Taylor-Ward: Should Jermain retire?
December 14th, 2009
By Chris Williams: At 31, it would appear that former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (28-4-1, 17 KO’s) has seen better days in his boxing career. Taylor, once arguably the best fighter in the entire middleweight division three years ago, is now more of an afterthought for many boxing fans. Taylor has been knocked out in three out of his last five fights and has been beaten in four of them.
What Taylor needs right now is a nice easy fight of two to get his head back together so that he can try to recover from all the knockout losses he’s been suffering as of late. Taylor has been stopped in back to back fights. In his last bout, Arthur Abraham stopped Taylor with a one punch knockout in the 12th round on October 17th.
Taylor also suffered a 12th round knockout defeat to fellow Super Six tourney contestant Carl Froch on April 24th. There’s no shame in being knocked out by the likes of Abraham and Froch, because, after all, both of them are beasts with huge power. However, it isn’t a good sign that Taylor is being knocked out so frequently. You can ignore one knockout loss, but not three.
And these stoppages have come in rapid succession, all within the last two years. That would seem to be a sign that Taylor needs to take a break from boxing for awhile. I can understand Taylor not wanting to retire from boxing given his still early age of 31, but with that many knockouts occurring so frequently, Taylor needs to consider it.
Andre Ward will be going after him with both guns blazing on April 17th, and the way that Ward handled WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler in his dominating win over the Danish star on November 21st, it’s hard to see Taylor coming out of that fight in one piece. Taylor still thinks he can win the tournament, and maybe he can. But the indications are that he will have big problems against Ward and may end up suffering yet another knockout defeat.
It isn’t about talent, because Taylor has plenty of that. If you take away his knockout losses, Taylor would be a threat to beat any one of the Super Six tournament fighters. Taylor has better hand speed and power than most of them, including better overall boxing skills. His skills aren’t what the concern is. It’s his chin. Taylor’s punch resistance seems to have decreased since his bad knockout loss to Pavlik in 2007, and it doesn’t appear to be getting any better over time.
It’s hard to see Taylor wanting to continue on with his boxing career if he gets knocked out by Ward. He would have to get the hint at that point that it’s time to hand up the gloves or at least take some time off.
Tags: 20 Responses to “Taylor-Ward: Should Jermain retire?”
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taylor have better skills than ward.
the only reason im tuning in with the super 6 is because of taylor, im british, froch is too jelaous and likes to play baby with a baby.
but no, jermain taylor will bounce back and rule this devision just like wladamir kiltchko,
we all fought WLAD was finished after being knocked out 3 times, but you guys just watch, he will return with bad intentions.
wow mark nice comment you type sense
Yes; it is one thing to acheive acclaim. I have heard it said that everyone has only so many fights; and so many wars. I would add to that: so many a55-whupins. They are taking hard looks at the number of concussions foot-ball players sustain before retiring them. This same conversation needs to take place in boxing. Agreed – with many previous sentiments: I would hate to see Jermain get hurt. He has sustained some terrific knockouts – along with some terrific wars and victories.
Really wouldnt be surprised to see taylor beat ward
An interesting debate, I think Jermaine has seen better days but there is a fine line between think and has. Look who he has lost to;
Kelly Pavlik; One of the divisions hardest hitters and although he stopped Jermaine in the 7th it wasnt easy with Jermaine having him down in the 2nd. In the rematch both fighters were intitally cautious having both been down but Pavlik improved his boxing skills and credit to him.
Carl Froch; A world champion and arguably the hardest puncher in the division, limited in terms of speed and footwork which Jermaine exposed in brilliant fashion, remember that Froch had never been down as a pro or an amateur yet Jermaine put him down in the 3rd, but Froch is a beast and although alot of people said it was Jermaines lack of stamina it was combined with Frochs high rate of stamina, afterall Jeff Lacy, Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright couldnt finish the job whether they thought they’d won or not and remember had Froch not KO’d Jermaine he’d have lost by SD. Taylors can walk out of that fight with his head higher than Dirrell.
Arthur Abraham; Although his first fight at Super Middleweight no-one doubted on whether he would bring his power up with him as with Taylor and to be honest I thought Taylor could have made this fight easy for himself had he kept his distance as Abraham has been known for his lack of ring movement despite his power and dosnt pursue his opponents like Pavlik or Froch bt his counter punching is second to none and it was the closing seconds of the fight that Taylor got knocked out so he proved his durability there.
