Meldrick Taylor
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| Meldrick Taylor | |
 |
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Meldrick Taylor |
| Nickname(s) | The Kid TNT |
| Rated at | Light Welterweight |
| Nationality |  American |
| Birth date | October 19, 1966 |
| Birth place | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 47 |
| Wins | 38 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Boxing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Los Angeles 1984 | Featherweight | |
Meldrick Taylor (born October 19, 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former Olympic gold medalist and world boxing champion in two weight classes.
Contents |
[edit] Amateur career
Taylor, one of many boxing champions hailing from the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, learned his craft in the gyms of his hometown and posted a 99-4 record as an amateur fighter. In 1984, Taylor earned a spot on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team at the age of 17, and claimed the gold medal in the featherweight division. Following his victory, he joined the professional ranks.
[edit] Olympic Results
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- 1st round bye
- Defeated Nicolae Talpos (Romania) 5-0
- Defeated Francisco Camacho (Mexico) 5-0
- Defeated John Wanjau (Kenya) RSC 3
- Defeated Omar Catari (Venezuela) 5-0
- Defeated Peter Konyegwachie (Nigeria) 5-0
[edit] Professional career
His early fights were against nondescript journeymen, but in his 12th fight, in May 1986, Taylor won a unanimous decision against fellow contender Harold Brazier and moved into the world rankings. On September 3, 1988, Taylor faced James (Buddy) McGirt for the IBF world junior welterweight, 140 pound (64 kg), world title. He defeated McGirt by a technical knockout (TKO) in the 12th and final round to begin his first title reign.
Over the next 18 months, Taylor won four more fights, setting up a unification bout with WBC world junior welterweight champion Julio César Chávez on March 17, 1990 in Las Vegas. This fight drew huge media attention, as both men came in unbeaten (Taylor at 24-0-1 and Chávez at 66-0), and regarded as two of the best boxers in the world, regardless of weight class. Their fight was one of the most famous, and controversial, bouts in boxing history.
Taylor took control of the action early and began to build up a lead on the scorecards. However, Chávez proved to be a heavier puncher, and was slowly wearing Taylor down even as he lost rounds. Going to the 12th and final round, Taylor led by wide margins on two of the three scorecards, and his corner famously told him that he needed to win that round. Because of this, Taylor chose to continue fighting at close quarters with the hard-hitting Mexican champion. Chávez, realizing time was running out, came at Taylor aggressively in the last round. With 17 seconds left in the fight, Chávez floored Taylor. Taylor beat the 10-count and got back to his feet at six. Referee Richard Steele twiced asked Taylor if he wanted to continue, who nodded but did not respond verbally and only looked at his corner. Steele waved the fight off with just two seconds left, awarding Chávez a win by TKO.
The controversy surrounding the stoppage continues to this day, and 10 years later, Ring Magazine proclaimed it the "Fight of the Decade".
There is also wide-spread belief that Taylor was essentially 'ruined' as a fighter because of this bout -- due in part to the tremendous punishment taken at the hands of Chavez, including several fractures and some kidney damage (according to the HBO "Legendary Nights" episode mentioned below, he was taken to the hospital immediately after the Chavez bout -- reportedly urinating blood.)
Taylor had lost his title, but not his desire. Feeling that having to make the 140 pound (64 kg) weight had weakened him against Chavez, Taylor moved up to welterweight (147 pounds) and decisioned undefeated Aaron Davis for the WBA world welterweight title on January 19, 1991. He issued a challenge to Chávez for a rematch at 147 pounds, but the latter wouldn't move up in weight for many years. Taylor won three more fights before answering a challenge from world junior middleweight champion Terry Norris to fight for Norris' WBC title. Norris, a naturally bigger and stronger man, knocked Taylor out in the fourth round.
This marked the end of Taylor's career as a world-class fighter; he lost the welterweight crown to Crisanto Espana in his next fight on Halloween night in 1992. He got one more title shot, against Chávez on September 17, 1994 in Las Vegas, but, years removed from his prime, he was stopped by Chávez in the eighth round. The fight was competitive, with Taylor getting off to a fast start. But after a brutal sixth round, Taylor's legs became rubbery and he was stopped 2 rounds later. He fought off and on over the next eight years, winning some fights and losing others, before retiring in 2002. He finished with a record was 38-8-1, (20 KOs).
During an episode of HBO's "Legendary Nights" in 2003, an interview with Taylor was shown, in which his speech was very slurred and he spoke like he was drunk. Many viewers were shocked and disturbed when they heard the way Taylor now speaks. Indeed, the episode implicitly attributed this to pugilistic dementia -- mentioning, time and again, how Taylor was well past his prime as a fighter.
[edit] Personal
Taylor is the brother of fellow former boxer Myron Taylor.
| Preceded by Buddy McGirt |
IBF Light Welterweight Champion 3 September 1988– 17 March 1990 |
Succeeded by Julio César Chávez |
| Preceded by Aaron Davis |
WBA Welterweight Champion 19 January 1991– 31 October 1992 |
Succeeded by Crisanto Espana |
