I dont subsribe to the belief that Taylor was winning that fight by a mile and schooling JCC. A lot of Taylor Punches were landing on gloves and missing. JCC was connecting with lots of punches that were going unrecognised by commentators I felt MT was winning the fight by 2 rounds before getting stopped
I felt it was close, and Meldricks face and swelling proved he was being hit. My friend was at the fight in Vegas and he said when he was there live it was closer than HBO made it out to be.
Looked damn close to me. I think the neophyte observers were over-impressed by Taylor's quick combo's and completely missed the counters and infighting of Chavez that provided such obvious physical damage.
Was pretty close. I had Meldrick winning even with the knockdown at the end but not by much. Had it gone to the cards that is.
I thought it was closer than a lot of people said it was. People said Taylor was outboxing Chavez and using the right movement, but largely I thought it was a case of Taylor OUTWORKING Chavez. Taylor was still getting hit cleanly throughout the bout, he was just throwing so damn much that he was landing more shots, although a lot of his shots were grazing or arm punches. On the inside, Taylor was throwing so many punches in bunches. That clown Ferdie Pacheco said during the Whitaker fight "Whitaker is fighting just like Meldrick Taylor". No he wasn't. Whitaker was using the ring a lot, backing up, giving weird angles at closer range, picking his shots, and avoiding a lot of the leather when at range. Taylor's movement and use of angles were more basic (he didn't use a lot of angles at close range), and he was winning largely because of workrate and the numbers game. You throw a gazillion punches and a good number are bound to land. But leaving himself open like that caught up to him. I had it 7-3-1 for Taylor going into the 12th.
In truth, I had Taylor ahead 7 to 4 over Chavez back in 1990.... Even with a knockdown in round 12, I felt Taylor would get the decision.... But no doubt Taylor was busted up badly just from Chavez' punches that did land.... Taylor had heart and soul, but he did not take or absorb punches well.... Once his reflexes went south, so did his career...... Steele blew the call in rd. 12, but does it matter anymore???? Taylor was a limp dick at 140 in his rematch with Chavez in 1994..... Pathetic......... MR.BILL:bbb:admin:hat
I had Chavez a head on my scorecard in that fight. I am kinda of shock I may be the only person in the world to have that card.
Go back to 1985 for "Juan Meza vs. Lupe Pintor" from Mexico..... Champion Meza threw and landed a huge shitload of punches on Pintor, but Pintor managed to drop Meza 3X during the fight and got the decision and took the title at 126 pounds...... In truth, Meza had the points by a mile, but he hit the floor 3X and it killed him on the cards in the end.... I still got the tape.... MR.BILLbbb:hat
Great points. He was outworking him YES but no way was he ever schooling him during any part of the fight. Pea was schooling a more faded JCC during most of that fight. If the fight had of been 15 rounds (Like world championships fights should be), The result would of not been in doubt. JCC would of knocked him out in the 13th or 14th round
honestly, at my most generous i gave chavez 4 rounds. rewatching it recently, chavez certainly landed the better blows but when you're a) outlanded 3-1 and b)your opponent COMPLETELY dictates the texture of the fight (which let's be honest, would have stayed on the ropes if chavez had exerted his will) it's hard to score many rounds in your favour
