By Gerardo Granados: Twenty years ago, way back in 1990 two warriors faced each other in the fight of the year and one that will never be forgotten. Lightning vs. Thunder both in their prime, young and hungry for glory, Taylor an Olympic Gold Medalist and Chavez one of the toughest fighters that ever step into a ring. If you had the chance to watch it you will remember all the controversy generated around the final two seconds of the fight, and we all will never forget the war this two engaged for twelve rounds. But what if Taylor had avoided Chavez?

Taylor had the chin, skills, footwork that many other champions didn’t have, and also possessed an incredibly hand speed that I haven´t seen since. Chavez was a monster in the ring he had a steel chin, tremendous right and hook, he was relentless. Both were undefeated at the time they fought, but what if instead of fighting Chavez, Taylor had chosen another champion to unify his IBF light welterweight title? Perhaps he wouldn’t be remembered as he now looks, or maybe he would have stayed undefeated until he retired?

A champion is the one that takes risks, a champion will never avoid a great opponent, and maybe that is why Taylor didn’t avoid Chavez. Meldrick was the former IBF light welterweight and WBA World welterweight, he also fought against Terry Norris for the WBC light welterweight title (L TKO 4), he beat former champions: James McGirt and Aaron Davis. The sad side of the Meldrick Taylor story is that after that fight he was never the same again. Something was beaten out of him in that bloody fight, he still was a great boxer but you could tell he was missing something he left in side that ring at that Saint Patrick day.

Nowadays fighters avoid each others, some are called out by fellow organization champion but still argue and make excuses for not to fight to unify titles. And no, I am not talking about Congressman Manny Pacquiao and Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather. Oscar de la Hoya avoided Chavez until he had the edge to beat him; instead Hector Macho Camacho honored his nick name and faced Chavez while both were still in their prime. David Haye has been avoiding the Klitchko brothers for too long now. This is a trend that must come to an end, fighters fight don’t they?

A fighter will always receive more respect and recognition if he losses to another fighter instead of avoid him; lets say Roberto Duran who was only 5´ 7“and a natural lightweight faced Hagler, Hearns and Barkey who were way much bigger in size than him, he beat Barkey in the fight of the year in 1989 and yet he lost to Hagler by UD and was knocked out by Hearns but still Duran got the recognition of all boxing fans for having the courage to face such great adversaries.

Perhaps if Taylor had avoided Chavez he would had been a champion for several years, maybe he would had been three division champion or had stayed undefeated until he retired, all this is pure speculation; but what is for sure is that if Taylor had avoided Chavez he would not be respected and remembered as the brave and courageous man that he is.