This will be a good fight! I'm still deciding on who my $ is on. Will be back later today for my pick!

Pre-Fight Analysis: Bernard Hopkins vs. Jermain Taylor

By Bert Randolph Sugar and Steve Small

Strengths of Both Fighters:

Bernard Hopkins, Champion:

· Hopkins is a tremendous all-around fighter with no glaring weaknesses. He has been able to outbox punchers and outpunch boxers.

· Hopkins employs an unusual tactic to get inside, which is where he has proven to be all but unbeatable. Whereas most fighters step forward behind their jab and look to throw power punches, Hopkins steps forward while throwing right crosses or left hooks. (It was a left hook to the body thrown by Hopkins while stepping in that stopped Oscar De La Hoya). This tactic tends to confound opponents who are used to the more orthodox manner of moving inside.

· A classic "Old School" type of fighter, Hopkins fights from a wide stance with both hands held high and chin down low, giving his opponents little to hit, especially with a solid shot.

· A rough, tough, do-anything-to-win fighter, Hopkins will use his head and left shoulder and sometimes resort to holding and hitting while fighting on the inside.

· While not possessing one-punch knockout power, Hopkins punches hard with both hands, particularly to the body where he often hooks under and over with his left, wearing down his opponent.

Jermain Taylor, Challenger:

· A tall boxer-puncher with a stiff dominating jab, Taylor has learned to punch in combinations behind his jab and to work up and down, punching both to the head and body.

· A younger (26 to 40) fighter with faster hands and feet, Taylor is a strong fighter who will not wear down under Hopkins' constant pressure.

· The former Olympian has the style to beat Hopkiins if he can keep the fight at long range.

Weaknesses of Both Fighters:

Bernard Hopkins, Champion:

· At an age (40) when most boxers are already home in bed at nine, Hopkins has yet to show signs of age. However, Hopkins watchers have long been waiting for him to become boxing's version of Dorian Gray and suddenly become old before their very eyes. So far that has been akin to a watched pot never coming to a boil. But it could happen under the pressure of a stronger, younger fighter like Taylor.

· Sometimes Hopkins is slow to set up and get his punches off. Because of this flaw, albeit a minor one, Taylor's speed from the outside may bother him.

· Hopkins cannot afford to sit back and wait for Taylor to tire as he has with other opponents. Instead, he must be more active early in the fight, something he has not normally done in previous bouts.

Jermain Taylor, Challenger:

· Taylor tends to drop his right hand when he throws his jab, leaving himself open to counter jabs from Hopkins that he is not in position to block.

· Taylor must be wary of Hopkins slipping inside his jab and hittling him with counter left hooks.

· Taylor is inexperienced in the art of infighting, the type of rough, mauling, inside brawling Hopkins excels in. If the fight is fought on the inside, Taylor may find himself in trouble.

What Each Fighter Must Do to Win:

Bernard Hopkins, Champion:

· Hopkins must move in and stay inside. Taylor has never faced anyone with the inside fighting skills possessed by Hopkins.

· Because everything Taylor does works off his jab, Hopkins must take away Taylor's jab, counter-jabbing him, keeping his hands up and moving in close where he can do that voodoo he does so well.

· Hopkins must be defensive at long range where Taylor is most dangerous and Hopkins least effective.

Jermain Taylor, Challenger:

· Taylor must keep the fight at long range with his jab--and his feet--getting off first with his jab and stepping to his left or his right to continually make Hopkins turn.

· He cannot afford to let Hopkins charge in, but must throw right-hand counters when Hopkins steps in with his cross or hook, catching him when he's most vulnerable.

· Taylor cannot beat Hopkins inside, so he must avoid fighting the champion in the trenches, keeping him at long range or tying up Hopkins when he works his way in.

Bert Randolph Sugar, author of the book, "Bert Sugar On Boxing" is generally regarded as boxing's most notable writer.