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On a night when the World Boxing Council spotlighted its open scoring system, it’s fitting that Jermain Taylor chose to suit himself, scoring openly, easily and often against Kassim Ouma.
So had Michael Buffer not announced the judges’ tallies after the fourth and eighth rounds, there still would have been little surprise when the unanimous decision victory was announced for Taylor – though Sergio Silvi’s 115-113 scorecard raised more than a few eyebrows.
For 12 rounds, Taylor’s crisp combos alighted consistently on an Ouma who, with a five-inch disadvantage in height and an immeasurable power discrepancy, continued to come forward but could not land with punishing force. Taylor’s punches whooshed through the air, thudding upon Ouma’s face and body and doing what Taylor had been unable to against Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright – make an impact.
Against Hopkins, Taylor took two close, controversial decisions, winning mainly because he did slightly more than his maddeningly patient opponent. Taylor’s bout with Wright ended as a disputed draw, Taylor retaining the middleweight championship by the skin of his teeth.
But on Saturday, Taylor closed the show as the clear winner for the first time since the pre-Hopkins era, back when he had yet to lose a round. That was the Taylor who had been chosen as the heir apparent to the middleweight division, but since then his stature has grown at a far quicker rate than his ability.
At times, Taylor drifts into amateur tendencies, keeping his hands low, forgetting about his jab, making technical mistakes and compensating solely by relying on innate athleticism. Yet as the middleweight king, he is given neither time, rhyme nor reason to improve. [details]
So had Michael Buffer not announced the judges’ tallies after the fourth and eighth rounds, there still would have been little surprise when the unanimous decision victory was announced for Taylor – though Sergio Silvi’s 115-113 scorecard raised more than a few eyebrows.
For 12 rounds, Taylor’s crisp combos alighted consistently on an Ouma who, with a five-inch disadvantage in height and an immeasurable power discrepancy, continued to come forward but could not land with punishing force. Taylor’s punches whooshed through the air, thudding upon Ouma’s face and body and doing what Taylor had been unable to against Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright – make an impact.
Against Hopkins, Taylor took two close, controversial decisions, winning mainly because he did slightly more than his maddeningly patient opponent. Taylor’s bout with Wright ended as a disputed draw, Taylor retaining the middleweight championship by the skin of his teeth.
But on Saturday, Taylor closed the show as the clear winner for the first time since the pre-Hopkins era, back when he had yet to lose a round. That was the Taylor who had been chosen as the heir apparent to the middleweight division, but since then his stature has grown at a far quicker rate than his ability.
At times, Taylor drifts into amateur tendencies, keeping his hands low, forgetting about his jab, making technical mistakes and compensating solely by relying on innate athleticism. Yet as the middleweight king, he is given neither time, rhyme nor reason to improve. [details]