Taylor-Chavez Debacle: Whose Fault?

**Thread Stealer** · 04-20-2010, 02:41 PM

Not only does Lou Duva deserve blame for distracting Taylor while Steele was asking him if he was alright, but also for dumb decisions in his career afterwards. I'm assuming he had a say in which opponents Taylor would face.

A couple years later, after Taylor had moved up and won a WW title, but looked shaky and was dropped twice in a title defense against Glenwood Brown, his team decides to have him move up yet again and fight Terry Norris. Great move.

**Miburo** · 04-20-2010, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by PED User

Not only does Lou Duva deserve blame for distracting Taylor while Steele was asking him if he was alright, but also for dumb decisions in his career afterwards. I'm assuming he had a say in which opponents Taylor would face.

A couple years later, after Taylor had moved up and won a WW title, but looked shaky and was dropped twice in a title defense against Glenwood Brown, his team decides to have him move up yet again and fight Terry Norris. Great move.

Haha, you're absolute right about the career moves. Your fighter shows susceptibility to punches at WW, so let's have him move up another class and take on a murderous puncher.

**r.burgundy** · 04-20-2010, 04:26 PM

richard steele is a joke.taylor was up at 6 and responded the 1st time steele asked if he was ok.im not even sure he made sure chavez was in a neutral corner 1st.and any ref is supposed to know the time left so they could know exactly when to step in as the round winds down

**JAB5239** · 04-20-2010, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by r.burgundy

richard steele is a joke.taylor was up at 6 and responded the 1st time steele asked if he was ok.im not even sure he made sure chavez was in a neutral corner 1st.and any ref is supposed to know the time left so they could know exactly when to step in as the round winds down

I disagree Ron. The blame lies strictly with Taylor in my opinion. Duva certainly didn't help any, but it was Meldrick's responsibility to be able and respond in a way that conveyed he was ok. He wasn't ok and was distracted, leaving Steele with one choice, the only fair choice, and that was to waive the fight over. Time has nothing to do with stepping in when a round ends, position does. Whether there was 2 seconds left or 2 rounds, Taylor was a beaten fighter. Steele absolutely made the right decision in my opinion.

**BigStereotype** · 04-20-2010, 06:38 PM

I think it's a justifiable stoppage. If there had been a minute left, nobody would have a problem with that. Taylor was out on his feet and the way Chavez was pummeling him in that last round, he could have been killed. I don't think the time factors into whether a fighter should be stopped. He was not able to continue. That being said, if he had just stayed down, he would have been saved by the bell.

**JAB5239** · 04-20-2010, 06:46 PM

Originally posted by AmericanYeti

I think it's a justifiable stoppage. If there had been a minute left, nobody would have a problem with that. Taylor was out on his feet and the way Chavez was pummeling him in that last round, he could have been killed. I don't think the time factors into whether a fighter should be stopped. He was not able to continue. That being said, if he had just stayed down, he would have been saved by the bell.

I never looked at it like that. Thats a good point!

**BigStereotype** · 04-20-2010, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by JAB5239

I never looked at it like that. Thats a good point!

Yeah, I never had either until I watched the fight the second time. Larry Merchant made a big deal about being saved by the bell in the 12th round, but I never put the dots together that if Taylor had been a little less brave, he would have won.

**JAB5239** · 04-20-2010, 07:25 PM

Originally posted by AmericanYeti

Yeah, I never had either until I watched the fight the second time. Larry Merchant made a big deal about being saved by the bell in the 12th round, but I never put the dots together that if Taylor had been a little less brave, he would have won.

That, at least to my train of thought, is even more proof the stoppage was his own fault. Had he not been in such a rush and took the time to get his bearings he probably would have been saved by the bell. I don't see how it can be argued its anyone else's fault. I do believe he was distracted somewhat by Duva, but if he had been thinking correctly that probably wouldn't have been the case. No matter what though Mel was a beaten fighter. Lets say he did get the win, I've never seen the winner of a fight in so much worse a condition than the loser. Steele made the right call.

**Thread Stealer** · 04-20-2010, 07:54 PM

Originally posted by AmericanYeti

I think it's a justifiable stoppage. If there had been a minute left, nobody would have a problem with that. Taylor was out on his feet and the way Chavez was pummeling him in that last round, he could have been killed. I don't think the time factors into whether a fighter should be stopped. He was not able to continue. That being said, if he had just stayed down, he would have been saved by the bell.

He would've been counted out.

Taylor hits the canvas with 15-16 seconds left and the mandatory eight count ended with 7 seconds left.

Taylor-Chavez Debacle: Whose Fault?