All fighters get old, but somehow Bernard Hopkins has avoided this maxim by beating his opponents in the same safety-first, roughhouse style that has defined his career. On Saturday, though, I think Hopkins finally shows his age against Jermain Taylor. I predict Hopkins will get knocked out in the fifth or sixth round. I don’t think Hopkins has looked good since he beat Trinidad four years ago. Forget about De La Hoya, Robert Allen, William Joppy, that dude Hakkar and Eastman. With the exception of Eastman, these were all shot fighters when they faced Hopkins; I don’t think Hopkins was impressive in any one of those fights. The body shot that knocked out De La Hoya was emphatic but my reaction to that was: so what? He beat a fighter he should have tormented. In Taylor, he is facing someone who is younger, stronger, and hits harder, and who I think is treating this fight like it’s the Super Bowl. How do you think Hopkins is treating this fight? Like he does any other fight, which is why Taylor will win. No one expected Tarver to knock out Roy Jones the second time they fought, and I think Taylor does the same to Hopkins in a big upset. The reason nobody has accused Hopkins of slipping is because he executes in the same methodical style every time out, so it’s hard to tell if he has, but he has slipped and Taylor will expose his age.

MITCH ABRAMSON is a featured writer for The Sweet Science. You can view his material here