Hopkins, Taylor set for rematch

LAS VEGAS – The fighter in Bernard Hopkins still grows bitter when he thinks about the narrow loss to Jermain Taylor that cost him both his middleweight titles and one of the most remarkable championship runs in history.

The promoter in Hopkins looks at it differently. He sees nothing but opportunity because the fight set up tonight’s rematch for the 160-pound titles Hopkins once owned.

“I didn’t plan for it this way,” Hopkins said. “But the positive thing is we get to do it again for my family, for my bank account, and for boxing.”

Hopkins finds himself in an unfamiliar position as he heads into what he swears will be the last fight of his career. For the first time in more than a decade he will be going into the ring as a challenger instead of a champion, thanks to the split decision Taylor won in their first fight last July.

He’ll go in angry, still upset that one judge scored the 12th round that he seemed to dominate for Taylor, costing Hopkins a possible draw that would have allowed him to retain his undisputed middleweight titles.

“I’ve been crucified my entire career,” Hopkins said. “But I beat the guy the first time and I’m going to beat him again.”

Taylor would disagree, but whatever happens, Hopkins said the fight will be the last meaningful bout of his career. He turns 41 next month, is already a partner with Oscar De La Hoya in his promotional business, and seems to understand that the end is near.

He’s giving up youth, speed and power to Taylor, but his ring savvy and accurate punching ability have prompted oddsmakers to make the fight a pick ‘em affair.

“Father Time has knocked on my door, but there just hasn’t been anyone home,” Hopkins said.

Time is something of which Taylor has plenty. The 2000 Olympic bronze medalist is a champion at the age of 27 and promises he’ll get nothing but better as his career goes along.

Though Taylor won the first fight, he faded badly toward the end and admits he was both overwhelmed by his first big title fight and awed by fighting a legend in Hopkins.

He said that won’t happen again.

“I know I didn’t prove myself last time but I did enough to win the fight,” Taylor said. “Everybody who knows me knows I’ll take care of business this time.”

The scheduled 12-round fight at the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino is a classic matchup of an aging but wily veteran against a future star who has the skills to dominate the division the way Hopkins has the past 10 years.

Hopkins (46-3-1, 32 knockouts) added fuel to the fire by mocking Taylor’s stuttering problem and claiming that Taylor turned his back and ran during much of the first fight. Taylor responded by bringing out a doll with Hopkins’ name on it at the prefight press conference, and calling him a crybaby.

“I really do believe Hopkins has awakened the young lion,” said DiBella, who used to promote Hopkins and won a slander suit against him.