Fight Bernard Hopkins L SD 12 (12) Jermain Taylor

"He's a dirty fighter," says newly crowned undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor of former champ Bernard Hopkins. "I can't respect that. If you're going to beat me, beat me right. Don't hit me below the belt or hit behind the head or head butt. It's unnecessary. If you can fight, you can fight." Jermain says he feels like he did enough to win, but he's openly critical of his own performance. "I made a lot of mistakes in the fight...I was chasing him around... read more ...

Bernard Hopkins has filed an appeal to the Nevada Athletic Commission for a review and reconsideration of the decision of last Saturday night's middleweight championship bout against Jermain Taylor. Hopkins appeal is based on the rules governing the Nevada Athletic Commission and the scoring of the 12th round for Taylor by veteran judge Duane Ford. In addition Hopkins has sent a letter to the WBA requesting read more ...

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya said last night that HBO is holding October 1 for a rematch between new undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and former champ Bernard Hopkins. Both fighters claimed victory after the fight. "I won the fight early, and got winded towards the end," admitted Taylor. Hopkins disagreed saying "From the fifth or sixth round on, I dominated the fight. read more ...

Jermain Taylor stepped into the ring with the master and taught Bernard Hopkins a lesson. Hopkins' experience, ring savvy and tricks were supposed to make the difference in Saturday night's undisputed middleweight title bout. Instead, Taylor showed Hopkins that getting started too late can be decisive. ``I learned so much this fight. It takes patience to win,'' Taylor said after earning read more ...

Bernard Hopkins: "So he's in a win-win situation when it comes to that, unless his corner is too brave for his own good, because fighters don't quit, fighters won't stop. He might look at the corner and tell them. That's a sign. A fighter grabbing in the eighth round, ninth round and he's looking at the corner like 'can't you help me?' That's a tell tale sign that the man wants to get out. It's up to them to get him out." read more ...

Tuesday in New York City, some feistiness occurred when the media convened upon the Copacabana when undisputed Middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins and top contender Jermain Taylor both announced the July 16 mega fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Ironically the contentious behavior was not between the two fighters but between Hopkins and his former advisor and Taylor promoter, Lou DiBella. The two men have been adversaries since a lawsuit was filed and upheld on appeal in court of law by DiBella for liable comments made by Hopkins. DiBella was granted a six-figure settlement. As head of Hopkins promotional team, Oscar De La Hoya was the master of ceremonies. The former six-division world... read more ...

The Bernard Hopkins-Jermain Taylor negotiations may have been drawn out, but IBF junior middleweight champion Kassim Ouma took five seconds to accept the Hopkins fight when ased if he would take the fight last week. "There was no hesitation," Ouma said. "I'm all about the challenge and proving who is best. Bernard Hopkins is the biggest test for any middleweight and I'm ready for him... read more ...

"Our greatest desire is to fight Bernard Hopkins and if something can be done to make this happen we would be on board," said Taylor promoter Lou DiBella, admitting the fight is indeed in trouble. Although financial terms for the July bout were agreed to and there are at least three sites interested in the fight, two key stumbling blocks remain that threaten to destroy one of the year's most anticipated matches. The first issue centers around the financial terms of a rematch clause, something that champions almost always require... read more ...

Undefeated IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy has reiterated his offer to defend his title against undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins in light of comments made to the Las Vegas Review-Journal by Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Hopkins' promotional company, that there is still no deal for a fight against Jermain Taylor. Yesterday, Schaefer stated in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "I keep reading where this fight is done, and I don't know where that's coming from...It sure is no done deal..." read more ...

Undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor spoke publicly for the first time since agreeing to a July 16 PPV showdown on Friday night's ESPN2 "Friday Night Fights" telecast. Jermain, who was in the ESPN studio, was very respectful toward the champion, calling him "my idol." Later he said "I'm coming to fight. I'm ready. I'm training hard. I'm looking forward to the fight..." read more ...