Graham: WHY ARE BOXING FANS IN DENIAL?
By TSS Predictions November 29th, 2005
Why are boxing fans always in such denial when one of the greats is discovered to be fallible? Mike Tyson was the favorite in his rematch with Evander Holyfield. Oscar De La Hoya was the favorite in his rematch with Shane Mosley. Johnny Tapia was the favorite in his rematch with Paulie Ayala. The examples are plentiful. And here Jermain Taylor finds himself the underdog once again after beating Bernard Hopkins last time. Taylor will win again, this time more convincingly. Taylor in a convincing unanimous decision.
Tim Graham, a winner of the 2004 “Barney� award for Best Event Coverage, writes for the Buffalo News and The Sweet Science. To read more of his work
November 30th, 2005 at 8:55 am
I think if Taylor wants to win CONVINCINGLY he has got to be ready to go 12 rounds. BHOP needs to start from Round 1 if he wants to win. I think it,ll be a good fight, but I see Taylor winning with a decision UNLESS BHOP finds that magic punch.
November 30th, 2005 at 10:53 am
I agree with you, Tim, in your article “WHY ARE BOXING FANS IN DENIAL”, that Taylor will win by decision in his rematch against Bernard Hopkins. The reason I do so is because I feel that Bernard will not risk being humiliated in the match by exposing himself to the harder punching, hungry, younger Taylor.
The strategy BHop had coming into their first matchup was to wait until the then-challenger Taylor lost steam in the latter rounds and then win rounds to retain his belts. The problem was that Taylor didn’t lose steam as quickly as Bernard wanted, for which he could only win the last two or three rounds (which when you do the math, doesn’t win a fight no matter how horrible your math skills may be).
I feel that Bernard will do the same, although he will try to gain respect from the now-champion early on to try and dominate the earlier rounds by intimidation more so than by trying to get a knock out. Simply put, Bernard is simply too smart to try and look for a knockout unless he knows that the fighter he’s up against lacks the power to do damage.
Bernard looked awkward against De La Hoya because he didn’t expect him to come out and be so agrressive, which is a style that Bernard (and many other fighters for that matter) has problems with. Taylor, on the other hand, is a fighter who doesn’t loose too much steam as time goes on and is a much busier fighter who throws twice as many punches per round than the former champion-turned challenger.
Look for a repeat of their last fight, only with Taylor not being as careless in the latter rounds as he was in their first fight.
November 30th, 2005 at 12:21 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Graham. Taylor may have looked shaky by the end of the first fight, but who wouldn’t? His nerves were what was tiring him out and making him an easy target for Hopkins. Hopkins plans to improve his fighting, but he fought his fight the first time and lost. Taylor will improve his style and win in a more convincing fashion.
December 1st, 2005 at 8:33 pm
I think Taylor is going to win also. I think we will see Bernard kiss the canvas definitely once or twice during combat. Maybe even get k.o’d, I said maybe..I got my money on taylor though (D12). Bernard is talking big but he always does that!!! When it’s showtime he ends up not living up to expectations and giving mediocre or just plain boring performances!! Taylor will push the action and make the fight exciting just like the first time… Just like the first time, he will come out victorious as well.