I dont think Ward will stop Taylor and Taylor will give him more trouble than Dirrell will (his fight after).
Its hard to judge whether a fighter should retire when they have only lost at world level, Enzo Maccrenelli has been stopped in 3 of his last five yet only David Haye was a world champ and he is slowly re-buildin his career.
Good article anyway and best of look Jermaine, you will do better than Dirrell anyway
Carl Froch;
Good and true article, His last 2 fights are gonna be on his mind in the build up to this fight and in this fight, I Wouldnt say time to retire id just say a few easier fights for him to get his head together….
Yes he should retire. Skillwise hes top banana , he really is but when his bodys had enough its REALLY had enough, his tank duznt run low it runs properly OUT. The last few rounds of these fights he can barly stand up without being punched.
Its a massive shame but what can he do, he has Asthna and maybe something worse but no amount of training, conditioning or diet is guna be able to bring him back so he can go 12 rounds against world class opponants.
No way did Froch deserve to beat him, he was getting schooled and knocked down but Taylor just ground to a halt has hes done more than once recently. Hes a sitting duck and a boxing ring at world level is not where you wana be when thats happeing to you.
Taylor should deffinatly carry on boxing in my eyes he’s still 1 of the best fighters in the world,he’s had some serious bad luck in recent fights e.g the fight with froch,.Taylor dominated the full fight and even Cocky froch knows deep down he was lucky to get through with tht last desperate punch in the 12th round.. i dont fink froch wil be calling out a re-match anytime soon put it that way!
Jermain has been an excellent fighter, who has accomplished much in the ring. I think his basic boxing skills are still reasonably good, but his knockout losses have affected him, psychologically. The psychological effect has led to a physical weakening of Jermain. Consequently, he no longer fights with the confidence that he used to have. For example, in the fight with Abraham, there were moments when he had the opportunity to inflict serious damage on Abraham – the openings were there, but he did not take advantage of them. He unwisely jabbed when he should have used his powerful right hand. Apparently, he was simply afraid to throw the right hand, because he didn’t have the confidence that he could have overcome a good counterpunch.
Finally, I believe that Taylor is still young and skillful enough to be effective and competitive, if he is able to improve his mental and physical conditioning. His apparent weak chin, is not only physical, but also mental.
i like taylor very good boxer maybe past his best but good for the sport
I think Taylor could beat Ward. He was well ahead in his fight against Froch and was caught at the end. I think he can still do well in tournament and it would be better to go on a high
Stick a fork in him, he’s done. He does not follow his corners directions well thus Roach and their split. He’s always taken to much hits and never seemed to correct that problem, time has caught up to him. once again, its a wrap.
I am one of Jermains biggest fans and have been ever since he turned pro. But even i would like to see him retire because i really dont want to see him get hurt! If he doesnt retire he should atleast take a few easier fights to get his confidence back
I have so much respect for taylor, he will fight anyone, but after 2 ko defeats, is he really gunna have the confidence to fight at his best, and beat ward???? I see another beating!!!!
Yes !
… he may get hurt angainst Ward, although Jermain does have the speed and power to actually hurt Ward if he catches him early !!
I’d rather see him retire, especially if he doesn’t need the cash.
taylor to beat ward…too slick for him. that’ll shut you lot up.
It seems when a fighter loses by KO, it changes them mentally. They are almost never the same after that.
yes, jermain should retire.
To begin with, he never defeat bernard hopkins. Jermain lost both times. Then he also lost to winky wright.
I agree. Taylor is still a young man. He has a nice family Maybe he can get into promotions or coaching boxers. Assuming he’s been smart with his money, he may never have to work again. He seems like a nice guy, it’d be a shame if he really got hurt.
SCANDAL!
there’s a dark cloud hanging over this fight. jermain’s brain can’t take another beating. he should retire. & andre ward is now working with victor conte, the balco supplement guy, google him, pharmagician, who was has ADMITTED to providing athletes with UNDETECTABLE steroids. mosey, baseballer barry bonds, etc. this is a fact. what are ward and his people thinking????
THIS IS NOT WHAT BOXING NEEDS. I AM FEARING THE WORST.
jermain should retire.
andre ward should hire a new “nutritionist”