How Many Times Does Jermain Taylor Have to Be exposed?
October 22nd, 2009
By Jason Kim: Last Saturday night’s 12th round knockout of Jermain Taylor didn’t surprise me in the least. I saw it coming as soon as they announced he was facing Arthur Abraham in the Super Six tournament on October 17th. I think it was a bad idea for Showtime to invite the 31-year-old Taylor to the Super Six tournament, although I can understand why they did choose him.
Taylor’s name recognition is what got him in the tournament, but they should have known that he was going to have problems and end up getting knocked out when put in with the top quality fighters that are taking part in the tournament. I suppose they must have been hoping for the best when they decided to include Taylor. However, Taylor came into the tournament having been defeated in three out of his last four fights with two of them being bad knockout losses to Kelly Pavlik and Carl Froch.
Taylor’s last fight before the tournament was a 12th round knockout loss to Froch in April. And in a lot of ways, his fight with Abraham resembled the Froch fight. The main difference is that Taylor didn’t try to slug with Abraham in the first part of the bout and instead focused on throwing mainly jabs. But like the Froch fight, Taylor made the mistake of trying to punch with Abraham in the final round and ended up getting hit with a big right hand straight down the middle that flattened Taylor.
And now Taylor finds himself in a situation where he likely won’t be finishing out the tournament and will have to make some big decisions about the rest of his future. I’m sure that Taylor will continue to box, but I doubt his promoter will allow him to stay in the Super Six tournament and risk getting hurt further.
Taylor’s next bout is against Andre Ward, who isn’t a huge puncher but who hits plenty hard enough to cause Taylor problems. At this point, I wouldn’t surprised that even a fighter like Ward would be huge problems for Taylor because his ability to take punishment appears to have gone down since his first knockout loss to Pavlik in 2007.
So now, with his chin possibly compromised, Taylor is going to have to figure out what to do with his career and whether he should continue on. I’d like to see him continue to fight but not in the Super Six tournament because it’s too dangerous for him right now.
Taylor needs to be fighting less talented fighters for awhile until he gets his head together and is healed enough to continue fighting against the top of the division. But in the Super Six tournament, Taylor would be having two more fights against Ward and Mikkel Kessler and I see both of those fights ending in losses for Taylor, probably knockout losses.
Tags: 8 Responses to “How Many Times Does Jermain Taylor Have to Be exposed?”
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its true. he should have never been included. what a shame one of the few gentlemen in boxing should call it a day. ill miss him.
Yep i knew it too, i wasnt sure about how good Abraham was guna be but i knew Taylor would run out of steam again.
He says hes working on it but its not down to training and diet its his Asthma or other medical condition and his body jus cant do it.
Id be happy to have him step out of the competition and replaced for his own sake.
He doesnt have to retire but he clearly cant do 12 rounds and especially at this level.
Such a shame cuz his skills are still sublime and hes still 1 of my favourite boxers.
at least jermain fought like a real man, unlike that scared gurl called dirrell………..
Can’t agree more with you Josh – a fighter learns fear and it seems to break most of them. Happened to Roy Jones, Hatton, Tyson. A fighter looses their confidence and it subtly affects their movement – not as quick to the punch, don’t take risks the same way any more. Not many overcome that only the likes of Ali, Frasier etc.
Just remember that people were saying the same thing about Wlad K. a few years ago. I was never that hyped on Taylor, but I still think he can be a player at super-middle.
Every fight since the first Pavlik fight you can see the fear in Taylors eye’s. i think he should call it quits after this latest knock out.
Not high on Taylor. He was the next big thing and I wanted him to be that good but I felt he lost to hopkins twice and winky wright. Judges have been carrying him for a while which is unfair to other fighters, us the fans, and the sport of boxing. He did well again both cory spinks and jeff lacy but other than that nothing. I hope he gets things on track as far as his stamia and keeps fighting if not to prove something to the fans then at least for himself.Peace
i like jermain taylor but honestly hes got nothing left. Hes absolutly done and dusted. Finished!