Happy 20th | Let's Celebrate with an
Execution
Hopkins goes for number 20 against Eastman Tonight on HBO
by
Jason Herron
2/19 - 20 is a pretty significant number in this country. It is the age
you are no longer a teenager, but still not old enough to buy a drink. The
number was worn by one of the greatest running backs of all time, Barry
Sanders. It also represents the number of months it’s been since I’ve had a
date. But on Saturday night, the number 20 will stand for boxing history.
Undisputed middleweight champion, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins,
will be looking to make his 20th consecutive defense when he battles Howard
Eastman at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on HBO.
Jermain
Taylor will battle fellow unbeaten middleweight, Daniel Edouard, in the
opener.
Hopkins, (45-2-1, 32 KOs), is already considered the best
pound-for-pound
fighter in the world, but is still fighting to make as much money as
possible before his imminent retirement. A victory on Saturday night
would
put the champion in line for a huge rematch with Felix Trinidad. A
second
defeat of the Puerto Rican superstar would cement his legacy as this
era’s
best fighter.
Eastman, (No. 1 Ring Magazine, 40-1, 35 KOs), has earned his world
title
shot with eight straight wins since his controversial loss to William
Joppy
in 2001. The British challenger has pretty good power and could makes
things interesting against the defending champion.
Prediction: Eastman will make it a lot closer than most 7 to 1
underdogs.
He will press the action early, hoping to tire Hopkins. But this is no
ordinary 40-year-old fighter. Hopkins will fire back and close out the
show
in the middle rounds. Hopkins by 7th round KO.
Under Card: Rising middleweight sensation, Jermain Taylor, will take on
his
toughest challenge to date when he faces Daniel Edouard in the
co-feature.
Taylor, (No. 5 Ring Magazine, 22-0, 16 KOs), is looking to make an
impression with Hopkins as he moves toward a possible title challenge.
Edouard, (16-0-2, 9 KOs), is coming off a thrilling knockout victory
over
Willie Gibbs on ESPN in 2004. The back-and-forth battle was one of the
top
ten fights of the year according to Ring Magazine. Edouard will need
to
turn this fight into another war if he is to stay in there with the
technically superior Taylor.
Prediction: Edouard may land a few shots, but will eat plenty of
leather of
his own. Taylor has the advantage in every category and needs to make
a
name for himself in the ever growing middleweight division. Taylor by
late
round knockout in the showcase he has been waiting for.
Jason’s prediction record in 2005: 2-0.
Both fights can be seen on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” Saturday
night
at 9:45 pm ET.
Jason Herron can be reached at: jasondfd@hotmail.com.
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