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If Jermain Taylor wants to fight again as a headliner, he will have to redefine himself.
Saturday night's loss to Carl Froch by TKO was Taylor's third loss in his past four fights.
Since July 16, 2005, when Taylor won the middleweight championship of the world, until April 25 of 2009, he's gone from the top of the boxing world with a course that would take him deep into the pugilism banks to being the guy who needs another chance.
If, and it is a big if - especially for a 30-year-old who has earned around $15 million - he wants the seven-figure fights in the future, he has to redefine himself as a fighter.
Not as a man. Not as the Razorbacks-loving ambassador for the state of Arkansas. Not the guy who loves four-wheelers and isn't comfortable as the center of attention. Not the guy with a quick smile and generous streak.
Redefining himself inside the ring could be the greatest challenge Taylor has faced.
Taylor was 25-0 as a professional after defending his title against Bernard Hopkins, and there was no controversy surrounding the second fight.
It seemed his only limitation was his imagination.
Then destiny played a trick.
A rift between co-trainers Pat Burns and Ozell Nelson started the week before Taylor's title defense against Hopkins.
Nelson is the man who took Taylor in as an amateur fighter when he was 13 and kept him on the straight and narrow. It was a ride that took Taylor to the Olympic bronze medal and launched his professional career.
Burns is the man who handcrafted Taylor into an unbeatable pro. The man who studied opponents and prepared his boxer for them. The man who ran training camp like training camps are supposed to be run, a lock down.
Burns was terminated, and Nelson, feeling he wasn't ready to be the lead trainer, hired Manny Steward, which turned out to be a huge mistake.
Not once during his four fights under Steward's tutelage was Taylor in shape to go 12 rounds, and when he got knocked out by Kelly Pavlik, Steward was finally old news.
Taylor called Burns after the first Pavlik fight, wanting him to come back. But Burns wanted complete control. He didn't want Nelson out, but he didn't want him involved in the daily workouts.
At that point, Taylor was not prepared to make that move, and Nelson moved into the natural position as solo trainer.
Taylor's fitness improved, but not enough, according to Showtime boxing expert Al Bernstein, who last week on Arkansas' statewide radio show said: "Jermain is more skilled and the better fighter. My concern is if it gets into the late rounds."
As every boxing fan knows, Taylor dominated the first nine rounds and had the fight won even after getting knocked down with less than a minute to go in the final round.
Only Froch kept coming, and Taylor couldn't get out of the way fast enough.
With 14 seconds left, referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight.
Ortega didn't know how much time was left; he stopped the fight to keep Taylor from being seriously injured.
In the hours after the fight, the question grew: Why didn't Taylor take a knee? That would have given him a mandatory eight count, with the clock running.
Regardless, after a 25-0 start, Taylor is 3-3-1 with the reputation of not being able to go 12 rounds.
Hitting the wall in the first Pavlik fight resulted in a knockout of a bout where Taylor was the better fighter.
Same thing Saturday.
If the Pride of Arkansas wants to resume his career, he has to redefine himself.
It might mean changes on Team Taylor, which is a small, close-knit group.
If Jermain Taylor wants to get out of the MGM in Mashantucket, Conn., and back to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, it is up to him.
If he chooses to retire, he can do so with the knowledge it was mostly a great ride.
Saturday night's loss to Carl Froch by TKO was Taylor's third loss in his past four fights.
Since July 16, 2005, when Taylor won the middleweight championship of the world, until April 25 of 2009, he's gone from the top of the boxing world with a course that would take him deep into the pugilism banks to being the guy who needs another chance.
If, and it is a big if - especially for a 30-year-old who has earned around $15 million - he wants the seven-figure fights in the future, he has to redefine himself as a fighter.
Not as a man. Not as the Razorbacks-loving ambassador for the state of Arkansas. Not the guy who loves four-wheelers and isn't comfortable as the center of attention. Not the guy with a quick smile and generous streak.
Redefining himself inside the ring could be the greatest challenge Taylor has faced.
Taylor was 25-0 as a professional after defending his title against Bernard Hopkins, and there was no controversy surrounding the second fight.
It seemed his only limitation was his imagination.
Then destiny played a trick.
A rift between co-trainers Pat Burns and Ozell Nelson started the week before Taylor's title defense against Hopkins.
Nelson is the man who took Taylor in as an amateur fighter when he was 13 and kept him on the straight and narrow. It was a ride that took Taylor to the Olympic bronze medal and launched his professional career.
Burns is the man who handcrafted Taylor into an unbeatable pro. The man who studied opponents and prepared his boxer for them. The man who ran training camp like training camps are supposed to be run, a lock down.
Burns was terminated, and Nelson, feeling he wasn't ready to be the lead trainer, hired Manny Steward, which turned out to be a huge mistake.
Not once during his four fights under Steward's tutelage was Taylor in shape to go 12 rounds, and when he got knocked out by Kelly Pavlik, Steward was finally old news.
Taylor called Burns after the first Pavlik fight, wanting him to come back. But Burns wanted complete control. He didn't want Nelson out, but he didn't want him involved in the daily workouts.
At that point, Taylor was not prepared to make that move, and Nelson moved into the natural position as solo trainer.
Taylor's fitness improved, but not enough, according to Showtime boxing expert Al Bernstein, who last week on Arkansas' statewide radio show said: "Jermain is more skilled and the better fighter. My concern is if it gets into the late rounds."
As every boxing fan knows, Taylor dominated the first nine rounds and had the fight won even after getting knocked down with less than a minute to go in the final round.
Only Froch kept coming, and Taylor couldn't get out of the way fast enough.
With 14 seconds left, referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight.
Ortega didn't know how much time was left; he stopped the fight to keep Taylor from being seriously injured.
In the hours after the fight, the question grew: Why didn't Taylor take a knee? That would have given him a mandatory eight count, with the clock running.
Regardless, after a 25-0 start, Taylor is 3-3-1 with the reputation of not being able to go 12 rounds.
Hitting the wall in the first Pavlik fight resulted in a knockout of a bout where Taylor was the better fighter.
Same thing Saturday.
If the Pride of Arkansas wants to resume his career, he has to redefine himself.
It might mean changes on Team Taylor, which is a small, close-knit group.
If Jermain Taylor wants to get out of the MGM in Mashantucket, Conn., and back to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, it is up to him.
If he chooses to retire, he can do so with the knowledge it was mostly a great ride.
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