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By Cliff Rold - Six months ago, Jermain Taylor (27-1-1, 17 KO) of Little Rock, Arkansas could walk into any room and be introduced as “Champ.” Specifically, he was the World Middleweight champion, ascendant to the throne, if not the esteem, of 160 lb. greats Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Harry Greb, Sugar Ray Robinson.
On September 29, 2007, Taylor was introduced to the power punching of Youngstown, Ohio’s Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29 KO) and he was “Champ” no more.
Win or lose in this Saturday’s non-title rematch, contracted at 166 lbs., Taylor won’t get that distinction back. To hear Taylor and his camp tell it, that isn’t the primary concern. This is about retrieving a measure of pride on the way to belts and glories down the road. The question that stands out is whether or not Taylor is coming back to Pavlik too soon.
It’s a story as old as boxing itself. The vanquished warrior agreeing to lock eyes again with his conqueror, with his own mortality and lack of invincibility, certain that victory can be had where there was none the last time around.
It is of course not just an old story. It is also a told story.
When Taylor, 29, steps between the ropes he’ll be able to look backwards at results like Evander Holyfield W12 Rid**** Bowe and Rocky Graziano KO6 Tony Zale as classic examples of fighters who successfully pulled of the trick of avenging a defeat. Taylor will in turn be trying to avoid results like Carlos Monzon KO3 Nino Benvenuti and Ricardo Mayorga W12 Vernon Forrest, classic examples of the conquered remaining so. [details]
On September 29, 2007, Taylor was introduced to the power punching of Youngstown, Ohio’s Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29 KO) and he was “Champ” no more.
Win or lose in this Saturday’s non-title rematch, contracted at 166 lbs., Taylor won’t get that distinction back. To hear Taylor and his camp tell it, that isn’t the primary concern. This is about retrieving a measure of pride on the way to belts and glories down the road. The question that stands out is whether or not Taylor is coming back to Pavlik too soon.
It’s a story as old as boxing itself. The vanquished warrior agreeing to lock eyes again with his conqueror, with his own mortality and lack of invincibility, certain that victory can be had where there was none the last time around.
It is of course not just an old story. It is also a told story.
When Taylor, 29, steps between the ropes he’ll be able to look backwards at results like Evander Holyfield W12 Rid**** Bowe and Rocky Graziano KO6 Tony Zale as classic examples of fighters who successfully pulled of the trick of avenging a defeat. Taylor will in turn be trying to avoid results like Carlos Monzon KO3 Nino Benvenuti and Ricardo Mayorga W12 Vernon Forrest, classic examples of the conquered remaining so. [details]
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