By Allan Fox: Jermain Taylor’s (30-4-1, 18 KO’s) comeback almost went up in smoke on Friday night when the 33-year-old Taylor was knocked to the canvas in the 9th round by Caleb Truax (18-1-1, 10 KO’s).

Taylor got up and was able to finish out the remainder of the round as well as the 10th to win the fight by a 10 round unanimous decision, but it wasn’t an impressive effort to say the least. Taylor wasn’t supposed to get knocked down by a fighter not in his class in terms of talent.

Taylor won the fight by the scores of 98-91, 97-92 and 97-94 at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, United States.

After the fight, Taylor, now very animated, gave a strange interview with ESPN, saying “I don’t care that I got knocked down. I been knocked out before. If they don’t get me out of there, I’m going to beat them…Whoever want it…I won’t happen again…I want a top 10 contender. You can’t just knock me down and expect to win.”

Taylor’s trainer Pat Burns said “He [Taylor] got lazy with his left hand.”

Taylor had a commanding lead going into the 9th round of the fight when he was knocked down from a right to the chin. The shot came from Truax after Taylor throw a weak jab and was slow in pulling it back. Truax then came over the top with a big right that knocked Taylor flat. He got up and was able to clinch his way out of the round.

Taylor was helped by the fact that Truax doesn’t have a left hand in his arsenal of punches, as well as his right hand not being thrown with a lot of accuracy. Taylor was able to jab and hold for the 10th and final round to preserve the victory.

It was strange to see Taylor in almost complete denial about his performance after the fight. He seemed to be twisting things to make it like it was a good thing that he was knocked down instead if it being a negative.

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Junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara (16-1-1, 11 KO’s), #3 WBC, #4 WBA, #IBF, #13 WBO, completely annihilated Ronald Hearns (26-3, 20 KO’s) by a 1st round knockout. Lara, 29, knocked Hearns down three times before the fight was halted at 1:34 of the round.

Lara came out looking good, jabbing to the head and midsection. Lara suddenly landed a big left hand that knocked Hearns down. He got back to his feet looking hurt. When the action resumed, Lara rushed Hearns and hit him with a quick flurry that knocked Hearns into the ropes.

The referee counted it as a knockout because the ropes held Hearns up. After giving him an eight count, the fight resumed. Lara calmly walked up to Hearns and landed two hard left hands that sent him down on the canvas for the third and final time. The referee Kevin Hughes then stopped the fight at 1:34 of the round.