Post by themagi on Jan 21, 2015 1:54:50 GMT 1
This July will mark 10 years since Jermain Taylor outpointed Bernard Hopkins to win the undisputed middleweight title, becoming one of the few fighters to hold the "big 4" (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO) titles at the same time.
Jermain has had a long career, turning pro with Lou Di Bella as his promoter shortly after earning a Bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Di Bella has been his promoter throughout his career. Due to Di Bella's ties to HBO (he was formerly the VP of Sports for the network) Taylor received plenty of exposure on their airwaves during the formative years of his career and after defeating Hopkins was positioned as HBO's face for the next generation. Alas, it wasn't to be. Another scrappy victory in a rematch with B-Hop still left unanswered questions, a disputable draw with Winky Wright and downright dull wins over the handpicked pair of Kassim Ouma and Cory Spinks were head scratchers in that the performances were sterile, not the official verdicts. Jermain was at times keen to inform those that would listen that boxing was merely a very high earning job, not his passion. He preferred watching his favourite soaps rather than watching boxing.
Then he lost both for the first time as a pro, and his titles (He had vacated the IBF title by this point, choosing the Hopkins rematch rather than defend against that household name and no.1 contender Kingsley Ikeke (!)) to Kelly Pavlik. By KO. And his hometown of Little Rock, Arknasas turned on him. At least that's what Jermain thought. The open top bus rides and welcome home parties of the years prior were over, AR didn't want to be associated with a loser. Taylor only heard the "You suck, Jermain!" comments and not the "Unlucky, bro" words of encouragement. Taylor felt the need for get-back and due to a contractual clause, he nailed down a rematch with Pavlik (who by this point had supplanted JT as HBO's "new favourite"). And lost again, this time by decision.
He lost his next big assignment 14 months later, by KO, with only a handful of seconds left on the clock whilst ahead on points against Carl Froch for the WBC Super Middleweight title. He then decided to enter Showtime's Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament/Fustercluck.
On 17th October 2009, Jermain lost his opening match in the SSS to Artur Abraham by a nasty 12th round KO in Berlin, Germany, the first big combat sports event to be held at the new O2 World Arena. This was Jermain's third concerning knockout loss in the space of nearly 25 months. He was hospitalized with a concussion, suffered memory blanks (he told family he hoped to be out of the hospital soon as he had a fight in Germany to get ready for) and according to former NAC physician, Margaret Goodman, suffered a brain bleed. Two months later Jermain announced that he had withdrew from the SSS. Lou Di Bella proclaimed that if Taylor was to get back in the ring again then he would not be involved in the promotion, he wanted JT on the safe side of the ropes for the rest of his life.
Amazingly, the California State Athletic Commision were satisfied enough of Jermain's health that they granted him a licence to fight on 30.12.11 were he won a decision over Jesse Nicklow. After the bout Taylor spoke of world titles. Lou Di Bella was involved.
5 months later a points victory over the unheralded but talented Caleb Truax, held in the "relaxed" regulatory confines of Biloxi, MS, was tainted by a 9th round knockdown suffered by Jermain. Post fight Taylor cut an impassioned post fight interview, talking as if he had just overcome a prime Sugar Ray Robinson rather than Mr. Truax. An almost facile win over the hapless Raul Munoz followed months after.
At this point Taylor's manager/adviser Al Haymon wants his client to re-apply for a licence in Nevada. After a battery of tests followed by a few more tests with a layer of tests on top of that for good measure the NAC scarily grant Taylor a licence. During this time Taylor doesn't fight. He's out of the ring for 14 months. To date he has yet to fight in the state of Nevada since being granted a licence. He returned in Texas in 2013 with another off TV victory over the seriously shot Julio Cesar Candelo.
