[naught33]

It has been a rocky road, but the route to the July 16 fight between undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins and challenger Jermain Taylor is smoothing out. All sides are confident the HBO PPV fight will happen at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, multiple sources involved in the negotiations have told ESPN.com.

The sticking points were twofold. The sides were bickering over terms for a rematch clause should Taylor win. They also were fighting over an indemnification clause relating to potential claims from Hopkins' former promoter, Don King, stemming from a lawsuit he has pending against Hopkins and Golden Boy Promotions.

Both obstacles have been overcome, and the sides have exchanged deal memos outlining their agreement, and they are now exchanging contract drafts.

Terms in which Taylor's side would receive $1.8 million for the July fight had long been agreed to. However, the rematch clause was at issue. Taylor's side wanted a 50-50 split of the revenue but was willing to take 60-40 against a $2.5 million guarantee.

Hopkins, through Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer, offered 60-40 or a $2 million flat fee that would not allow Taylor to share in any profits from the fight.

The gap was bridged when Taylor promoter Lou DiBella dropped his demand for an indemnification clause in exchange for Hopkins agreeing to give Taylor the 60-40 split against a $2.5 million guarantee in a potential rematch.

After that was ironed out, Hopkins still had to work out indemnification language with HBO, which would not distribute the July fight without it. After more than a week of back-and-forth discussions, the complicated language was agreed to. What remains now is the tricky matter of getting Hopkins to actually sign the contracts.

[naught33]

now that would be an intruiging fight, although i'm not sure Taylor is ready to fight Bernard. He certainly has the power but is he disciplined enough? Also, Hopkins hasn't really fought a power puncher lately, so i'd be interested to see how he defends himself against the younger, faster, harder punching Taylor. That being said, since his loss against Roy Jones Jr, way back, Hopkins has been the best in boxing and i'd never go against him.

[MistaFlava]

Hopkins has also been the most boring boxer to hit the PPV airwaves in a long time...something good has to happen here and I think Taylor is due for big things...pass that torch

[naught33]

yeah i'll agree, hopkins fights aren't exciting to watch, but he does what he needs to win, he doesn't get hit and he bullies guys around....taylor definately has the power to hurt hopkins but i don't think hopkins will give him the distance to fire off his power shots...hopkins will murder him on the inside...i just dont think taylor is ready