What if Meldrick Taylor....

I liked him the way he was. The way he zipped fast combos in the Perez and Chavez fights, dazzling the opposition and leaving them with that bewildered look.

 

You mean if he wasn't from Philly? 'Cause I never seen a Philly fighter back down from a fight.

 

Michael Dokes had a bit of the same problem, but if Meldrick wasn't that in-your-face fighter, he would have definitely lasted a few more years.

 

This content is protected

 

Meldrick was great! He IMO had all of the tools and speed necesary to become a defensive fighter ala sweet Pea and as elusive as PBF if he chose to. However he had the mentality that he wanted to be a warrior, out tough you and be able to dish out morre than you could. unforunately he didn't posses great power at any time, and that severely lessened as he went up in weight....that needed power would have been a great intangible to possess with that mentality. perhaps had he refined his game he could have lasted a little longer, and maybe beat Chavez (although in my book he already DID!), and be ranked higher on hypothetical P4P lists...But I doubt he would be remembered and loved the way he is. I would change nothing from his legacy other than the traumatic effects his efforts, have paid his head and body.

 

he got to the place he was becuase of his style and speed ...he was a small man with a decent reach but his jab wasnt his thing. he won fights on combinations and footspeed.

if he hadnt used this style and had that attitude he wouldnt of got a fight with chavez in the first place. people forget that he gave norris alot of problems when on the inside but dormant on the outside.

just becuase he had handspeed doesnt mean he wasnt a hard working swarmer.

 

taylor's style was so far removed from a safety first cutie type that i find this hard to contemplate.

It's a bit like wondering if Caveman Lee would have been great had he not suffered from a complete lack of talent.

The thing that would have helped Taylor more was having more power.Had he a good punch he might have been special.

 

i would actually argue that having good defensive skills can make you an excellant attacker as you can keep using defensive manuevers to change angles and you will probably know what to expect in return defensive wise. so i think he woulod have been more effective attacking

BTW this works the opposite way as mayweather copies alot of pryors moves but uses them defensivly

 

I don't know if i agree with the Norris assessment?? The fight only lasted 4 rds so i can't say norris had a lot of problems. Taylor was coming off of one of his best wins agains unbeaten davis (Post Chavez I no less!). he badly wanted Chavez again, but chavez did not want or need to move up in weight yet to fight him again. so Norris was the biggest match taylor could hope for at this point...Unfortunately it also meant that a not so powerful anyway taylor would agian move up in weight where even a greater power disparity would exist. I guess you could say that for the 1st rd he gave Norris all he could want..blazing speed good combo's nice infighting, good movement...but it seemed clear by the second rd that norris did not respect taylors power enough to allow taylor to do what he needed to in order to win..rd's 2-4 showed that even with his speed he was not naturally strong enough to compete in that weight class on a top level.

 

I won't disput that defensive skills can certainly enhance offensive opportunities...I just don't believe taylor wanted to out think you as much as he wanted to out pound and matybe even more to the point outGUT you.

 

Never seen a fighter with Leonard skill and Duran style.

 

i know meldrick loved a fight but i think his defensive skills enhanced his attack a bit but hes not a really good example of it.

i think pryors the best example.

 

I think coke played as much a part in Taylors downfall as being a 'Philly ighter'. That made him what he was.

The question should be; 'What if Meldrick Taylor had got on his bike in the final round against Chavez? He'd be a healthier and wealthier man that's for sure'.