Taylor Narrowly Beats Hopkins

For the first time in four years, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins entered the ring Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center wearing an executioner’s mask.

An old fighter wearing an old gimmick that once served as an effective psychological tool.

But rather than being intimidated, 27-year-old Jermain Taylor maintained his poise and ultimately unmasked Hopkins, showing the boxing world what he is, a 40-year-old future Hall of Famer who is one step removed from the peak of the middleweight division.

Taylor (25-0, 18 knockouts) beat Hopkins (46-4-1, 32) Saturday to retain the undisputed middleweight title he won from Hopkins in July. This time, it was a unanimous decision rather than the split decision by which Taylor wrested the crown from Hopkins.

But make no mistake about it, this was not a dominant performance. All three judges -- Dave Moretti, Chuck Giampa and Patricia Morse Jarman -- gave Taylor the decision, 115-113, and it was at least that close.

A left hook here, an uppercut there, and any of the many close rounds could have gone to Hopkins.

“The difference in this fight,” Taylor said, “was that I think he respected me more. I was determined to win the fight, but I take nothing away from Hopkins. He is a great fighter, a very clever fighter. You have to pull out every trick in the book to even hit him.”

In the first fight, Hopkins came out extremely cautious, as is his style, and gave away the early rounds before making a late charge that nearly salvaged a victory.

This time Hopkins charged Taylor at the opening bell and proved wrong those who predicted he wouldn’t have the stamina at 40 to maintain a fast pace for 12 rounds.

But while neither fighter backed down, neither was able to gain an advantage for very long. They often circled each other, gloves raised, but threw no punches as they searched for weaknesses they could exploit.

“I thought I was very aggressive,” Hopkins said. “I backed him up as much as possible. I thought I did enough to win. I didn’t run, I countered, I pummeled and I worked very hard. I was willing to fight and I stayed in his face.”

While Taylor will have his choice of big-name opponents and lucrative offers to sort through, Hopkins indicated he would honor the request made by his mother, Shirley, before her death and retire by the time he is 41 in January, with perhaps a farewell fight before he goes.

“I’m going to sit down with everyone, particularly my family,” Hopkins said, “and see what I’m going to do, but I’m not going to be around much longer.”

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International Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Israel Vasquez (39-3 28) added the World Boxing Council title held by Oscar Larios (56-4-1, 36) via a third-round TKO in the third meeting between the two fighters.

Referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight at the 2:52 mark.

The fighters had split their two previous meetings.

Larios was disqualified Saturday morning from fighting for Vasquez’ IBF title when he declined to weigh in.

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In a preliminary match, former welterweight champion Ike Quartey (37-2-1, 31) continued his comeback with a 10th-round TKO victory over Carlos Bojorquez (25-8-6, 21) in a 154-pound bout. Referee Joe Coretz stepped in to stop the one-sided fight at 2:12 of the final round.