LAS VEGAS — It is difficult to move from one blackjack table to the next at the MGM Grand casino without someone offering their opinion about tonight’s middleweight world championship fight.
It might have something to do with the faces of Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor staring up from the felt on the blackjack tables, which number in the dozens.
It also has something to do with the interest the fight is drawing.
Little Rock’s Taylor (23-0, 17 KOs) and Philadelphia’s Hopkins (46-2-1, 32 KOs) will enter the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 10 p.m. Central time in what has been hailed as the biggest and most important fight of the year.
Hopkins, 40, is the undisputed middleweight champion and holder of a record 20 title defenses. Taylor, 26, is an undefeated former Olympian who is universally regarded as the next great thing to happen to boxing.
The story line of an aging bigcity champion vs. a rising young star from the country has captivated media here all week. Add to that the important ramifications if Hopkins’ domination of the middleweight division ends tonight and Taylor’s era begins, and this has all the makings of a classic prize-fight.
Even the near-record 115-degree temperatures, which prompted a citywide warning here Friday, aren’t keeping people away. More than 10,000 people are expected tonight. "This is going to be one to remember," said Oscar De La Hoya, whose company, Golden Boy Promotions, is promoting the fight. "I don’t know the last time there has been this much buzz for a midsummer fight."
The commentators on HBO, which is televising the fight on pay-per-view, are doing their part to help the hype by making some bold predictions. "Bernard is taking a huge risk," said Jim Lampley, who will handle the play-by-play. "Jermain Taylor is the biggest, strongest, fastest middleweight I’ve ever seen. It is hard to imagine you could pack more into a 160-pound package than Jermain Taylor has in his body. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes in and blows up Hopkins."
Larry Merchant, Lampley’s partner, was more reserved, as is his style, but no less complimentary of Taylor. "I give Taylor a really serious chance," Merchant said. "I don’t think Bernard Hopkins has been pushed to the limit."
A final member of the HBO trio, Al Bernstein, also gushed about Taylor, but also stopped just short of picking him as a winner. "I love Jermain Taylor," Bernstein said. "I think he’s the second coming, I really do, and I think he’s going to be one of the great fighters of the next 20 years. Having said that, I really don’t know who’s going to win on Saturday night. I think it’s a 50-50 fight. Which, by the way, is a huge testament to the ability of Jermain Taylor. There’s no way he should be a 50-50 chance to win this. But I think he has a tremendous chance. I think it’s going to go 12 rounds, be a decision, a close decision, and be a fantastic fight."
Hopkins became the first person to unify the middleweight division with a 2004 knockout of De La Hoya. He has been a middleweight champion since 1995.
All four world middleweight belts are on the line tonight.
A rough poll of the national media here has Hopkins winning the fight, which isn’t surprising considering Hopkins is from a major market and has been in the national spotlight for a long time, while Taylor is still building a name for himself. George Willis of the New York Post and Chuck Johnson of USA Today are two notable writers who think Taylor will win, but they are in the minority.
Bert Sugar, a nationally known freelance writer and member of the Boxing Hall of Fame, said he thinks Hopkins will win a close decision.
But many boxing insiders think Taylor will be the new champion. "Jermain Taylor is a kid with a good style, a good left jab, good intensity and surprisingly he’s made good adjustments in the fights I saw," legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward said. "He can win this fight, I really think so."
Win or lose, tonight’s fight will be one of the last of Hopkins’ storied career.
History will likely be made, either with Taylor becoming the youngest person to unify the middleweight division or with Hopkins making a record 21 st title defense.
Here’s a sure bet — tonight is an important night for boxing, and for Arkansas.
It might have something to do with the faces of Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor staring up from the felt on the blackjack tables, which number in the dozens.
It also has something to do with the interest the fight is drawing.
Little Rock’s Taylor (23-0, 17 KOs) and Philadelphia’s Hopkins (46-2-1, 32 KOs) will enter the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 10 p.m. Central time in what has been hailed as the biggest and most important fight of the year.
Hopkins, 40, is the undisputed middleweight champion and holder of a record 20 title defenses. Taylor, 26, is an undefeated former Olympian who is universally regarded as the next great thing to happen to boxing.
The story line of an aging bigcity champion vs. a rising young star from the country has captivated media here all week. Add to that the important ramifications if Hopkins’ domination of the middleweight division ends tonight and Taylor’s era begins, and this has all the makings of a classic prize-fight.
Even the near-record 115-degree temperatures, which prompted a citywide warning here Friday, aren’t keeping people away. More than 10,000 people are expected tonight. "This is going to be one to remember," said Oscar De La Hoya, whose company, Golden Boy Promotions, is promoting the fight. "I don’t know the last time there has been this much buzz for a midsummer fight."
The commentators on HBO, which is televising the fight on pay-per-view, are doing their part to help the hype by making some bold predictions. "Bernard is taking a huge risk," said Jim Lampley, who will handle the play-by-play. "Jermain Taylor is the biggest, strongest, fastest middleweight I’ve ever seen. It is hard to imagine you could pack more into a 160-pound package than Jermain Taylor has in his body. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes in and blows up Hopkins."
Larry Merchant, Lampley’s partner, was more reserved, as is his style, but no less complimentary of Taylor. "I give Taylor a really serious chance," Merchant said. "I don’t think Bernard Hopkins has been pushed to the limit."
A final member of the HBO trio, Al Bernstein, also gushed about Taylor, but also stopped just short of picking him as a winner. "I love Jermain Taylor," Bernstein said. "I think he’s the second coming, I really do, and I think he’s going to be one of the great fighters of the next 20 years. Having said that, I really don’t know who’s going to win on Saturday night. I think it’s a 50-50 fight. Which, by the way, is a huge testament to the ability of Jermain Taylor. There’s no way he should be a 50-50 chance to win this. But I think he has a tremendous chance. I think it’s going to go 12 rounds, be a decision, a close decision, and be a fantastic fight."
Hopkins became the first person to unify the middleweight division with a 2004 knockout of De La Hoya. He has been a middleweight champion since 1995.
All four world middleweight belts are on the line tonight.
A rough poll of the national media here has Hopkins winning the fight, which isn’t surprising considering Hopkins is from a major market and has been in the national spotlight for a long time, while Taylor is still building a name for himself. George Willis of the New York Post and Chuck Johnson of USA Today are two notable writers who think Taylor will win, but they are in the minority.
Bert Sugar, a nationally known freelance writer and member of the Boxing Hall of Fame, said he thinks Hopkins will win a close decision.
But many boxing insiders think Taylor will be the new champion. "Jermain Taylor is a kid with a good style, a good left jab, good intensity and surprisingly he’s made good adjustments in the fights I saw," legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward said. "He can win this fight, I really think so."
Win or lose, tonight’s fight will be one of the last of Hopkins’ storied career.
History will likely be made, either with Taylor becoming the youngest person to unify the middleweight division or with Hopkins making a record 21 st title defense.
Here’s a sure bet — tonight is an important night for boxing, and for Arkansas.
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