Meldrick Taylor vs Chavez I: what are your thoughts on this fight?

[JAB5239]

I've argued this with both Scott9945 and Joseph5620 for years now. In my opinion the bottom line is that the fight isn't over until the final bell and Taylor wasn't responding to Steeles questions. Doesn't matter if Chavez couldn't have made it across the ring to land another punch in time. If there was a minute left and the same situation occured the stoppage would be warranted, so this was to. Jmo.

[sonnyboyx2]

He knew exactly how much time was left because Referees are notified when there are 10 seconds left in the round. Steele never forced Chavez to a neutral corner. Steel never asked Taylor to walk towards him. All basic things a referee is supposed to be aware of and enforce. Horrible stoppage in a championship fight and there is no justification for it. Steele knew what he was doing in more ways than one. I also get sick of hearing about how much punishment Taylor had taken as if that was Steele's primary concern. If that was true Steele would have stopped it before the knockdown but he never came close to doing it. And neither did the ring Doctor. As far as if it had been 15, that's irrelevant. It wasn't a 15 round fight.

a referee never tells a fighter to,"Walk towards him"?.... i cannot recall a referee doing that

[Thread Stealer]

In reference to Taylor's defense, you never hear it mentioned anymore but he suffered a significant knee injury the year before. It limited his movement a bit, & might've contributed to his ultimate downfall. I wouldn't be surprised.

I won't touch on my thoughts regarding the stoppage itself & whether I endorse it or I don't, but I will say that Taylor is more myth than reality, in terms of how good he is, or was going to be.

Edit: One thing more. Far & wide, the criticism goes out toward Duva & Benton regarding their instructions for Taylor & the final round. I would just like to say one thing in their defense --- Duva & Benton were old heads, well-schooled in the wheelings & dealings of what it meant to be up against a Don King fighter. They'd personally experienced the thieving corruption of those touched by King's influence, as well as having seen it happen to others around them.

Maybe I'm being a little soft but, call me crazy, I can understand why Duva & Benton were willing Taylor to finish strongly. It only takes a strong round or two near the finish line for King's money to be the difference --- sometimes, not even that.

Good points.

I agree Taylor was more myth in reality in terms of what he was going to be, but not necessarily what he was at the time. He was an excellent 140 lb. fighter for a short period of time.

But given his weight problems at 140, the talent level at 147 around that time, and his size and style, he was always going to have a short stay at the top IMO.

[Filipino Floyd]

a referee never tells a fighter to,"Walk towards him"?.... i cannot recall a referee doing that

I've heard ref's tell fighters plenty of times to "step towards me". The wording might be different but in either case Taylor wasn't doing it.

[sonnyboyx2]

I've heard ref's tell fighters plenty of times to "step towards me". The wording might be different but in either case Taylor wasn't doing it.

yes but it is not a rule of refereeing which is obligatory..

[Scott9945]

yes but it is not a rule of refereeing which is obligatory..

It is the referee's discretion on what criteria he uses to determine a fighter's ability to continue. The problem here is that Steele had differents standards for different fighters. Anyone who doesn't believe that should check out the first Barkley-Hearns fight.

Anyways, Taylor got screwed out of a win that night. I feel just as strongly about that now as I did 21 years ago.

[joseph5620]

It is the referee's discretion on what criteria he uses to determine a fighter's ability to continue. The problem here is that Steele had differents standards for different fighters. Anyone who doesn't believe that should check out the first Barkley-Hearns fight.

Anyways, Taylor got screwed out of a win that night. I feel just as strongly about that now as I did 21 years ago.

Absolutely. No one can tell me that Taylor was anywhere near in the kind of trouble Hearns was in. And Steele let that one continue. Like I said, Steele knew what he was doing and why he was doing it. Nothing will ever change my mind about that.

[Rockin']

a referee never tells a fighter to,"Walk towards him"?.... i cannot recall a referee doing that

oh yeah they do. I was told that it's something you can do to test the fighter at the certification for professional referees. Some refs will grab the fighters gloves and pull them towards them to check their balance. They definately ask a fighter to step towards them, tests cognative skills......Rockin'

[Toney616]

oh yeah they do.

Is the least he could have done, especially for a championship fight

[joseph5620]

I've argued this with both Scott9945 and Joseph5620 for years now. In my opinion the bottom line is that the fight isn't over until the final bell and Taylor wasn't responding to Steeles questions. Doesn't matter if Chavez couldn't have made it across the ring to land another punch in time. If there was a minute left and the same situation occured the stoppage would be warranted, so this was to. Jmo.

Jab I've retired from those type of debates lol. I've learned to just make a point and let it go because it's not likely going to change anybody's mind. I'm a 10 round guy now