Hopkins was too lax against Taylor

LAS VEGAS — Bernard Hopkins thought he did what a veteran champion should do, that he took his younger challenger to school, took him into deep water.

But when his 12-round title fight against Jermain Taylor ended Saturday night, he found out the judges of his title defense thought differently.

They believed he spent too much time in recess, too much time wading in the shallow end of the pool, namely the early rounds.

As a result, a disbelieving 40-year-old Hopkins lost his undisputed middleweight title and four title belts by split decision.

And the 26-year-old victor, tearful and humbled by the outcome, vowed to do better in a rematch.

Hopkins, who had won a record 20 consecutive middleweight title defenses, was defiant.

“I’m the champ until Jermain Taylor beats Bernard Hopkins like the world would want to see, not by getting the favored gift because one judge saw something different than what the other two judges saw,” he said.

What he meant by that was judge Duane Ford scoring the final round for Taylor. The other two judges and most ringside observers saw it as the culmination of Hopkins’ late rally after Taylor had jumped to an early lead. And if Ford had given the last round to Hopkins, the result would have been a draw and Hopkins would have retained his title.

Ford and Paul Smith gave Taylor seven of the 12 rounds and a 115-113 edge, while judge Jerry Roth gave Hopkins eight rounds and a 116-112 margin.

Taylor conceded, “I did not win this fight the way I wanted to win this fight. Just to lose those rounds, it was killing me, because it wasn’t playing like I figured in my head.”

He enumerated his mistakes, such as not throwing enough body shots and wasting energy chasing Hopkins rather than cutting off the ring. But he believed he won the crucial final round.

“It was bite-down time, go out there with all you got,” he said. “In that 12th round, I got energy from somewhere.

“Yes, sir,” he responded to a reporter. “I thought I won the 12th round.”

Hopkins insisted he would leave no doubt the next time he faces Taylor. And the new champion vowed to go “back to the drawing board” and “be a completely different fighter” when that happens.

If their words indicated rematch, it was for a good reason. There was a rematch clause in the fight contract, and Hopkins said he would exercise it.

Hopkins’ promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, in which he and Oscar De La Hoya are partners, pointed to an Oct. 1 rematch date. But it remains to be seen how long Taylor needs to heal from a bleeding cut on his forehead caused by an accidental head-butt.

When the bell rang to end the final round, each fighter displayed body language opposite of the outcome. Hopkins raised his arms, and Taylor walked slowly to his corner.

Hopkins insisted later that he went to Taylor’s corner before the decision was announced to console his opponent and Taylor’s cornermen because “they had their head down.” He said he told Taylor, a native of Little Rock, Ark., “Country boys can fight” and “these belts will be yours someday.”

Thing is, someday came only moments later.