Torres Out, Hopkins In

The anticipated rubber match between Ricardo Torres and Kendall Holt has been put on hold as Torres fell sick and could no longer make weight with less than a week until the fight. Filling in for Torres on the Showtime card will be Demetrius Hopkins, nephew of the legendary Bernard Hopkins. Demetrius was scheduled to fight on the off TV under card against Germaine Sanders.

            The undefeated Demetrius Hopkins has not fought in over a year. The Last time many people saw Hopkins fight, he was on the winning side of a very controversial wide decision win over Steve Forbes. At ringside, Harold Letterman scored the fight 115-113 for Forbes. By taking on the WBO Light Welterweight Champion on such short notice, the Philadelphia based Hopkins will be in the toughest fight in his career.

            With Torres’ unsuccessful attempt to make 140, nobody knows if we will get to see the anticipated rubber match. Both fighters have a knockout win over the other and both fights have ended in controversial fashion. In September 2007, Holt looked to have been on  his way to a victory when suddenly in the 10^th round momentum turned. The fight was stopped in the eleventh when referee Genaro Rodriguez halted the bout with Holt taking punishment on the ropes. Holt's manager reportedly filed a protest afterwards on the basis that the fans were throwing objects into the ring during the eleventh round. The rematch over the summer was possibly the greatest one-minute fight ever. Just thirteen seconds into the fight, a right hand by Torres had Holt down on the canvas. Holt recovered but found himself on the canvas for the second time just seconds later. Holt got up and managed to land a left hook to the body, causing Torres to double over and the two collided heads. Torres was rocked backwards to the ropes, where he would stay for the rest of the fight. Holt landed a right hand that knocked Torres down and he was counted out by the referee.