HOPKINS-TAYLOR MET THE HYPE!
Regardless of whether you scored the fight correctly for BernardHopkins, or scored with my Editor-in-Chief and two out of the threeofficial judges in Vegas, all can agree that Saturday was the sort of fight themiddleweight division needed. While no classic, new World champ JermainTaylor and now-former champ Hopkins engaged in a tough, competitivebattle between old and new that has fueled the best kind of barbershop debate,rematch speculation and mainstream attention. Along with all that, just as MarvinHaglers disputed loss to "Sugar Ray" Leonardkicked off a golden era of middleweight fighting (1987-1995), Saturdays boutputs on the cusp of a new super era at 160., HOPKINS-TAYLOR MET THE HYPE!
Regardless of whether you scored the fight correctly for BernardHopkins, or scored with my Editor-in-Chief and two out of the threeofficial judges in Vegas, all can agree that Saturday was the sort of fight themiddleweight division needed. While no classic, new World champ JermainTaylor and now-former champ Hopkins engaged in a tough, competitivebattle between old and new that has fueled the best kind of barbershop debate,rematch speculation and mainstream attention. Along with all that, just as MarvinHaglers disputed loss to "Sugar Ray" Leonardkicked off a golden era of middleweight fighting (1987-1995), Saturdays boutputs on the cusp of a new super era at 160.
FIRST TO THE SCORING!
Even though some have called Saturdays decision a robbery, I must disagree. While I think the decision was wrong, nothing criminal happened(outside of Duane Fords scoring the 12th for Taylor…more on that shortly).As Boston Globe writer RonBorges pointed out today, 17 of 20 boxing writerson Press Row pegged Hopkins a winner. HBO analysts Roy Jones and Max Kellermanalso favored the future Hall of Famer. My card…I had Hopkins up 7 rounds to 5with Taylor blowing a big early lead (5 rounds to 2) by being swept from the8th to the 12th on my card. Furthermore, Taylor won rounds close on many cardswith all those flurries hitting the air in front of Hopkins while, especially inthe last four rounds. I thought Hopkins beat the youngster up by landing hisshots (and the punchstats are clear on that point). So while I can seearguments on both sides, and can articulate why my side is right, DuaneFord makes the official decision hard to defend.
FORD HAD A CAR CRASH NIGHT!
Duane Ford scored the twelfth round forJermain Taylor and it was that round on his card that allowed the title tochange hands. Just how bad, how unbelievably horrendous is that piece ofscoring? For the record its not as insipid or evil as JoseGuerras 118-110 card for Ray Leonard over MarvinHagler…but it is so bad that Nevada State Athletic CommissionExecutive Director Marc Ratner released astatement that he will review the round with Ford because "from my vantagepoint…there is no question Bernard won the 12th round." In Nevada-speakthat means "damn, that was really dumb Duane." Cant say Ford wasmalicious (he was the guy who scored both Barrera-Morales I and Paulie Ayala-Bones Adams I right) but we can say it cost a man with ten years and 21 titledefenses a draw and his crown. Hopkins deserved no less!GOLD RUSH AT MIDDLEWEIGHT!
So yes, Hopkins was wronged Saturday…but is it really sobad? It was a close fight with cards on both sides of the debate all withinabout two points of each other; it has people talking; and it sets off a hellof a run for middleweight. Its been a decade since the division was thisstacked. After Hopkins finishes what he started in the rematch with Taylor (andhe will!), both men will have a field made up of current middles and risingjunior middles to contend with. Talented fighters like WinkyWright, Felix Sturm, Fernando Vargas, Ike Quartey, Kingsley Ikeke and Sam Solimanare already established as threats. Last Thursday, RomanKarmazin upset rising star KasimOuma for the IBF 154-lb. title in a compelling fight that left both men lookingthe part of future middleweight juggernaut. Saturday night in Germany, ArturAbraham defeated veteran HowardEastman to emerge as a top ten threat. Had theclose decision Saturday gone to Hopkins, he likely goes up in weight. Instead,he now will remain to shine a light on what quietly has become one of the mostexciting weight divisions in boxing. And did I mention that quality fighters JoeCalzaghe, Mikkel Kessler and JeffLacy are only slightly southward at 168 pounds?Yeah, the middleweights are back!
NEWS FOR NAVARRO FROM JAPANS SUPERFIGHT!
In a rare "superfight" for Japanese boxing, MasamoriTokuyama (31-3-1, 8 KOs) regained the Worldtitle at 115 lbs. on Monday with a wide unanimous decision over KatsushigeKawashima (28-4, 18 KOs) in their anticipatedrubber match. While I wont see the fight until mid-week, I can say immediatelythat this creates an interesting challenge for 2000 US OlympianJose Navarro. The January 2005 robbery heexperienced against Kawashima would have been easier to avenge than Tokuyamawill be to defeat. Tokuyama is no puncher but he is an awkward boxer andfrankly a better skilled fighter than Kawashima. Navarro, who is mandated toreceive the first crack at Tokuyama, he will need to be better in his secondtitle shot if he wants to be the World champion of the best division no one iswatching
"24-KARAT" NOTEBOOK
Its nice to see Max Kellerman working the airwaves for HBO. After a year where he lost both his brother and his show on FoxSports, his enthusiasm for the game remains. Hes Greg Leon dropped Hopkins to tenth on his pound for pound list behindguys like Zab Judah andRicky Hatton. I guess its great to play withyour member. Anyone else wonder how much Karmazin outweighed Ouma by during thefight last Thursday? Anyone think its become criminal to allow weigh-ins theday before the fight? The purchase of the September doubleheader of ErikMorales-Zahir Raheem and MannyPacquiao-Hector Velasquez is a slap in the faceto HBO network subscribers whohave been forced in 2005 to turn to Showtime if they want to see a big fight for less than $50.
Cliff Rold
Note: "24-Karat" Rold is not just the best young boxing writer on the planet. He alsoholds a Masters Degree in U.S. Foreign Policy from the American University inWashington DC and is an award-winning poet. He can be reached with yourcomments at [email protected]