By Daniel Ciminera: American veteran Jermain Taylor has pulled out of the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament stating that he wants to take a break as the reason.

Taylor released a statement saying “I’m going to take some time off from the sport of boxing and take myself out of [the] Showtime Sports World Boxing Classic tournament……It’s important that I give my body and mind some much-needed rest, because I have been boxing for nearly 20 years. I plan on keeping myself in shape and making a return to the sport sometime in the future.”

Taylor has lost 4 of his last 5 contests, 3 of which came by way of knock out and was due to face the inexperienced Andre Ward on April the 17th. Andre Ward has been tipped by many to win the tournament and also to deal Taylor a crushing defeat in the process. This could have ended Taylor’s long and successful career, and by opting to take a break, Taylor could ensure an easier, more lucrative, and happier end to his career by fighting a big name next winter.

With Taylor pulling out, and reserve boxer Allan Green already contracted to fight 2007 “Contender” champion, Saiko Bika. ESPN’s Dan Rafael suggests that rather than pull out of their Feb. 5th bout, the fight will go ahead as a means of determining Taylor’s replacement. Green’s promoter DiBella is also reported to have said that if the Green v Bika fight ends in a draw, “a coin will be flipped” to decide to enters the tournament and if one of the two becomes injured, the remaining healthy man will step in. It is though, likely that no matter who wins, the April 17th bout with Andre Ward will have to be delayed a few weeks to allow adequate recovery and training.

The favourite Green, has a record of 28,1 with 20 by way of KO, with the one loss coming at the hands of the reputable puncher Edison Miranda. While the opposition in the Super Six will be a marked step up for Green, the Oklahoma native certainly would add whole new perspective to the tournament and could indeed make considerable waves, especially if he could have a good outing against Ward.

Bika on the other hand, ha 28 wins under his belt and sports 3 losses, although 2 of those were against the fearsome Lucian Bute and King of his era, Joe Calzaghe. The Cameroon-born Australian the, is no pushover and is very capable of beating Green and having a similar impact upon the Showtime promoted tournament as Green.