On July 16, 2005, Bernard Hopkins (46-2-1, 32 KOs), the undisputed middleweight world champion, holding the WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring belts, defends his undisputed championship against fellow American challenger, Jermain Taylor (23-0, 17 KOs).
Bernard Hopkins is coming in to the fight on a 20-fight win streak with a 65% KO rate; his last fight was a unanimous decision win over Howard Eastman, 4 months and 27 days ago. Jermain Taylor is on a 23-fight win streak with a 73% KO rate, with his last fight being a 3rd round TKO win over Daniel Edouard, 4 months and 27 days ago.
The winning odds are at 58.4-41.6 in favor of Bernard Hopkins. Jermain Taylor could also pull it off but he will have to put up a truly exceptional fight if he is to win.
Jermain Taylor defeated Bernard Hopkins via split decision and wins the WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring middleweight world champion — and becomes the undisputed middleweight world champion — in his first world-title fight. Taylor improves his record to 24-0, while Hopkins adds a loss to his record at 46-3-1.