Injury may delay Taylor-Hopkins rematch

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Any rematch between new undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins will have to wait until at least December.

Taylor's promoter, Lou DiBella, said Wednesday the deep cut Taylor sustained from a head-butt in the fifth round of Saturday's bout will prevent him from any contact drills for 45 days.

Also, Hopkins' attorney appealed the split decision to the Nevada Athletic Commission on Wednesday. The five commissioners will review the appeal, although commission director Marc Ratner said, "Historically, in any sport, judgment calls are just that."

One judge scored the fight 116-112 Hopkins, while the other two scored 115-113 for Taylor.

By contract, Hopkins has the right to force a rematch, but this time, Taylor has the four belts and the fight will be promoted equally by DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Hopkins' Golden Boy Promotions Inc.

"We are in charge now; we are the sheriff, and there will be no October fight," DiBella said. "Jermain has been suspended 45 days because of the cut that went down to his scalp, and that means no contact. The earliest we can do it is December."

Richard Schaefer, chief executive officer of Golden Boy, said he hasn't had a chance to discuss the development with Hopkins yet.

The site of any rematch is up in the air, with Memphis or Biloxi, Miss., among the potential sites.