BoxRec

Holy fornicating shit...

I just watched Chavez v Taylor I, and man Taylor looked sooooo impressive... He seemed to have had it all - unbelieveable speed (nearly every punch Chavez throw, Meldrick would beat him to the punch and land a counter punch too!) , the ability to throw every punch in the book (very nice uppercuts, hooks and jabs), incredible stamina, heart and chin... The only thing lacking was power... If he had've had decent power, he would've been nearly unstoppable! Man, that fight was a war!

Anyway, what are some other fights that show off Taylor's abilities? I want to see if this kid always looked this good or if he was just pulling a Buster Douglas on that night...

You watch any fight of Taylor's before Chavez and he looks like that. The only weakness he had was that he mixed it up too much when he didn't have to. I call him the anti-Roy Jones in that regard.

Taylor actually had one more good fight after Chavez, when he won the welterweight title the next year. He wasn't the same, but he didn't completely come apart until Terry Norris beat him up at 154 pounds not long after.

Only a few from memory and can't remember who he fought at the weight (the Chavez rematch may have been at 147?). Think he lost the welter title to one Crisanto Espana?

The thing about Chavez vs Taylor 1 was that while Taylor was that bit faster and cuter, Chavezs punches were doing much more damage to Meldrick... he had a fractured cheekbone or eyesocket and a badly lacerated mouth and I actually think that his corner should have pulled him out round about the 11th... he took too much and was never really the same fighter again.
Putting him in with Norris was also criminal imo.

Yes, I noticed that... While Meldrick was outlanding Chavez about 3 to 1, Chavez's punches were really hurting Meldrick... I found it hard to score some rounds because although Meldrick outlanded him by about 100 punches, Chavez did the damage..

Did Norris beat Meldrick up badly in their fight?

Pretty much so from what I remember... Meldrick took a lot of heavy punches and was really totally overpowered. He then was koed by Espana and Chavez again and it was game over by then though he's been boxing quite recently sadly. From what I've heard of him lately he's got badly slurred speech and its a real shame as he was a very bright and eloquent guy when he started off... very badly mismanaged and too brave for his own good.

That's a shame to hear about Meldrick Taylor and slurred speech. He was a brave tough kid and all credit to ref Steele for rightly stopping that fight in 1990 V Chavez. I'm sick and tired of people claiming an unfair stoppage. They ought to be ashamed, all they want was blood and hurt. No consideration for the fighter

Lou Duva and Georgie Benton should be flat kicked out of the club for what they did to Taylor (and other fighters). To my way of thinking they were a bit to ready to go with a fighter's "natural gifts" and ignore his flaws. Witness Taylor's habit(s) of dropping both hands to "flurry" to the body while standing straight up, chin in the air, or pulling his right glove up, out, and back when he jabbed. He fought and beat fighters that were overcome by his speed, so he threw a ton of punches at Chavez but there was no way he could win that fight, though his courage did its level best. And that is another thing: a pro fighter throwing "flurries"? There is a vast difference between a combination and a bunch of punches and I don't recall many purposeful pro quality combos from Meldrick. The Norris fight, I believe, was another case of Duva knowing a guy's through and throwing him in for a payday. I mean, Norris was as fast if not faster, could move and box and was a legitimate KO puncher (one punch against Stevie Little) Sure, his chin was unreliable at sections of his career but Taylor was no big puncher, and no defensive wiz as Norris raked him until the 4th. Against Espana he hadn't a prayer; espana being much taller, quite mobile with a stiff right and a discouraging left uppercut. Taylor hadn't a clue how to slip to get close, how to weave his way in, nothing but try and leap forward hoping not to be seen, I guess. And in his corner one guy tells him to "get in and fight" (with no suggestion as to how to do that) while the other says to stay outside and box him. That beating and the two from Chavez are enough to finish most of us.

Everytime I watch the Taylor- Chavez fight I get sick to my stomach!!! The kid was robbed after giving all had for 12 rds! I hate Richard Steele to this day!!

Shoeshine, I worry for you. Meldrick's life may well have been saved due to Steele's stoppage yet you berate him for showing mercy to an obviously hurt and distressed fighter. Bit of a sadist are you???. Steele was the Ref remember not the timekeeper and he said it himself that his job is to protect the fighters at all times. He didn't know there was 2 secs remaining, all he knew was that Taylor had taken a lot of punches, was hurt and unresponsive. Thank god for Steele's compassion and shame on you for wishing more possible hurt on Meldrick, who looking back today may well thank Steele for mercy shown at the right time....

walshb wrote:Shoeshine, I worry for you. Meldrick's life may well have been saved due to Steele's stoppage yet you berate him for showing mercy to an obviously hurt and distressed fighter. Bit of a sadist are you???. Steele was the Ref remember not the timekeeper and he said it himself that his job is to protect the fighters at all times. He didn't know there was 2 secs remaining, all he knew was that Taylor had taken a lot of punches, was hurt and unresponsive. Thank god for Steele's compassion and shame on you for wishing more possible hurt on Meldrick, who looking back today may well thank Steele for mercy shown at the right time....

