@ 140 - Who ya got and how, why? Lotta love for Frankie on here at the moment, and Meldrick was a beast in his prime. Fire away...
It's a great matchup. Randall hit harder. Taylor had slightly better hand speed. Randall was a little better defensively. Taylor fought a better version of Chavez than Randall did. I'll go with Taylor by split decision in a great fight.
I think Taylor's fast hands, great boxing ability and the stamina to keep up a fast pace for 12 rounds would see him to a decision win. Randall's career is largely built on beating aging renditions of Coggi and Chavez - both of whom won later fights against him anyway. The chavez of 1990 was a better fighter than anyone Randall ever faced and Meldrick took almost every round against him before the unfortunate and controversial ending in the closing seconds. Beating a prime McGirt wasn't too bad either..
Agree Taylor would win but Randall in '94 and '95 was fighting at an extremely high level. I give no credence to the idea that Chavez and Coggi legitimately avenged their losses to Randall. Both fights ended in TD's where both Chavez and Coggi quit. Most fans and writers thought Randall was ahead of Chavez at the time of the cut, and only a bogus point deduction allowed Chavez to escape. Even then, it appeared Randall was still ahead. It is highly doubtfull Chavez would have won had the fight gone the distance - he may have even been stopped. He was getting punished throughout the 8th round. As for the Randall/Coggi rematch, that was a total farce. Coggi was carried out of the ring on a stretcher and was likely faking. It was just like Terry Norris v. Luis Santana. Are you prepared to say Luis Santana legitimately beat Terry Norris? Of course not. Randall then won a UD against Coggi in the third fight. Taylor and Randall were both very elite at 140 lbs. for short periods of time.
Agreed and I saw both of the first two Chavez fights. Julio did manage to win the rubber match against Randall later on but they were both basically shot. Randall was tough no doubt. But I think taylor edges it. Frankie lost 18 of his pro fights and his best wins are against men who were on the downs albeit still good ones. Taylor beat peaking renditions of McGirt, Davis and gave a prime Chavez fits.
Becase while not landing as many scoring blows, Chavez landed harder shots, and Taylor did puff up anyway, whereas Chavez did not. It's perfectly possible for a guy in that scenario to win all the little battles en route to losing the war. I see nothing odd in that statement.
I think Taylor at his best, would take a clear decision over the Surgeon...Meldrick at his best was very very good...Great handspeed and heart.
Taylor was the total package, though the surgeon had pinpoint accuracy with that right hand, I don't think he'd be able to overcome the natural athleticism, speed and combinations of A prime Taylor. Would of been a pretty good fight though. Taylor UD12
The Taylor that beat up Buddy McGirt against the Randall that beat Chavez would have been an excellent fast paced scrap. Randall looked very sharp and focused when he defeated Chavez and could have given Taylor a bruising with his right hand but I can also see Taylor outscoring Randall as well with his flashier combos. If Randall doesn't knock Taylor down I can see Taylor edging it by decision.
