PHILADELPHIA (August 15, 2013)From the time he wrote down on a dresser drawer as an eight year old child that he would become a world champion, Meldrick Taylor had only one goal. From being a prized amateur and a 1984 Olympic Gold Medal winner and then in 1988 finally realizing his dream when he knocked out Buddy McGirt to become the IBF Jr. Welterweight champion, Taylor wasnt done. After making two defenses, Taylor then took on his greatest challenge against then 68-0 future legend Julio Cesar Chavez. Taylor went in as a big underdog but dominated the bout until he was controversially stopped just two seconds before the end of the fight. Now, along with Taylors business partner Damon Feldman, a movie that will chronicle the life of Taylor is being shopped throughout Hollywood. The working title is Two Seconds from Glory, an obvious reference to the memorable fight with Chavez. I am in talks with a few companies now, this is the Next Big Boxing movie, says Damon Feldman. The feedback has been tremendous and we have reached out to a few A-list actors who we feel would be perfect for the movie. They all have shown a great amount of interest. There are so many actors who are big boxing fans and a couple in particular know Meldricks story very well and when they were presented the script, they were very interested. We promise it will be a tremendous movie with some big name actors taking part in the film Taylor will be signing copies of his book TONIGHT at the Deck in Essington as part of his promotional company Champions of Tomorrow presents its 2nd fight card
Good for him. Although I don't think the ref necessarily made the wrong call in that fight, I'm all for Meldrick being able to cash in from it. Lord knows he took enough of a beating to earn it.
I hope Meldrick does cash in bigtime with the movie. Hopefully the director who takes on the assignment presents a credible view of the true side of it all and does'nt depict the the story as one where Meldrick gets it stolen from him. Present it real! Meldrick fighting great, but getting systematically beaten down in the process, the stoppage coming two seconds away from glory! Hope the movie does'nt opiniate the stoppage as right or wrong, but just tells the story as it was, letting the viewers decide for themselves. If the movie does'nt depict an opinion on the stoppage, the story itself has the potential to become a great movie. Either way I hope Meldrick Taylor gets paid handsomely!
A prizefight and two seconds changed the course of a mans life. You throw in the story of Meldrick Taylor's trials and tribulations of his personal life, the demons he faced before and after the Superfight and you got yourself the makings of a good movie if told, directed, and produced correctly. Personally I think Meldrick Taylors story would make a great movie simply because it does'nt have a storybook ending. It has a true ending where everything does'nt turn up roses even though you're oh so close. I think alot of people will relate to the story. Many of us are oh so close to getting a break that eventually never comes. Life does'nt end, it continues. Its continued for Meldrick even though the results of boxing have been hard on him. There can be a moral to this story that lifts our hearts. Life is true. Everything does'nt come up roses. Live on!
And yet, it's one of the most talked about fights in the history of boxing. A fight that's been a subject of heavy debate every year since it happened. I think it's a great story. In this case, the journey is just as important as the conclusion. He's a gold medalist who challenged a legend and almost won. I hope they don't try to be biased and make it seem like Taylor got the shaft. The stoppage was the right decision and there is nothing anyone can do to change it. Focus on Taylor's life, his accomplishments and then the big climax.
Taylor's plight afterward should be a big part of the movie, I feel. Would love to find out things Taylor went through before and after the Chavez most of us dont know about.
There's definitely a story to be told after the fight, but it won't be a happy one. He won some fights, even beating some good fighters afterwards, but eventually getting knocked out by Norris, Espana and again by Chavez. The fight with Chavez ruined him. He was urinated blood afterwards and had a number of fractures. Afterwards, he just wasn't the same.
Thats the most interesting part of the storyline, one fight changing the course of not only his boxing career but his life. The fact that he took other beatings afterward. That he hung on and fought way to many fights allready having been damaged is a lesson to be learned for every boxer thats active and even a lesson for people in their everyday lives.
Looking forward to it, always loved and appreciated Meldrick. It's great to hear of him again and know he's doing well.
I agree wholeheartedly. If they refrain from making it too melodramatic, it's got the potential to be outstanding. But we'll see...typically, boxing bio movies are never done right, even if they're given A+++ source material, because they can't resist dumbin' it down and turning it into a good vs evil play instead of portraying the story honestly with the complexity it deserves (see: Cinderella Man, The Hurricane, etc)
This is interesting. Honestly I really don't think Taylor's career would've been that different if he hadn't lost in a brutal fight with Chavez, or even if he hadn't fought Chavez at all. I always see a short stay at the top of the sport for him. I'm going with the assumption that the claims of his weight problems at 140 were legit. It's definitely not hard to envision him having problems making 140 with his stocky frame. He did make it later in 1994, but I think that was partially because he was simply desperate for a big fight and a chance at personal revenge with Chavez. If he gets the win over Chavez, or never fights him at all, how much different does his career go? He goes to welterweight, wins the WBA title against Aaron Davis in 1991, but look at the talent level around him. Stable-mate Pernell Whitaker goes to WW a couple years later. Cristano Espana would've always been a touch matchup for Taylor IMO due to his style and dimensions (or Taylor's lackthereof). Ike Quartey and Felix Trinidad rose to the top of the WW scene in 1993/94. Simon Brown would've been a real dangerous opponent for Taylor with his power. Taylor still probably is involved in brutal Philly gym wars. Taylor might've lasted a little longer at the top of the sport since there's less damage to the body, but with his style and the talent around him, I can't see his career going that much different in terms of his stay at the top.
