphere and the people in attendance were there to celebrate Hopkins' Hall of Fame career and to see a good fight. Hopkins certainly sent all his fans home happy on both accounts. As far as a third fight with Taylor, I'm not so sure Taylor will be able to beat Winky Wright next week. Hopkins had no trouble at all with Tarver's southpaw style and is something like 9-0 vs. lefties in his career. Hopkins is so amazing that he forced Tarver to figure him out, not the other way around. Fighting a slick lefty like Winky Wright is a very difficult assignment for Taylor who did not impress me against Hopkins. Taylor now has Emanuel Steward in his corner and that should be a big plus for him. Taylor is also the naturally bigger man. It should be an interesting fight and I like Wright to win a close fight. Bruce