Jermain Taylor, Back in the Mix, Has Plenty of Options

[Southpaw16BF]

If he beats Lacy which i think he wiil and looks good doing it, i think he should start fresh at super middlweight ok so he can make 160 but as long as Kelly has them belts as highly dout will ever be a trilogy, i cound't see him going to germany for strum, the only fight that would be a good fight for him would be Abraham, but other than that i don't think there's much at 160 even matches with the contenders Mcgirt Jr, Rubio, Griffin,Asikainen, Sylvester,lopez, wound't really do much for him. But at super middleweight there some great fights and fresh challages for him etc Kessler, Froch, Bute,Andrade,Bika.

[dstew]

Taylor's weight issues would be aided by him being a more active fighter... 3-4 fights a year instead of 2... even then, 168-175 seems like a more natural fighting weight for him. He really is a big, muscular guy to be weight draining down to 160.

I've been watching a lot of Taylor's fights pre-Hopkins, and he really needs to get back to some of the things that made him such a bright young star to begin with. Lightening fast, strong jabs... excellent body work (yes, believe it or not)... blistering combinations... good head movement (again, believe it or not)... I'm getting more and more confident as the fight gets closer that we'll see Taylor in top form against the overmatched Lacy. The last time he was in with a boxer as limited skillwise as Lacy, he TKO'd him in 3 (Daniel Edouard).

[BattlingNelson]

Lacy will likely stay at 168. Should he move down a fighter with 2 wins over him already awaits him. Not exactly mouthwatering one would think. On the other hand staying at 168 makes sense.

After his likely defeat of Jeff Lacy, Taylor pretty much holds the division key. Taylor has HBO and with them the money. He can choose to fight any of the current champions: Kessler, Bute, or Froch/Pascal. Of them Kessler is available and looking for a US fight. Bute likely will be ordered to rematch Andrade who'll demand a significant pay-off to step aside. If Froch defeats Pascal he's available as well and Taylor will in fact be mandatory for that title. But the choice is Taylors and his alone IMO.

[rogdogx]

Should be a KO victory for Jermain to set up a possible Kessler fight or move back down 2 160. I think RJJ would fight Bhop 1st and if ol Joe won he'd retire instead of fightin Jermain. Jermain would KTFOutta Joe

[Jupiter Maximus]

I got Lacy by stoppage in the 8th

any takers?

[oA2o]

[QUOTE=dstew;4281949]Taylor's weight issues would be aided by him being a more active fighter... 3-4 fights a year instead of 2... even then, 168-175 seems like a more natural fighting weight for him. He really is a big, muscular guy to be weight draining down to 160.

I've been watching a lot of Taylor's fights pre-Hopkins, and he really needs to get back to some of the things that made him such a bright young star to begin with. Lightening fast, strong jabs... excellent body work (yes, believe it or not)... blistering combinations... good head movement (again, believe it or not)... I'm getting more and more confident as the fight gets closer that we'll see Taylor in top form against the overmatched Lacy. The last time he was in with a boxer as limited skillwise as Lacy, he TKO'd him in 3 (Daniel Edouard).

[/QUOTE

I agree. Taylor was a killer in those days. He got paid too quick and lost his focus and his hunger. It all went wrong when he got rid of Pat Burns.

[oA2o]

lol at Calzaghe being fearful of Taylor. Why exactly? Joe's the better boxer, Taylor has no plan B, and he can't KO anyone above 154lbs.

I'd like to see Taylor v Froch, i'd pick Froch to win that one.

Joe and Jermain both have unique styles. Jermain won't look as good against Lacy in winning but Joe didn't either against B-Hop (who knocked him down). Taylor had a much easier time handling B-Hop than Joe. I still think that Joe would beat him, Joe is just too smart and determined. Don't be so Anti-American that it confuses you though, Taylor would knock Froch out cold. Hopefully they make that fight happen.

[dstew]

I agree. Taylor was a killer in those days. He got paid too quick and lost his focus and his hunger. It all went wrong when he got rid of Pat Burns.

Yeah, the Pat Burns deal was unfortunate... it seems that Ozell Nelson and Burns were butting heads a lot... Nelson wanted to be involved in Taylor's training, just in the background, and apparently Burns wanted total control. That's the reason that they went with Emmanuel instead of one of the other high-profile trainers; Steward was willing to let Nelson have a part in the process.

When Taylor and Manny parted ways, Manny gave 100% endorsement to Nelson to take over the head trainer role. He really liked Ozell as a person and a trainer, said he and Taylor had a great working relationship, and that Taylor probably should have been training with Ozell all along.

I'd love to see Taylor get that old fire back though... he was a beast. I think the biggest difference is that pre-Hopkins, he never had such a fear of letting his hands go... and against guys with limited defensive skills (like Lacy), he is actually deadly accurate with his punches.