But how? Let's say he wins that fight by decision. He's already taken a bad beating in there, and probably had his share of Philadelphia gym wars as well. He goes up to 147 and beats Davis for the WBA belt a year later. He still has to deal with dangerous mandatories like Espana, or perhaps a bout with his friend Whitaker. Maybe he beats McGirt again in a unification bout if McGirt fights Taylor instead of Pea, but not too long after that, guys like Trinidad and Quartey became top welterweights. And then there was the brilliant move by his management to have him fight Terry Norris. :verysad
great post! plain and simple Meldrick was not a 147 pounder. The jump between those weight classes is enormous and he didn't have the frame. Within five years he'd be facing fighters FAR bigger than him. If he had won the Chavez fight with minimal damage and stayed at 140 he'd have been great. At 147 he never had a chance.
Shame to see the man now, it's difficult to understand a word he says (Hell, and that footage is at least five years old) and he's only in his early forties now. One of the fastest fighters of all time, and a fantastic combination puncher. Tough as Hell, which is a shame as if he could've worked on backing out after letting off a combination rather than getting dragged into a war he could've been close to unbeatable, as it took a lot to take him out even when he was using his face as a defence.
Nice find. :good People say the guy in my avy fights a lot like Taylor but I think Gamboa is a better comparison the way he lets his hands go and throws his combinations.