Taylor to stay at 160?

http://secondsout.com/news/index.cfm?ccs=534&cs=20922 Maybe Jermain Taylor is not moving up in weight after all? Jermain Taylor with local Arkansas fan and former US. President Bill Clinton - pic Neil Abramson http://secondsout.com/AcuCustom/Sitename/Icon/Item/taylor_Jermain_Clinton_twoshot_Neil1.jpg By Paul Upham: A couple of weeks ago undisputed middleweight world champion Jermain Taylor indicated in an interview he was on the way up in weight and this weekend would be his last fight in the division. But maybe that wasn't so correct after all. The 28 year-old now says he's not going anywhere. "Exactly, I can stay of course, as long as I want," he said. "I'm having no problem with the weight." Taylor's trainer Emanuel Steward feels that the 2000 USA Olympian can be one of the great middleweights of boxing history. "If he remains at a 160 for another year," he explained, "that's sort of the way he is looking now, that he could be considered one of the best middleweights ever with a tremendous amount of natural talent that he has and I'm just excited about his next fight." This Saturday night Taylor faces 28 year-old aggressive southpaw Kassim Ouma 25-2-1 (15) in a world title fight homecoming at the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas. "Kassim Ouma, he is a great fighter," said Taylor. "I'm not looking down this man. I'm taking it very serious because I know he comes to win, but I want to do my thing. I'm going there and I'm trying to every time I'm getting ready for a fight, so I know that every time I'm in the ring, I'm giving all again." Taylor 25-0-1 (17) rejected any suggestions that he is having trouble making the 160lbs limit. He is just looking to make big fights and will move up if it presents itself, or stay where he is right now. "I have no problem," he said. "It's about whatever you know where the big fight is. I am going to fight the best. So whichever weight I have the best opponent, that's where I want to be in. I only want to fight the best." Steward, who has trained countless world champions over the last four decades, said that his former star Thomas "Hitman" Hearns was very impressed with Taylor. "Tommy said to me that in terms of an athletic ability, he has never seen a fighter before with more athletic ability than Jermain," he said. While he may have upset middleweight great Bernard Hopkins in July 2005 to win the undisputed world title, repel the 'Executioner' in a rematch in December 2005 and then draw with pound for pound contender Winky Wright on June 17 this year, Taylor is still looking for bigger fights. "I just think I have so much to prove," he said. "I think I have so much to prove, not only for me, my fans, to people who are not still willing to be my fan and I think I still have a long way to go." Paul Upham Contributing Editor

Comments (14)

good point. taylor really doesn't know what to do on the inside. Ouma does, but will he be able to get in range early on? he needs to do damage to taylor's body or at least outland taylor and win some rounds on the scorecards. yeah, winky wright stole rounds from taylor but Ouma doesn't have his skills. he'd have to surprise taylor with hard shots to take his head out of the game, so Ouma can use his workrate exactly. Good post Mr Filth.

19y ago

phallus

The only thing with Taylor though is that he has problems fighting on the inside. Winky gave him fits with his tight defence and phonebooth fighting. Kassim is a very good inside fighter although I realize his chances against Taylor are slim. I'd at least like to see a few even rounds. good point. taylor really doesn't know what to do on the inside. Ouma does, but will he be able to get in range early on? he needs to do damage to taylor's body or at least outland taylor and win some rounds on the scorecards. yeah, winky wright stole rounds from taylor but Ouma doesn't have his skills. he'd have to surprise taylor with hard shots to take his head out of the game, so Ouma can use his workrate

19y ago

Bonafide

Why do you ALWAYS say you're gonna be drunk while watching the fight? Not only is it pathetic to drink that much (much less brag about it), but that doesn't give you much credibility afterwards when analyzing fights. ??? Are you stalking me or trolling my posts ? and btw...I aint bragging carnal. I can analyze fights straight or sober.

19y ago

Bonafide

I like Ouma more than Taylor. I'd be extremely happy and would jump out of my seat if he did in fact take Taylor apart. I think the chances of that happening are so damn slim it's not even funny. Taylor throws hard combinations over and over setting them up with the jab. It's nasty and a bad thing for Ouma though. The only thing with Taylor though is that he has problems fighting on the inside. Winky gave him fits with his tight defence and phonebooth fighting. Kassim is a very good inside fighter although I realize his chances against Taylor are slim. I'd at least like to see a few even rounds.

19y ago

tito_yuca

I guess I'd be a little bit shocked. I really like Ouma though as well as Taylor. This is one of those fights that I just wanna be entertained while I'm drunk. Why do you ALWAYS say you're gonna be drunk while watching the fight? Not only is it pathetic to drink that much (much less brag about it), but that doesn't give you much credibility afterwards when analyzing fights.

19y ago

Run8964

I guess I'd be a little bit shocked. I really like Ouma though as well as Taylor. This is one of those fights that I just wanna be entertained while I'm drunk. I like Ouma more than Taylor. I'd be extremely happy and would jump out of my seat if he did in fact take Taylor apart. I think the chances of that happening are so damn slim it's not even funny. Taylor throws hard combinations over and over setting them up with the jab. It's nasty and a bad thing for Ouma though. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

19y ago

phallus

I think it's going to be one sided and won't last for more than 5 rounds. Ouma I'd predict will go to the canvas about six or seven times. i keep having this nightmare over and over, Ouma caught on the end of taylor's beautiful jab, his face all busted up, then kassim shoeshining taylor's body, and taylor laughing then knocking him down

19y ago

Bonafide

I'd be beyond shocked. Ouma is taylor made to recieve a beating this time around. I guess I'd be a little bit shocked. I really like Ouma though as well as Taylor. This is one of those fights that I just wanna be entertained while I'm drunk.

19y ago

Run8964

i'm getting scared for Ouma, i hope taylor doesn't fuck him up too bad I think it's going to be one sided and won't last for more than 5 rounds. Ouma I'd predict will go to the canvas about six or seven times. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

19y ago

phallus

I'd be beyond shocked. Ouma is taylor made to recieve a beating this time around. i'm getting scared for Ouma, i hope taylor doesn't fuck him up too bad

19y ago

Run8964

I'll be surprised if Ouma beats Taylor this weekend. I wont be shocked though. I'd be beyond shocked. Ouma is taylor made to recieve a beating this time around. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

19y ago

Bonafide

I'll be surprised if Ouma beats Taylor this weekend. I wont be shocked though.

19y ago

Run8964

If he's comfortable at 160, he should stay there. Nobody is going to beat him at middleweight for a while. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

19y ago

Brockton_Lip

I don't know, I think he will move up, but after 2 or 3 more fights. Ouma, rematch with Wright, and perhaps Mora. He said it was getting a little difficult making weight in another interview unless he changed his mind or something.

19y ago