It was TERRIBEL stoppage. If Taylor had went down for a 2nd or third time then this wouldn't have been the worse stoppage ever.
Taylor was not great in my mind. Also, that fight proved how great Chavez was to keep trying to get the knockout right to the end.
Taylor took a bad beating, it's clear to see. His speech wasn't bad though until years later, and he had the 2nd best win o his career a year after Chavez. He just took too much punishment in general. Does anyone NOT picture Taylor as a Philly gym war type of guy?
thank you...because i was about to post this... props for taylor's boxing skills...but steele did the right thing. end of story. for those who think taylor was robbed, the rematch took care of this
The rematch was just a case of who had declined less over the four and a half years. Taylor performed better than expected, but his punch resistance and legs were just too poor.
there's a difference...Chavez declined because he had already fought like 90 fights, which even nowadays is unheard of Taylor declined because he fought chavez that first time :deal
At end of fight, Taylor was damaged, broken, bleeding, and needed hospitalization. Chavez, who put him in that condition, was fine at end. To give Taylor decision would have been wrong. For every 3 or 4 punches Taylor landed, Chavez would land 1 or 2 that did way more damage and caused more pain. Just look at how both came out of it.
Taylor was still very good after Chavez, even if not 100% of what he was. He was always going to lose something by going to 147. The Norris and Espana fights took what was left of him. By the time they had a rematch, it was just a money grabber.
Rounds are 3:00, not 2:58. All Taylor had to do was nod and come forward and he would've gotten the decision. He didn't. Correct stoppage.
While we're on the topic of Meldrick Taylor, I do believe the Chavez fight took alot out of him, but its going over the top to say it ruined him....... I think what ruined Taylor was Main Events. The Duva's ruined Meldrick Taylor. After you take a sustained beatdown, suffer numerous external and internal injuries from that Chavez fight. Have a 4 day stay at a hopital over it......... What trainer, promoter, etc.....in their right mind has Taylor fighting just 5 months afterward????atsch Those ****wits at Main Events totally overmatch Taylor against Terry Norris for Norris' juniormiddleweight title....... They do it to Taylor once again, just 5 months after getting blitzed in 4 rounds by Terry Norris, Taylor is fighting Espana and gets totally dominated.:-( After taking a beating, the body needs time to heal. Its no wonder Meldrick Taylor is in the condition he is in now, those turds known as the Duva family did not look out for Taylor's best interest. What they did to Taylor is shameful!:-(
Agreed, except Espana was a mandatory so I don't expect them to avoid him. I've said a few times that I thought Team Taylor just cashed out on him with the Terry Norris fight. I can't imagine his team really thinking he'd go up in weight again and beat Norris, especially after the way he had just looked against Glenwood Brown. I actually liked that performance from Taylor, from a mental standpoint. Down twice in the first 4 rounds, up against a bigger guy, and Taylor's punch resistance was already looking shaky by the way he reacted to clean shots, but he rallied and toughed it out to win a well-deserved decision with nice bodywork.
I agree they worked him hard after the first Chavez fight. Moving up just made his defensive liabilities more noticeable since when he was hit at higher weights he was hurt quicker. Take a look at fights he won like Meekins and McGirt. He was a little banged up after those fights. He was not a defensive fighter. He liked to get in close to use his fast hands and win rounds.
I was'nt referring to Taylor matching up with Espana, I just dont think it was prudent having him fight 5 months after getting steamrolled by Norris. I'm sure Main Events could have worked it out with the sanctioning body to have the Espana fight wait a few more months and let Taylor recoup from the Norris fight.
Stoppage was a disgrace. Watching that makes me sick to my stomach. I haven't watched it in years. The stoppage is what hurt Taylor not the punches.