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by Bob Canobbio - Jermain Taylor, 26-0-1, 17 KOs, making the fourth defense of his middleweight title, is nearly a 7-1 favorite over former welterweight and current junior middleweight champ Cory Spinks, 36-3, 11 KOs. Contender champ Sergio Mora was the original opponent for Taylor, until catching a case of cold feet.
After getting outlanded in his three previous victories (twice vs. Hopkins & vs. Winky), Taylor went back to doing what he does best last December, beating up on junior middleweights. He landed 41% of his 50 punches per round enroute to a lackluster 12-round decision win over Kassim Ouma, a former 154-lb title holder.
Taylor came out blazing, landing 27 of 74 total punches in round one, including 22 of 56 power shots- the most power punches (non-jabs) thrown in a round by Taylor in 20 of his fights tracked by Compubox. The balsy Ouma answered by landing 16 of 55 total punches, including 14 of 46 power shots, never hurting Taylor, but letting him know this “little man” came to fight.
Taylor landed 22 of 56 total punches in round two, (to 17 of 53 for Ouma), then averaged just 47 total punches thrown per round the rest of the fight- never throwing more than 57 in any round after the first. Ouma, who normally averages 100-plus punches per round vs. junior middleweights, had to respect Taylor’s punching power and managed to get off 58 punches per round for the fight, landing 25%. After getting out thrown in rounds one and two, Ouma threw more than Taylor in nine of ten rounds, with one round even. Taylor spent a good portion of the later rounds fighting in retreat, but still had a 244-177 edge in total punches landed when the final bell tolled. [details]
After getting outlanded in his three previous victories (twice vs. Hopkins & vs. Winky), Taylor went back to doing what he does best last December, beating up on junior middleweights. He landed 41% of his 50 punches per round enroute to a lackluster 12-round decision win over Kassim Ouma, a former 154-lb title holder.
Taylor came out blazing, landing 27 of 74 total punches in round one, including 22 of 56 power shots- the most power punches (non-jabs) thrown in a round by Taylor in 20 of his fights tracked by Compubox. The balsy Ouma answered by landing 16 of 55 total punches, including 14 of 46 power shots, never hurting Taylor, but letting him know this “little man” came to fight.
Taylor landed 22 of 56 total punches in round two, (to 17 of 53 for Ouma), then averaged just 47 total punches thrown per round the rest of the fight- never throwing more than 57 in any round after the first. Ouma, who normally averages 100-plus punches per round vs. junior middleweights, had to respect Taylor’s punching power and managed to get off 58 punches per round for the fight, landing 25%. After getting out thrown in rounds one and two, Ouma threw more than Taylor in nine of ten rounds, with one round even. Taylor spent a good portion of the later rounds fighting in retreat, but still had a 244-177 edge in total punches landed when the final bell tolled. [details]