Disagree. I don't think Taylor can really achieve much now; his prime is gone and this is a tough division. Jermain's had a very intense career since becoming champion and has been in some very grueling fights. It's time for him to take a well-earned rest and relax for a while with his family. If he chooses to return to the sport, I hope it won't be anything too serious. He made the right decision.
Let me post what he said from another thread. I don't think it is even worth counting the errors in it. Not that his bias and man love aren't hanging out all over the place in it...
A lot of history being rewritten here (mainly the idea that Jermain Taylor would've had a different career if he didn't change trainers, trainers aren't capable of fixing mental toughness unless you're a Teddy Atlas worshipper)...but let's put that aside. Props to Jermain for dethroning Hopkins at a time where he looked unstoppable. Props to Jermain for stepping up to fight whoever was put in front of him. Props to Taylor for two great fights against Kelly Pavlik. Props to him for a great fight against Froch. But more important than that, the upmost respect and gratitude to Jermain for being a class act and an upstanding gentleman outside of the ring. Here's hoping Taylor enjoys his hard earned money and retirement.
The man got into the ring with top opponents back to back over again. Can't say that about most of top fighters today.
Yeah, there's a lot of revisionism going on here, most of it to prop up Taylor who, while a decent fighter, got where he did in the sport largely because of his HBO backing. His "wins" over Hopkins and Wright were gift decisions, and then he went to fight a couple of carefully picked lighter weight fighters in Spinks and Ouma - one of whom, Spinks, he arguably lost to. As soon as he started fighting top level fighters in their prime at his own weight, he started getting knocked out. Fact is, Taylor never clearly beat ANY top fighter at his own weight that was even close to their prime. Without the big HBO push, he loses to both Hopkins and Wright, and is a decent contender, nothing more. Still an accomplishment, but nowhere near what happened. And two true ATGs got screwed in the process.
I have a hard time believeing that you thought he was P4P and destined for greatness before the Pavlik and Froch fights. Loses to Winky, Controversial win over Spinks (who 147 Judah KO'd) and win over Ouma (who 154 Karmazin dropped 2x, hurt and beat far more convincingly) P4P, really? Zakman's analysis below is dead on imo.
It's a shame that he is forced to choose to retire or not before age 35. I remember just about 5 years ago when he dethroned Hopkins. I hope people remember him pre Pavlik fight instead of for the Abraham fight. BTW I think Spinks beat him and I think Taylor beat Wright. Winky just didn't do enough in the later rounds to really show he deserved it.
Pavlik fans just love to make Taylor seem like he was some god like world beater. I wonder why that is?:think
If Jermain enjoyed boxing 1/2 as much as some of the posters on this forum he would've been an ATG. He never liked boxing, he was blessed with athletic talent and he utilized it. If he had been a student of the game he would've known to throw an uppercut when he had Pavilik in trouble during the first fight. Also, in his lost to Froch all he had to do is clinch, and grab Froch from behind his neck, if he does these things thats two L's off of his record.
yea if anyone could use a well needed rest from boxing its Taylor. Taylor is a prime example of a fighter who always fights the best instead of getting into the politics of boxing and ducking, yet some bash him because he isn't undefeated these people need to seriously stop it, they bash a boxer for not fighting the best then when the fighter decides to fight the best but happens to lose they are a bum. That said thanks JT for giving us true boxing fans great fights win or lose while fighting hte best.