by David P. Greisman

Former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor has been charged with first-degree battery and aggravated assault following a shooting early in the evening on Tuesday at his home in Arkansas, according to Arkansas Online.

While the shooting had initially been reported as wounding an intruder, the person shot was actually Taylor’s cousin.

“The cousin was unarmed when he came to Taylor’s home … and an altercation developed,” the newspaper said, citing local police.

Authorities soon found the cousin at a Dollar General not far from the scene.

Taylor, 36, is scheduled to fight for a world title on Oct. 8 against fellow 160-pounder Sam Soliman. Taylor is 32-4-1 with 20 KOs.

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