Hopkins vs. Tarver - Who wins and how?

Matt Boone · 06-01-2006, 12:24 PM

This one is interesting to me. I expect the Taylor-Wright fight to be boring, and this one could be too but something tells me if one of the two fights is going to deliver in the excitement dep't, it's this one.

Tarver coming back down from what like 220 they said doing the Rocky 6 movie? Hopkins is moving up from a weight he remained at for the most part his entire career. A weight he didn't even shift much up or down between fights in his whole career. So it's something totally new for him as best I know.

Ok so the weight issue is out of the way. Age. Everyone knows Hopkins age begins with a 4, and while Taylor's might begin with a 3...it won't for many more years. So neither guy is a youngster even though Hopkins is only a few years older than Tarver, but by boxing standards I guess Hopkins is even older than that.

Their actual skills could make for a boring fight depending on which Tarver shows up. Traditionally everyone should know what to expect from Hopkins in a big fight, the cautious let's win on points style. But he was the champion and lost his title that was a record setting reign, and it ended because he tried not to lose as opposed to trying to win. Normally to win a title, especially from an a established champion you have to take it from him. While I did think Taylor won the first fight I don't think he TOOK the belts from Hopkins. I don't even remember the second fight much but it was similar to the first minus the big flurry finish for Hopkins in the later rounds.

So here with Tarver being the established champion, you would think Hopkins has to have a better game plan than out-boxing him and scoring points for 12 rounds.

For our expert analysis on the scientific breakdown of Tarver vs. Hopkins, I anxiously await a response from Mr. Luis Cruz. I won't attempt to pretend to be able to breakdown the style match up and all the other variables that come into play. I will make a prediction though just on the knowledge I listed above and that's Tarver by decision.

Luis Cruz · 06-01-2006, 01:40 PM

To me this fight does not excite me at all. It's the same night as the Cotto fight and if i HAD to choose i would take Cotto's fight in a minute, not just being a fan but it has way more excitement i can see happening. I think aside from their talk to build the fight, Tarver and Hopkins have a great respect for each other and it'll show in the ring. This will be a boring fight with a couple mid-late round exceptions, maybe 2 rounds with some flurries. Tarver takes a unanimous decision by controlling the fight on the outside and staying busier when it's on the inside. Neither fighter will ever be in trouble during the fight. Hopkins will lose because coming up 15lbs at the end of your career when you spent it all at 160lbs is not a smart move and he'll pay for it leaving the sport (maybe) with an L.

Kass101 · 06-01-2006, 01:51 PM

as much as im a b hop fan i just do think he can pull this one off. he lost to taylor twice at his weight and now hes moving up to fight a similar fighter. i agree with cruz on how the fight will play out. the only way is see hopkins winning is by tko or ko because i dont think he can win enough rounds for a decision and i just dont think he will have the time or the power to ko tarver.

im actually looking forward to the wright-taylor fight. i dont see why everyone knocks winky hes a solid fighter and i personally am not a taylor fan so i would love to winky beat taylor. both guys are skilled though so it should be a good fight.

Matt Boone · 06-01-2006, 02:22 PM

I don't knock Winky, and haven't seen many knock him either. Most of the experts are picking him to beat Taylor. He's ahead in the odds. I picked him to win also. Wright gets his respect, it's Taylor who's in need of respect. Wright wins a fight against a Trinidad coming back from retirement with one win/tune-up fight, Mayorga. Now all of a sudden people have Wright like top 5 pound for pound in the world. Some even have him top 3 P4P. Taylor meanwhile has beaten a legendary figure, ended the longest championship reign ever and then won the rematch to confirm any doubters from the first fight. He's still undefeated, he's got an incredible amateur background. He's working with great people (especially for this fight) he's got all the skills, etc. Yet people still act like he's got to prove himself. That's why the fan in me is routing for Taylor in this fight because he's long overdue for the credit he's rightfully deserving of.