March 7, 2000

Of all the top fighters in boxing today, Roy Jones, Jr., Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, and Sugar Shane Mosley has always had the right type of opponents, publicity, and public appeal to have made them stars. However, I would like to take an opportunity to introduce a remarkable fighter who can be just as talented (as his best) as the men previously listed. I am speaking of one of DC's Finest: William Joppy

The problem that Joppy face is simple. Although he has at least several title defenses of championships which will be mentioned in just a few moments, Joppy's biggest problem is the fact he is approaching 30 and are not even close to landing any marquee fights against better opposition. Don King, who seeks to pursue absolutely nothing in his fighter's best interests, promotes Joppy.

Nonetheless, I am sure Joppy, have found some type of satisfaction dealing with King. After all, had it not been for King, would we have an opportunity to call Joppy, who I myself have met, spoke with, and gotten to know professionally to a degree.

Joppy is perhaps the best middleweight in the world, aside from IBF kingpin Bernard Hopkins. Since twice winning the WBA title in both 1995 and 1998, Joppy has shown implacable versatility and courageous willpower both inside and outside the ring.

Joppy, who turned professional in1993, won the WBA 160-pound crown from Shinji Takehara (KO 9) on June 1995 in Tokyo, Japan.

In only his third defense on 13 days notice, Joppy, In August 1997, dropped a controversial points decision to Julio Cesar Green (L 12). Joppy, who tasted the canvas in the second round, bounced back to floor Green twice in the third - a round that was voted as the "1997 Round of the Year." Joppy, having injured his right hand in the fifth, single-handedly out-jabbed Green. However, Joppy shockingly came up short on all three judges' scorecards.

Recently, underneath the "Trinidad vs. Reid, Pay-Per-View" show from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, WBA middleweight champ, William Joppy was on hand to earn a unanimous, 10-round decision against an unranked challenger. Joppy is Joopy, who regained the title six months later with a more sounding and dominant performance against Green (12) during their rematch, went on to stop the legendary Roberto Duran within three rounds in August 1998.

Joppy's career nearly came to a crashing halt in January 1999, as a speeding car crashed into the champion's van, knocking his head against the wheel as his fan span a dozen times after he had finished training at a local gym near D.C. Joppy suffered uncontrollable shaking and a fractured vertebrae in his neck.

Since his return last August, Joppy has won his last three fights - including a rubber match with Green (TKO 7) in September.

Overall, Joppy has successfully defended his WBA middle-title five times and has compiled an impressive 6-1, 4KOs record in world title bouts. He is without a shout of a doubt a tremendous talent, but if he is unable to land big bout against Hopkins, WBC 160-pound champ, Keith Holmes, or Ike Quartey, Winky Wright, and Antwun Echols to name a few?

The world will just have to be patient until Joppy is provided with an opportunity to advance to the next level.