Good point, as I said earlier if anything the first Chavez fight wasn't stopped early enougth... meldricks corner should have pulled him out after about the 10th round imo... Steele may well have saved his life.
I always feel a little guilty watching the fight, its a great fight and Meldrick shows great heart but pays a high price and its one of those fights that makes you feel a bit guilty for enjoying it.

tiredoldngrey wrote:Lou Duva and Georgie Benton should be flat kicked out of the club for what they did to Taylor (and other fighters). To my way of thinking they were a bit to ready to go with a fighter's "natural gifts" and ignore his flaws. Witness Taylor's habit(s) of dropping both hands to "flurry" to the body while standing straight up, chin in the air, or pulling his right glove up, out, and back when he jabbed. He fought and beat fighters that were overcome by his speed, so he threw a ton of punches at Chavez but there was no way he could win that fight, though his courage did its level best. And that is another thing: a pro fighter throwing "flurries"? There is a vast difference between a combination and a bunch of punches and I don't recall many purposeful pro quality combos from Meldrick. The Norris fight, I believe, was another case of Duva knowing a guy's through and throwing him in for a payday. I mean, Norris was as fast if not faster, could move and box and was a legitimate KO puncher (one punch against Stevie Little) Sure, his chin was unreliable at sections of his career but Taylor was no big puncher, and no defensive wiz as Norris raked him until the 4th. Against Espana he hadn't a prayer; espana being much taller, quite mobile with a stiff right and a discouraging left uppercut. Taylor hadn't a clue how to slip to get close, how to weave his way in, nothing but try and leap forward hoping not to be seen, I guess. And in his corner one guy tells him to "get in and fight" (with no suggestion as to how to do that) while the other says to stay outside and box him. That beating and the two from Chavez are enough to finish most of us.

Yes, I remember the way Duva treated Tyrell Biggs and Johnny Bumphus... among others... Biggs put in with Tyson, Bumphus put in with Honeyghan.... each time those guys shouldn't have been in there.
I remember reading an article/interview with Bobby CZYZ in a 80s KO mag and he says about how after he lost to Hamsho and had various personal problems Duva tried to persuade nim to take a fight with a dangerous fighter (I can't remember who ) and when Czyz stood his ground and said he didn't feel ready for the fight all hell broke loose and Duva was saying things like 'you'll be finished, you'll never fight again if you don't take this fight!' ....and this man was supposed to be Czyz's manager and on his side!!!.... :x :x :x

To say that Steele possilbly saved Meldricks life is sort of a reach isnt it...2 seconds were left in the fight, Its unlikely that he would of been killed in 2 seconds. Furthermore I disagree that Steele didnt know how much time was left, we all know you hear the warning..boom boom boom, when there are 10 seconds left in the round, also the lights in the corner flash at major vernues to let the fighters and the ref know how much time is left....for any fight to be stopped with 2 seconds left especially a title fight is a disgrace, I know Meldrick took a beating but he deserved to finish that fight, He was responsive after the standing 8...he actually was trying to hear what his corner was yelling at him , maybe that was inexperience on his part but never the less he was not out on his feet . Im sorry no one can convince me that fight should of been stopped.

ShoeShine wrote:To say that Steele possilbly saved Meldricks life is sort of a reach isnt it...2 seconds were left in the fight, Its unlikely that he would of been killed in 2 seconds. Furthermore I disagree that Steele didnt know how much time was left, we all know you hear the warning..boom boom boom, when there are 10 seconds left in the round, also the lights in the corner flash at major vernues to let the fighters and the ref know how much time is left....for any fight to be stopped with 2 seconds left especially a title fight is a disgrace, I know Meldrick took a beating but he deserved to finish that fight, He was responsive after the standing 8...he actually was trying to hear what his corner was yelling at him , maybe that was inexperience on his part but never the less he was not out on his feet . Im sorry no one can convince me that fight should of been stopped.

Sorry but imo you're wrong!. I've seen the fight a good few times and Steele asks Meldrick whether he is ok twice maybe three times and Meldrick does not answer him, and is very unsteady on his legs and doesn't seem able to focus on Steele.... if thats not someone out on their feet then tell me what is???.........

Silkov, you are right. Maybe Shoeshine you need to watch the 12th round again. Taylor does not know where he is and is unresponsive. Were you watching the same fight as me and Silkov. Steele is the guy closest to Meldrick and Steele is the guy who has watched Meldrick thru the whole fight. He's the best judge of Taylors physical state and he made a very important call there....cop on Shoeshine