Sam Soliman of Australia was the IBF middleweight champion by the summer of 2014 and appeared to want to "cash out" with a big money fight for his first defense, with a host of options in his native country. So imagine the surprize when, seemingly out of the blue, Jermain Taylor was granted the first crack, the venue being a small resort in Biloxi (again). Taylor's sorcerer of an adviser, Mr. Haymon had worked his personal brand of persuasive, dangerous magic again. Sam was seen by some as a soft touch, a little awkward, granted, but the queue of fighters willing to chance their arm against was rather long. Haymon saw his chance and took it, somehow.
But then a couple of months before his world title fight, life got in the way: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2735363/Former-boxing-champion-Jermain-Taylor-accused-shooting-unarmed-cousin-argument-home.html
Check those eyes out: www.doghouseboxing.com/Media-Img-2/Main-Jermain-Taylor-230-Mug-Shot.jpg
Then, just prior to the fight, this video popped up: ringtv.craveonline.com/news/359179-trainer-pat-burns-comments-on-jermain-taylors-bizarre-video
Amazingly, he was still able to take part in the contest. And he won! www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/jermain-taylor-bail-allegedly-shooting-cousin-captures-ibf-middleweight-title-article-1.1968354
Check those eyes out part deux: www.boxingscene.com/uploads/82950/712.jpg
Soliman hurt his knee early on in the contest but it would not have made any difference, Jermain won and won well. He did it!
Things were quiet for short while but then this went down (no arrests were made, however): www.24urban.com/news/boxer-jermain-taylor-throws-brick-at-a-woman
Despite all of this plans were made for Taylor's first defense of his second reign as IBF champ against Sergio Mora (I'm noticing a pattern of non punchers on JT's recent resume, anyone would think he's being protected or has some kind of underlying condition or something) scheduled for March in, you guessed it, Biloxi, MS.
But then this past weekend, the above mooted fight was called off. Lou Di Bella said it was due to a rib injury suffered by Jermain.
Recently this rather peculiar video was uploaded to youtube, allegedly JT was drunk:
Sadly, from just two days ago and from the same venue as the above video: abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/police-boxer-jermain-taylor-face-assault-drug-charges-28334299
A bit more (perturbing) detail from AP: uk.news.yahoo.com/woman-says-boxing-champ-taylor-threatened-kill-children-150656713--spt.html#lkJRJfq
That'll do for now.
Jermain has had a long career, turning pro with Lou Di Bella as his promoter shortly after earning a Bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Di Bella has been his promoter throughout his career. Due to Di Bella's ties to HBO (he was formerly the VP of Sports for the network) Taylor received plenty of exposure on their airwaves during the formative years of his career and after defeating Hopkins was positioned as HBO's face for the next generation. Alas, it wasn't to be. Another scrappy victory in a rematch with B-Hop still left unanswered questions, a disputable draw with Winky Wright and downright dull wins over the handpicked pair of Kassim Ouma and Cory Spinks were head scratchers in that the performances were sterile, not the official verdicts. Jermain was at times keen to inform those that would listen that boxing was merely a very high earning job, not his passion. He preferred watching his favourite soaps rather than watching boxing.
Then he lost both for the first time as a pro, and his titles (He had vacated the IBF title by this point, choosing the Hopkins rematch rather than defend against that household name and no.1 contender Kingsley Ikeke (!)) to Kelly Pavlik. By KO. And his hometown of Little Rock, Arknasas turned on him. At least that's what Jermain thought. The open top bus rides and welcome home parties of the years prior were over, AR didn't want to be associated with a loser. Taylor only heard the "You suck, Jermain!" comments and not the "Unlucky, bro" words of encouragement. Taylor felt the need for get-back and due to a contractual clause, he nailed down a rematch with Pavlik (who by this point had supplanted JT as HBO's "new favourite"). And lost again, this time by decision.
He lost his next big assignment 14 months later, by KO, with only a handful of seconds left on the clock whilst ahead on points against Carl Froch for the WBC Super Middleweight title. He then decided to enter Showtime's Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament/Fustercluck.
