Despite the unfortunate sideshow of Lou DiBella simply waiting for Bernard Hopkins to get old to strike at the right time, I think this will be a very interesting and competitive fight. At this juncture, we have more questions about Jermain Taylor than answers. During the last several years, the middleweight division has been one of the most talent-anemic weight classes in boxing, partially because Bernard cleaned out the division. At the same time, Taylor fought a host of lesser fighters who were either past their prime, were moving up in weight, or both. Marquez probably should’ve been retired when Taylor signed to fight him. William Joppy was considered to be either a shot fighter, or close to a shot fighter, at the time Taylor met him last year. Taylor hasn’t fought a legitimate threat up until this point. Therefore, he lacks a solid apprenticeship in the pro ranks. Nevertheless, this will be a very tough fight for several rounds. I think it will be a morphed version of the first Hopkins-Echols for 6 or 7 rounds, but with Jermain using his quickness, the jab, and body punches, as opposed to Echols’ raw aggression and power. As usual, Hopkins will gradually pick his spots, and take the less experienced man into uncharted waters. The key to this fight is how Taylor reacts when he gets rapped on the chin. Bernard is not a power puncher, but his right hand over Taylor’s low left might be a telltale factor in this fight. Besides Bernard’s highly underrated jab, it was Bernard’s counter right in the first Echols fight, and a right hand in the second round of the Trinidad fight, that set the foundation for later power shots and dominance. He’ll find a way to time Taylor’s jab along the way, and score with the right hand. It will be a hard, compact, surprise shot with little or no telegraph. In addition to the counter right hand, he’ll use angles – and a few Zivic and Pedroza tactics – to confuse and bother the talented and willing greenhorn. In the end, I like Hopkins on a 115-113 type of decision, unless the judges decide that volume supersedes craft and true effectiveness.

GREG SMITH is a featured writer for The Sweet Science, who never misses an opportunity to invoke the name of former great Fritzie Zivic. You can access his material here