34 years ago today - Meldrick Taylor vs Julio Cesar Chavez

[Fightnight Scores]

Known as one of the most controversial fights in boxing history, we're gonna be having a watch and scorealong for this boxing classic on our YouTube channel. If anyone fancies coming along we'll be starting around 5pm

https://www.youtube.com/live/JRN3memt7xM

Otherwise, feel free to discuss the fight in this thread

[Noxy]

I remember it well. I might have another watch later myself. If ever there was an example of winning the rounds but ...
One thing about that fight; people seem to remember Taylor more as a loser because of it. That's wrong: he lost that fight but he actually achieved a lot in his career and he was a fearless gladiator. He could really fight and all, just watch him in action.

[Fightnight Scores]

When we do these watchalongs, often times we actually dispell myths of robberies and such. Not every time of course, but a lot of the fights history regards as injustices, were actually very close.

It'll be interesting to see how this goes when we cover it later on. We just our viewers to join in with the scoring as well so we can get a collective average as well as viewing side by side scorecard comparisons

Feel free to come along.

[BoxBuzz]

Taylor won the fight, ref saved both of them I suppose. I think Taylor would have survived the round, not sure JCC's rep would have. Especially considering how he managed a "draw" with Whittaker as well. The winds of fate blew kindly in JCC's direction with those outcomes.

[1382140]

I believe Taylor would have made it through the round unscathed. And that's before we even talk about his "draw" with Whittaker.
amanda the adventurer

[elmersalsa]

I saw the fight last night. It was a great fight. One of the all time best fights of the last 35 years.

Meldrick Taylor fought terrific. But, I think that he stayed too long on the trenches were the great Julio Cesar Chavez loves to fight. The toe to toe exchanges didn't do Taylor very good.

From rounds 10 to the end Chavez was giving him some terrific shots. It was just a matter of time if Taylor kept inside the trenches. He should have moved more in those last rounds. Especially, the last one.

What I don't like about that scoring of Harold Lederman of HBO was that he had Taylor winning by a shutout in 9 rounds? Ridiculous! That fight was much more closer than that what he was watching.

I had it 106-104, for Taylor before the end.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

I believe Taylor would have made it through the round unscathed. And that's before we even talk about his "draw" with Whittaker.
amanda the adventurer

- Lessee-Taylor age 23, 24-0-1 vs JCCSr, 68-0, age 27.

Backdrop is Chavez was already a legend and Taylor was the most talented of the 84 Olympic Gold Medalists of Benton/Duva stable that included Pea, so he got the call as a well balanced boxer/puncher with good footwork and handspeed.

Yeah, Chavez slower handspeed beat to the punch, yet kept the pressure as he slowly reeled Taylor in a 12rd fight. Taylor now exhausted and steadily pummeled, so finally Chavez scored the devastating KD with a few sec left to the final 12rd bell with Taylor looking like he'd just been run over by a truck, and indeed he acted just like he'd been run over as Steele gives him a professional count and evaluation.

Meanwhile, Looney Lou who is in the running the dumbest name trainer in boxing history is in the middle of the Ring Apron hanging on the ropes screaming in everyone's ear as is the crowd, a clear DQ. Taylor, if he could respond in a quiet setting simply couldn't respond to Steele for the TKO loss. Fight over with one of the greatest comebacks ever save the usual suspects who will never understand boxing. Taylor record from this moment on was 14-8-1 with 4 KO losses, 2 KOs by Chavez.

So your "belief" is demonstrably false as is your comment about Pea who clowned away his Chavez moment much like he did against Jose Luis Ramirez. He started flashy and clowning until left handed Jose started walking him into his left hook to the liver umpteen times that had poor Pea hanging on for dear life that cost him the decision. Neither Pea nor LooneyLou had enough brains between them to understand how to stop something so basic.

BTW, JCCJr almost duplicated the Taylor fight with Sergio Martinez who was KDed the last round with similar screaming in the arena, yet did respond. He continued to get beat up on a damaged leg to take the decision. He too was damaged for life as his next two fights showed where he couldn't keep his feet under him and retired, but he was 37 yrs of age with a long career.

[hitman_hatton1]

I remember it well. I might have another watch later myself.

the HBO classic nights episode is essential viewing also.

both taylor & steele get distracted by duva.

bloody lou.

[margaret thatcher]

i would've let it continue, chavez wouldnt have even had 2 seconds once steele got out of the way and told them to box on. taylor had been fighting hard right up to the knockdown too, he was worn down but hadnt been some totally out of it defensless guy who was overdue for a saving,

that said, taylor didnt give the most convincing reaction to steele, it left room for steele to make the argument for stopping it

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Steele is corrupt or an idiot or both

Hes the ref, he had a sense of the moment and time left and he stops the fight. Its absurd - taylor was on his feet