On 17th October 2009, Jermain lost his opening match in the SSS to Artur Abraham by a nasty 12th round KO in Berlin, Germany, the first big combat sports event to be held at the new O2 World Arena. This was Jermain's third concerning knockout loss in the space of nearly 25 months. He was hospitalized with a concussion, suffered memory blanks (he told family he hoped to be out of the hospital soon as he had a fight in Germany to get ready for) and according to former NAC physician, Margaret Goodman, suffered a brain bleed. Two months later Jermain announced that he had withdrew from the SSS. Lou Di Bella proclaimed that if Taylor was to get back in the ring again then he would not be involved in the promotion, he wanted JT on the safe side of the ropes for the rest of his life.
Amazingly, the California State Athletic Commision were satisfied enough of Jermain's health that they granted him a licence to fight on 30.12.11 were he won a decision over Jesse Nicklow. After the bout Taylor spoke of world titles. Lou Di Bella was involved.
5 months later a points victory over the unheralded but talented Caleb Truax, held in the "relaxed" regulatory confines of Biloxi, MS, was tainted by a 9th round knockdown suffered by Jermain. Post fight Taylor cut an impassioned post fight interview, talking as if he had just overcome a prime Sugar Ray Robinson rather than Mr. Truax. An almost facile win over the hapless Raul Munoz followed months after.
At this point Taylor's manager/adviser Al Haymon wants his client to re-apply for a licence in Nevada. After a battery of tests followed by a few more tests with a layer of tests on top of that for good measure the NAC scarily grant Taylor a licence. During this time Taylor doesn't fight. He's out of the ring for 14 months. To date he has yet to fight in the state of Nevada since being granted a licence. He returned in Texas in 2013 with another off TV victory over the seriously shot Julio Cesar Candelo.
Sam Soliman of Australia was the IBF middleweight champion by the summer of 2014 and appeared to want to "cash out" with a big money fight for his first defense, with a host of options in his native country. So imagine the surprize when, seemingly out of the blue, Jermain Taylor was granted the first crack, the venue being a small resort in Biloxi (again). Taylor's sorcerer of an adviser, Mr. Haymon had worked his personal brand of persuasive, dangerous magic again. Sam was seen by some as a soft touch, a little awkward, granted, but the queue of fighters willing to chance their arm against was rather long. Haymon saw his chance and took it, somehow.
But then a couple of months before his world title fight, life got in the way: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2735363/Former-boxing-champion-Jermain-Taylor-accused-shooting-unarmed-cousin-argument-home.html
Check those eyes out: www.doghouseboxing.com/Media-Img-2/Main-Jermain-Taylor-230-Mug-Shot.jpg
Then, just prior to the fight, this video popped up: ringtv.craveonline.com/news/359179-trainer-pat-burns-comments-on-jermain-taylors-bizarre-video
Amazingly, he was still able to take part in the contest. And he won! www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/jermain-taylor-bail-allegedly-shooting-cousin-captures-ibf-middleweight-title-article-1.1968354
Check those eyes out part deux: www.boxingscene.com/uploads/82950/712.jpg
Soliman hurt his knee early on in the contest but it would not have made any difference, Jermain won and won well. He did it!
Things were quiet for short while but then this went down (no arrests were made, however): www.24urban.com/news/boxer-jermain-taylor-throws-brick-at-a-woman
Despite all of this plans were made for Taylor's first defense of his second reign as IBF champ against Sergio Mora (I'm noticing a pattern of non punchers on JT's recent resume, anyone would think he's being protected or has some kind of underlying condition or something) scheduled for March in, you guessed it, Biloxi, MS.
But then this past weekend, the above mooted fight was called off. Lou Di Bella said it was due to a rib injury suffered by Jermain.
Recently this rather peculiar video was uploaded to youtube, allegedly JT was drunk:
Sadly, from just two days ago and from the same venue as the above video: abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/police-boxer-jermain-taylor-face-assault-drug-charges-28334299
A bit more (perturbing) detail from AP: uk.news.yahoo.com/woman-says-boxing-champ-taylor-threatened-kill-children-150656713--spt.html#lkJRJfq
That'll do for now.
