Can Taylor Dethrone Hopkins And Force A Changing Of The Guard?
– written July 12th, 2005 by Aaron S. Bayley When you look at Ring magazine’s middleweight ratings, you see Bernard Hopkins, the “Executioner”, at the top of the food chain. But your eyes have to scan down over the names Felix Sturm, Howard Eastman, Oscar De La Hoya, and Felix Trinidad before you reach the number five ranked Jermain Taylor. Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor has fought none of those names. So why will he be standing across the ring from the champion Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas? Because he’s an Olympic bronze medallist and all-American potential superstar, that’s why. The potential African-American version of Oscar De La Hoya may turn out to be a very lucrative cash cow for the elite business members in the boxing world. And membership has its privileges. Taylor, 23-0 (17), appears to have it all. He’s got the sparkling record, the Olympic medal, the looks, and the pretty wife, a professional athlete in her own right. The 27-year-old native of Little Rock,
