Just watched the entire Chavez vs Taylor I for the first time...

[100%BoXeOAzTeKa]

Either way you look at it, Taylor lost. Even though he might have been awarded the win, but at what price? It was a tragic ending.

[bojangles1987]

I completely disagree with the stoppage, though I know plenty support it. My problem is that I feel a ref should be aware of time, and with 2 seconds left in a fight, Taylor was in no more danger when he got up, Chavez wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to even land another punch.

Fantastic fight, really showed the mental fortitude Chavez had.

[kedashy]

taylor left his whole career in that fight... i heard he was bleeding on the inside and pissing blood... yea, if steele hadn,t stopped it taylor would,ve won but, that fight was the end of his career period... in the rematch chavez would stop him within 4 like he did if i,m not mistaken... whenever you as a fan witness a fight that brutal then you can just believe that one fighter or both will never be the same...

[Thread Stealer]

taylor left his whole career in that fight... i heard he was bleeding on the inside and pissing blood... yea, if steele hadn,t stopped it taylor would,ve won but, that fight was the end of his career period... in the rematch chavez would stop him within 4 like he did if i,m not mistaken... whenever you as a fan witness a fight that brutal then you can just believe that one fighter or both will never be the same...

This is an exaggeration. Just because you're not the same after one fight, it doesn't mean your career is totally over.

Taylor had the second best win of his career a year after Chavez. Too much punishment in fights and the gym, and a move up in weight, led to a short stay the top for Taylor. Due to his weight problems at 140, his style, and the talent level during this era at 147, he was bound to have a short stay at the top regardless.

[TheKza]

Steele didn't know the time left after the knock down, when Steele asked Meldrick if he was orite he didn't respond. So for that reason Richard had the right to stop the fight.

[kedashy]

no exagg ped... taylor wasn,t the same... he left something in the ring 4sho... the rematch wasn,t even competitive due to the brutal part 1 of chavez vs taylor... now he may of had some wins after but, he was finished as a fighter...next...

[Thread Stealer]

no exagg ped... taylor wasn,t the same... he left something in the ring 4sho... the rematch wasn,t even competitive due to the brutal part 1 of chavez vs taylor... now he may of had some wins after but, he was finished as a fighter...next...

I'm not saying he fully recovered, I agree he wasn't ever quite the same, I'm just saying he was still a good fighter for a little while afterwards. Aaron Davis was a pretty good fighter, undefeated champ, and the naturally smaller Taylor moved up and beat him.

Furthermore, Chavez-Taylor 2, which was overdue, was a competitive bout. Taylor fought fairly well for 5 rounds, but you could see the effects of each Chavez punch everytime he hit him with a hard shot. After the brutal action of the 6th round, Taylor's legs were done, and two rounds later Chavez got him out of there. Taylor still did better than expected, but in the battle of two declined fighters, Taylor had deteroriated that much more. Mills Lane was kind of harsh on Taylor IMO, I remember on one of the low blow deductions that Taylor's head was being pulled down, so it's not his fault that the punch strayed low.

You can leave something of yourself in the ring, but still be a good fighter afterwards.

[Sin City]

If you can't go on.. you can't go on. no matter how much time is on the clock. You are fighting for 12 full rounds, no exception. It is heart breaking but it was the right call. If Steele would've stalled for time it would've robbed Chavez of a deserved KO because Taylor wasn't even responding and was completely out on his feet.

[Thread Stealer]

To the TS, Taylor didnt respond to the ref because Taylor's cornerman jumped up on the ring and was giving him instructions. Thats why he turned his head to the side right when Steele asked him if he was alright. He was looking at what his trainer was telling him.

Yep, Duva definitely deserves his share of blame. For this fight and for the terrible decision later in Taylor's career to fight Norris at 149.

Being a fan of Taylor growing up, those two things never sat well with me.

Furthermore, Chavez-Taylor 2, which was overdue, was a competitive bout. Taylor fought fairly well for 5 rounds, but you could see the effects of each Chavez punch everytime he hit him with a hard shot. After the brutal action of the 6th round, Taylor's legs were done, and two rounds later Chavez got him out of there. Taylor still did better than expected, but in the battle of two declined fighters, Taylor had deteroriated that much more. Mills Lane was kind of harsh on Taylor IMO, I remember on one of the low blow deductions that Taylor's head was being pulled down, so it's not his fault that the punch strayed low.

[Thread Stealer]

Highlights of arguably the best fight of the 90s.