Jermain Taylor is he done? When should a promoter walk away?

[LEFTYGUNZZ]

This blog is based upon the recent story posted "Fighting Words" - Tough Love: Jermain Taylor and DiBellaHey fellas I have read the ariticle about JT and what Dibella said regarding the split and the change of promoters for Jermain’s upcoming fight. I posted some of my thoughts in a thread here on BS. (see my post) After giving it some further thought I decided to make this one of the topics I will talk about on my show next week on "GET UR FACTS STRAIGHT RADIO" http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/72140

I can see where Dibella was coming from when he decided to make this move and I agree with him he cannot help how he feels about Jermain fighting on. I guess he just doesn't want to be associated with Don King or some other promoter we look at as a leech or a scuz bucket. To me it is the nature of the business. We are in the hurt business and every fighter makes the choice to risk his life every time he steps into the ring.

I can also see where JT is coming from in this particular situation. He signed up for this Super Six Tournament and is contracted for three fights minimum. He drew a hard match up in the first round with AA. A slick styled puncher with power in both hands. He was going into hostile territory and coming off a 12th round knockout loss to Carl Froch. JT was looking redeem himself and from what I saw and he spoke about worked tremendously on his stamina issues. in this fight stamina did not appear to be his problem.

It was dealing with the hard fought 12 rounds and taking some big shots. He managed to get out of a round where King Arthur had him hurt and hold on. He was behind on the cards going into the 12th but was looking to make it out on his feet when Abraham landed a straight right hand through the middle of Jermain’s guard. Planting him down on his back with his arm straight in front of his face. It looked very brutal and had his family worried ring side.

Understanding both sides and what was said I see the only problem as it being public knowledge. To me if it was out of concern for a friend anf client than why put it out there for everyone to read? As for JT fighting on to me it makes sense. no fighter wants to go out on their back or their stool. Especially when they are still relatively young as JT is. He has the skill set to beat a lot of the top guys at SMW. He has a fight lined up with the man who beat the man Andre Ward.

From his prospective everything gets erased if he wins his next fight. He will once again become the man at SMW by beating the man. After suffering 3 losses in his last 4 fights to be in this position is fantastic for him. I don't see how he could pass it up unless he was not cleared to fight by a doctor. To me Ward has a different style and does not punch as hard as Froch, Abraham or Kessler. JT matches up well here. Like I said while I understand both points I would put my vote on JT's decision. A fighter risks serious injury and could be killed in his first pro fight with the first punch landed. They know those risks when they lace them gloves up....Lefty

[ИATAS]

What worries me is that he's been KO'd 3 of his last 5 fights and his upcoming matches aren't gong to get any easier for him.

It's ultimately his decision, but honestly, I feel it was a bad move on Showtimes part in the first place for having Jermain in the tournament, I mean going into it he lost 3 of his last 4 fights.

I just don't want to see him get KO'd again, and this time badly hurt, or even killed. We will all blame showtime and boxing and whoever was involved for not seeing the signs beforehand and saying enough is enough. That's what worries me.

Sure, there is a small chance he could beat Ward, but being that he's 1-4 in his last 5 fights tells me it's a very small chance.

[Derranged_]

Is it often said, that each successive time a fighter gets knocked out, he becomes more susceptible to future knockout loses. Further to that, the risk of injury increases in every successive knockout. I think Taylor fits this description and is in a perilous situation where he could very easlily be ko'd again and seriously hurt. I am against him continuing to fight, and especially against, someone like Ward...

[LEFTYGUNZZ]

What worries me is that he's been KO'd 3 of his last 5 fights and his upcoming matches aren't gong to get any easier for him.

It's ultimately his decision, but honestly, I feel it was a bad move on Showtimes part in the first place for having Jermain in the tournament, I mean going into it he lost 3 of his last 4 fights.

I just don't want to see him get KO'd again, and this time badly hurt, or even killed. We will all blame showtime and boxing and whoever was involved for not seeing the signs beforehand and saying enough is enough. That's what worries me.

