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Destiny or Execution? What awaits Jermaine Taylor?
MON July 11, BRIAN SKJOLD -
The ‘Undisputed Heir’ to the middleweight throne and the rightful ‘Undisputed King’ will finally do battle for control of the division on July 16th in a bout that will be featured on HBO PPV. Jermaine Taylor has been molded, shaped, and guided to this exact place for the last 4 plus years, and now finally feels the time is right for him to be the ‘neXt in line’.
“I’ve been wanting this moment for a long time and now it’s my turn. I feel like it’s going to be a great fight but after I catch Bernard he will be asleep.”
After a long and illustrious amateur career that culminated with an Olympic bronze medal, this 26 year old from Little Rock Arkansas has embarked on a flawless professional career that has been rivaled by none over the last few years. However, his resume is decorated with only a couple ‘big’ names that were well past their prime, and few legitimate contenders. Taylor’s lack of big fights and tough opponents may end up being his downfall, but he remains very confident despite his lack of experience.
“All the fights I’ve had, my whole life has prepared me for this, you know, and I’ve wanted this all my life and I’ve been waiting on this moment, and now it’s my turn. You know, it’s finally come to pass. I work harder than any boxer I know and now I’m just ready to fight.”
The man standing across the ring from Jermaine come the evening of July 16th is one of the wiliest and most crafty fighters in the history of the game, and has been known on countless occasions to do ‘anything’ it takes to win a fight. Bernard Hopkins is sometimes rough and tumble, and sometimes smooth as silk, but just ask any of his former opponents and they’ll tell you he may also be one of the dirtiest fighters in the sweet science today.
“I know how Bernard fights. I mean if that’s how you want to bring it, then I’m going to take it to that level too. You know, if you want to make it out a dirty fight, then it’s going to be a dirty fight, cause I ain’t backing down from nobody.”
We’ve all said on countless occasions ‘styles make fights’. But, in the case of these two men it might be more accurate to say, ‘Experiences make fights’. When it comes to experiences, B-Hop wins hands down. Through his 49 pro fights and his 20 middleweight title defenses, Hopkins has picked up countless tools, all of which he has available at any given second in the fight. If Taylor wants to have a chance in this fight he has to bring something new to the table that will confuse the champion. On top of that he will also have the daunting task of matching wits with Bernard.
‘I’m prepared for everything. I’m prepared if he comes in, you know, he try to be dirty. I’m prepared if he waits and tries to steal around with those lower flurry of punches. I’m prepared for everything. I’ve trained hard; I’ve done all I’m supposed to in the gym. On the 16th I’m gonna prove it.”
It’s one thing to have to square off against someone who is making his 21st defense of the title, but it may prove even more difficult to attack a veteran like Bernard who has an air tight defense. In order to be successful Taylor needs to control Hopkins with his jab and set up his effective punches. But, of course, this is easier said than done. Jermaine may be the underdog in this fight but don’t expect him to just lie down.
“I think my style of boxing is going to penetrate it (Hopkins’ defense). I’ve got a good jab, I work all 12 rounds. I’m coming to fight. Well I’m actually coming to win. He can’t take that jab away all 12 rounds like that. He can probably try it but he couldn’t only hold it for two rounds and, you know, everybody always got something. And say he does take the jab away, they don’t come with those vicious uppercuts cause if he take it away he going to have to lean in and as soon as he lean in he could be getting caught with the uppercut.”
Jermaine Taylor is a student of the game just as much as Bernard Hopkins was and still is. In the lead up to this fight Hopkins has alluded to his bout with Roy Jones Jr. as a glimpse into what we may see on the 16th. It could go two ways. On one hand it may be another one sided affair with B-Hop giving Taylor a boxing lesson. Or, it could be that Jermaine is really all he’s cracked up to be and we’ll see a repeat of Hopkins being dominated. Taylor has had the privilege of working with some of the sports best trainers, and has a work ethic that seems to be second to none. He is willing to put the time and effort into becoming the best in the world, and knows that for him to be successful he MUST do his homework.
“I watched his Jones fight. I mean, he had nothing coming. I mean, he was just slow and Jones just gave up on him every time. As far as me, I know I’m a lot faster than Bernard. I’m a lot faster and a lot stronger. So if that’s what he comparing it to, you know, it’s going to be a long fight.”
To call this fight a step up in class for Taylor would be an understatement. This fight has the makings of a classic battle between Young vs. Old, Phenom vs. Master, Exuberance vs. Experience, or even Jedi vs. Sith. The boxing public has been treated to some wonderful fights so far this year and the potential scale for this one is off the charts. Such a big fight may give an edge to the more experienced ‘Executioner’ but, only time will tell if Jermaine can make good on every one of his ‘Bad Intentions’
“I feel like, of course (this fight) is a leap, I mean, it’s the world championship and this is what I wanted ever since I first started boxing. And, you know, if I couldn’t get this time, this is what I got into boxing for. So I feel like it’s my time, my time is right now and Bernard ready for the taking. I believe that all my experience has made me right for this point. You know, every fight I had up to now has prepared me for this fight. Everything I’ve been through has prepared me for this fight.”
Come fight night we may see an eXecution, or the changing of the guard. It promises to be exciting to say the least. Whatever the final tally is, Jermaine Taylor will come out of it a battle tested warrior. May the best man win!
Questions? Comments?
E-mail me: bskjold@talkingboxing.com
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