Never saw this one back when it happened, but watched it recently. Sad state of affairs. The man who fought Espana that evening hardly had a semblance to the guy who soundly beat Buddy McGirt and galantly fought Chavez years earlier. He looked sluggish and disinterested. The timing really couldn't have been worse for Meldrick. He had just taken a terrible demoralizing beating from Terry Norris just five months earlier. And Espana was a career welter weight who had spent his entire life in that class and even dabbled around in Jr. Middle at times. He was the naturally bigger stronger man with momentum.
That fight was a brutal beat-down. But, if you haven't seen Espana vs Ike Quartey, I highly recommend it. It is a two way WAR.
Yes, Taylor was clearly past his best in that fight. Even so, I think he would have had problems with the much stronger Espana even before the Norris fight.
Put simply, it is known as " tough sh it " Plenty of fighters over the years have taken on " naturally " bigger guys and found a way to prevail.
Claws was a good fighter long reach hard hitting tough . I think maybe Taylor would have outpointed him before Norris but after Terry had hammered him he was spent.
I was their on the night, Lewis vs Ruddock was the main event at Earls Court. Meldrick Taylor looked terrible, he was a `shot` fighter and it was hurtful watching him get badly beaten, by Claws.
Taylor had some of the fastest hands in boxing, however, he had a number of problems, i.e. he was a natural welterweight, but punched and took punches like a lightweight. Also, he was never a great defensive fighter. All that spells / spelled disaster against a guy as strong as Espana.