Sure, there is a small chance he could beat Ward, but being that he's 1-4 in his last 5 fights tells me it's a very small chance.

To me he signed a contract with his promoter negotiating for him. If DiBella was playing the PROUD PARENT role than and is playing the TOUGH LOVE role now. Than why did he negotiate in my mind the toughest of all the draws for JT's first fight? maybe it was the only way he could get JT into the tournament? I am not sure I was not present when they were throwing possible match ups for the first round on the table. But getting AA stylistically in the first fight of the frist round also in AA home town is a very tough spot to be in. Given JT's past history against that type of style DiBella has to have known he was putting his man in there with a grand possibilty of getting KTFO no?

So why ie hs playing the parental role now? Should he have not tried to get him in there with one of the other American's in the first round maybe in a venue that was more friendly? At this point to me in my mind as a fighter with the mind set of always being tolsd you can't do this or you will never be able to do that it would go against everything JT's has prided himself on. he has the opportunity of a life time with the upcoming fight with Ward. He can get himself backin the mix with a title if he wins. If he scores his own KO he can get himself 3 points with one final fight left in the 1st round. Kessler has already lost and Dirrel and Froch both cannot beat JT if he returns to form. He already out boxed Froch for 11 3/4 rounds and Kessler looked horrid his last match up. He has a chance to beat the man who beat the man at SMW why not go for it.....Lefty

[Clegg]

I don't think AA was the worst possible draw for him. Taylor's main problem is his stamina, so Abraham, with his low workrate, was a good style match up in many ways.

In the programme Showtime made (Fight Camp 360 I think it was called) DiBella agrees to go to Germany and Denmark because he was asked by Taylor to go for the biggest paydays.

I don't know if Taylor is done, but I don't think he performed that well last time out. He just seemed to be fighting in first or second gear the whole night. Against Froch he worked his jab very well and threw some impressive combinations. Maybe that's because Froch has a poor defence, but Abraham has a good one, but I don't think that's the whole reason. Taylor maybe has a chance against Kessler, because I think that's probably a technical fight where they would both be trying to work off of the jab. But Ward is a bit too good and will probably dominate.

The most worrying aspect of his recent defeats is that they've come in the 12th round. A fight such as Prescott-Khan may look devastating, but you are actually a lot better off health-wise getting KTFO in 53 seconds than you are getting beaten right at the end of 12 tough rounds.

[LEFTYGUNZZ]

I don't think AA was the worst possible draw for him. Taylor's main problem is his stamina, so Abraham, with his low workrate, was a good style match up in many ways.

In the programme Showtime made (Fight Camp 360 I think it was called) DiBella agrees to go to Germany and Denmark because he was asked by Taylor to go for the biggest paydays.

I don't know if Taylor is done, but I don't think he performed that well last time out. He just seemed to be fighting in first or second gear the whole night. Against Froch he worked his jab very well and threw some impressive combinations. Maybe that's because Froch has a poor defence, but Abraham has a good one, but I don't think that's the whole reason. Taylor maybe has a chance against Kessler, because I think that's probably a technical fight where they would both be trying to work off of the jab. But Ward is a bit too good and will probably dominate.

The most worrying aspect of his recent defeats is that they've come in the 12th round. A fight such as Prescott-Khan may look devastating, but you are actually a lot better off health-wise getting KTFO in 53 seconds than you are getting beaten right at the end of 12 tough rounds.

While I see the point I disagree with you. JT has issues with punchers...Adding a great D and a home crowd couldn't hel that. Although AA's work rate is not high paced he does block tons of shots. JT was throwing his jab but it was not getting through. Take the fact of the low blow issue and JT was stuck throwing strictly head shots all night...Was not good for him....Lefty

[ИATAS]

To me he signed a contract with his promoter negotiating for him. If DiBella was playing the PROUD PARENT role than and is playing the TOUGH LOVE role now. Than why did he negotiate in my mind the toughest of all the draws for JT's first fight? maybe it was the only way he could get JT into the tournament?

