Taylor-Hopkins II and televised boxing

[Kid Quick]

I'm very disappointed in Clooney for not starting this thread. Admittedly I didn't see the first fight, but I think Taylor wins more clearly this time, 7-5 or 8-4. He's bigger, younger, stronger, and faster. Hopkins definitely has a higher boxing IQ, but Taylor will be more accustomed to Hopkins' roughhouse tactics and pre-fight mind games. I imagine Taylor will arrive in even better condition this time due to his late round fade in the first fight. Since Hopkins said he won't fight after he turns 41 in January due to a promise to his late mother, his last fight will be a loss.

Showtime is kicking the tar out of HBO in boxing. January: Mormeck-Bell for the undisputed cruiserweight title, Feb: Castillo-Corrales III, Mar: Calzaghe-Lacy. Their ShoBox series pits rising fighters against opponents of similar skill. Contrast that with HBO who has Wright-Soliman and Gatti-Damgaard (may be competitive) on tap. When they do have a quality, competitive fight it goes straight to HBO PPV. If HBO wants to get back into the mix they need to stop their "showcase" fights where top-flight champs fight no-hopers. Drop the long-term contracts and just buy great fights like Showtime does.

 

[CLOONEY]

haha, yeah I already had that fight prediction on another thread, but didnt get to post another because I was out of town for several days.

I picked Taylor by UD also. Although knew it would be close. So, good work, we both picked this one, despite the majority thinking BHOP would win.

Yeah, some awesome fights coming up! Castillo by late stoppage, Calzaghe by UD (although depends which Calzaghe enters the ring, but Im sure he will rise to the occassion). Dont really care about cruisers, haha.

As for the Wright V Soliman fight. Man, I would watch out for this one. Soliman is one tough customer. He is an awkward guy, who works a lot, further Winky has never faced a guy the size of Soliman. Soliman hung in with Anthony Mundine (one of the top super middles in the world, and was unlucky in some respects not to get the decision). Of course both have improved since then.

Soliman doesnt have wins over any great competition, but he is doing exactly what he is meant to to the opposition he is fighting, and that is taking easy wins! Winky will win, but if he comes in slack (like he did in Mosley 2), he has a good chance of being defeated. Soliman is definately a dark horse of the middle division and could cause a HUGE upset if Winky slacks off.

 

[CLOONEY]

Here is my original post from the other thread, its in the Mayweather V Mitchell thread:

As for BHOP, he doesnt have a choice but to start slow. That is how BHOP does it, and that is the ONLY way he can do it now he is an old man. BHOP has been going down hill for years (Ever since the Tito fight IMHO), and it is plain obvious he is nothing to what he used to be. His reflexes have gone, his speed, his stanima. Not to mention Jermaine looked very nervous and uncomposed in that first fight, he will only improve from there, and that last fight gave him some great experience.

BHOP doesnt have the power to KO Taylor (unless of course he lands that big one-two, sometimes the right at the end is huge), and I dont see BHOP taking it on points, he just hasnt been active enough in fights for years now.

Good fight and a changing of the guards for the middleweight division, a shame neither guy is in their prime. BHOP is old, Taylor is green.

Taylor by UD, 115-113