Hopkins entered the fight as the undisputed champion, bringing the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine titles into his 21st title defense. At 40, “The Executioner” owned a 46-2-1 record and entered the ring as boxing’s recognized pound-for-pound king. Despite his age, he was a slight betting favorite against the unbeaten 26-year-old challenger.
Taylor, an Olympic bronze medalist from Little Rock, Arkansas, had compiled a perfect 23-0 record to earn his mandatory title shot. Hopkins received a disclosed purse of $4 million, while Taylor earned a career-high $1.4 million. Veteran referee Jay Nady officiated the contest, with Dwayne Ford, Jerry Roth and Paul Smith handling the scoring.
Taylor established control behind a sharp jab and steady pressure, consistently beating Hopkins to the punch through the opening eight rounds. A clash of heads in the fifth round opened a cut on Taylor’s scalp, but it did little to disrupt his momentum.
Hopkins, known for his patient and cerebral style, finally found another gear in the championship rounds. He staggered Taylor with hard right hands in the 10th before dominating the final three rounds. The late rally convinced many ringside observers that the longtime champion had done enough to retain his titles.
The judges disagreed. Ford and Smith each scored the bout 115-113 for Taylor, while Roth had Hopkins winning 116-112, giving Taylor a split-decision victory. HBO unofficial scorer Harold Lederman also favored Taylor, 115-113.
Still, many members of the boxing media believed Hopkins had done enough to keep his championship, sparking a debate that continues more than two decades later.
Hopkins appealed the decision to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, arguing the verdict should be overturned, but the commission rejected the protest and upheld the official result.
The rivals met again less than five months later on December 3, 2005. Taylor retained the undisputed championship with a unanimous decision in a rematch that generated far less controversy, removing much of the debate surrounding the first fight and confirming his place atop the middleweight division.
Although Taylor later lost his titles to Kelly Pavlik, the victory over Hopkins remains the defining triumph of his career. Hopkins moved to light heavyweight, captured multiple world championships and further strengthened his Hall of Fame legacy with remarkable victories well into his 40s.
The first meeting between Taylor and Hopkins ended one of the greatest championship reigns in boxing history, crowned a new undisputed middleweight champion and delivered a verdict that fans continue to debate. More than 20 years later, Next in Line remains one of the defining title fights of its era.
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