Because DiBella is a promoter and was trying to make some money, he knew there were almost no other options for jermain to make some decent purses. I don't buy into the idea that DiBella is some noble person and is just trying to do the right thing. But I think at this point he sees the warning signs and realizes there is a risk involved in having Jermain continue, a risk that could make DiBella look very bad and I'm sure he's human too and genuinely worries for his health.

That's my take on it. I still think DiBella is a douchebag regardless.

I am not sure I was not present when they were throwing possible match ups for the first round on the table. But getting AA stylistically in the first fight of the frist round also in AA home town is a very tough spot to be in. Given JT's past history against that type of style DiBella has to have known he was putting his man in there with a grand possibilty of getting KTFO no?

I believe it was a risk he was willing to take because Jermain was lucky to even be in the tournament and there were litterally no other options to make some money. Who else could jermain have fought at 168 for a decent paycheck? Maybe edison miranda at best, or Roy Jones if he pulled off some miracle.

So why ie hs playing the parental role now? Should he have not tried to get him in there with one of the other American's in the first round maybe in a venue that was more friendly? At this point to me in my mind as a fighter with the mind set of always being tolsd you can't do this or you will never be able to do that it would go against everything JT's has prided himself on. he has the opportunity of a life time with the upcoming fight with Ward. He can get himself backin the mix with a title if he wins. If he scores his own KO he can get himself 3 points with one final fight left in the 1st round. Kessler has already lost and Dirrel and Froch both cannot beat JT if he returns to form. He already out boxed Froch for 11 3/4 rounds and Kessler looked horrid his last match up. He has a chance to beat the man who beat the man at SMW why not go for it.....Lefty

Well in Jermain's perspective I can see why he'd want to continue. In DiBella's eyes I think he realizes (or thinks anyways) that Jermain is absolutely done and has no chance to win this tournament and Jermain has become a potential risk that could make him look bad if he were to get hurt. Basically I'm saying I think what DiBella is doing is all about business, and not so much about morals or "doing the right thing."

[LEFTYGUNZZ]

=ИATAS206;6983551]Because DiBella is a promoter and was trying to make some money, he knew there were almost no other options for jermain to make some decent purses. I don't buy into the idea that DiBella is some noble person and is just trying to do the right thing. But I think at this point he sees the warning signs and realizes there is a risk involved in having Jermain continue, a risk that could make DiBella look very bad and I'm sure he's human too and genuinely worries for his health.

That's my take on it. I still think DiBella is a douchebag regardless.

Co-sign to that statement...

I believe it was a risk he was willing to take because Jermain was lucky to even be in the tournament and there were litterally no other options to make some money. Who else could jermain have fought at 168 for a decent paycheck? Maybe edison miranda at best, or Roy Jones if he pulled off some miracle.

There were talks of HBO being interested in JT fighting Jones before he fought Froch. JT actually turned down the Jones fight for the Froch fight because I think JT truly wants a belt not jutst money....HBO did not even want to air the fight with Froch so JT wwent over to Show time....Lefty

Well in Jermain's perspective I can see why he'd want to continue. In DiBella's eyes I think he realizes (or thinks anyways) that Jermain is absolutely done and has no chance to win this tournament and Jermain has become a potential risk that could make him look bad if he were to get hurt. Basically I'm saying I think what DiBella is doing is all about business, and not so much about morals or "doing the right thing."

Basically what I was getting at but wanted to hear someone else say it....Lefty

[LEFTYGUNZZ]

Witht hat being said is he done or just risking injury? I think he still can fight and win in this tournament.....Lefty

[Njord777]

Jermain Taylor can't perform at the level we once hoped. When he steps into the ring with elite level fighters, he has a recent tendency to get knocked out. Not just to lose, but to lose consciousness. When that becomes a very real possibility going into every fight- not just a chance, but something that is no longer uncommon- well, it's time to call it quits. Can we honestly keep watching Jermain Taylor fight and not contemplate, each time, if he'll go to sleep?

Good guy, made some money, now it's career over. Sucks but it is what it is.