Middleweight William Joppy on facing Jermain Taylor

FORMER THREE TIME WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION WILLIAM JOPPY IS PREPARING AT THE ATLANTIC CITY P.A.L. FOR HIS RETURN TO THE RING AGAINST UNDEFEATED JERMAIN TAYLOR ON SATURDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 4, AT BARTON COLISEUM IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT'S SEASON'S BEATINGS WILL BE TELEVISED ON HBO'S BOXING AFTER DARK.

William Joppy looks at his comback and facing Jermain Taylor

On training camp and returning to the ring: “I feel great. Things have been going smoothly since we started camp. I have been in the gym since April, but really started bearing down in October.”

On troubles prior to the Hopkins fight: “I am going to come back strong. My personal problems are out of the way. I am going into the ring with clear thoughts and a clear mind. I had a boatload of troubles in my head before the Hopkins fight. It's all behind me now.”

On how the Jermain Taylor fight will go:  “I look at Jermain Taylor, and he is a pretty good, strong fight, and could be a future champion. But he has a lot to learn. I can't see him beating me, I can't even see him going 12 rounds… I can see why they are all building him up. He is a former Olympic medalist, but with the skills he has right now, if he didn't go to the Olympics, they wouldn't even be talking about him. The last three years my career has been in the dormant stage. I can't see it going 12 rounds, he is a good fighter but I am going to knock him out becaue he has never been hit.”

Manager JD Brown: “William Joppy will return to the ring in the same way that Trinidad did against Mayorga — with a big knockout. William needed the time off. He has transformed his life, and will move into a different plateau. He has a clear head, and you will all see a different William Joppy. The last man left standing will be William Joppy.”