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Injury puts rematch on hold

3 min read

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Any rematch between new undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins will have to wait until at least December. Taylor’s promoter, Lou DiBella, said the deep cut Taylor sustained from a head-butt in the fifth round of Saturday’s bout will prevent him from any contact drills for 45 days.

Also, Hopkins’ attorney appealed the split decision to the Nevada Athletic Commission on Wednesday. The five commissioners will review the appeal, although commission director Marc Ratner said, “Historically, in any sport, judgment calls are just that.”

One judge scored the fight 116-112 Hopkins, while the other two scored 115-113 for Taylor.

By contract, Hopkins has the right to force a rematch, but this time, Taylor has the four belts and the fight will be promoted equally by DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Hopkins’ Golden Boy Promotions Inc.

“We are in charge now; we are the sheriff, and there will be no October fight,” DiBella said during a conference call Wednesday. “Jermain has been suspended 45 days because of the cut that went down to his scalp, and that means no contact. The earliest we can do it is December.”

Richard Schaefer, chief executive officer of Golden Boy, said he hasn’t had a chance to discuss the development with Hopkins yet.

“October 1 is the date HBO is holding for Bernard Hopkins, and since Jermain Taylor can’t fight till December because of his injury, we will have to discuss this with Mr. Hopkins,” Schaefer told The Associated Press.

It was initially believed that Taylor sustained a concussion from the blow, which drew blood just above his hairline for the final seven rounds of the 12-round fight.

But DiBella said Wednesday that a Little Rock doctor checked Taylor and doubts the fighter sustained a full concussion.

The site of any rematch is up in the air. In addition to a repeat performance in Las Vegas, DiBella said possibilities included: New York’s Madison Square Garden; a casino arena in Biloxi, Miss.; or the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

Taylor holds the only unified world championship in professional boxing, but said he is eager for a rematch to prove himself after Hopkins, who held the middleweight title for more than 11 years, complained about the split decision.

When confronted with the possibility that Hopkins could choose not to fight a rematch, Taylor said: “To tell you the truth, I haven’t even thought about that. I pray to God he wants a rematch. I’ll be much more relaxed.”

If Hopkins declines a rematch, Taylor would seek “the biggest fight possible, maybe Howard Eastman, Felix Sturm and further down the road, Winky Wright,” DiBella said.

Taylor was defensive about whether he truly deserved Saturday’s decision, but he and DiBella emphasized that he won despite a substandard performance.

“He came to his corner and we said, ‘You just won the fight,’ and he said, ‘I didn’t fight my fight; I didn’t fight well enough,”‘ DiBella said. “And that’s what’s going to make this kid a superstar. We’re aiming for superstardom.”

In his usual way, Taylor shrugged off the pressure.

“All I have to do is keep being Jermain,” he said. “I’m not acting. I don’t get up in the morning and say, ‘You have to do it this way.’ This is me. I’m not a bad dude. I’m not going to hit you when you’re down. That’s just not my style.”

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