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News out of Arkansas about JT's return is all over the map, with Pat Burns refusing to comment other than to say the situation has changed since his interview with Dan Rafael last week, confirmation that his business manager left him, and one story reporting that he will be promoted by Lou Dibella, while another says that Memphis-based Prize Fight will promote his return bout.
Here are some of the local stories from the past few days:
Here are some of the local stories from the past few days:
Details muddled for Taylor’s return
By Matthew Harris, Arkansas ********-Gazette
June 30, 2011
LITTLE ROCK — Two days after news of a potential comeback emerged, details about former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor’s return remained scant Wednesday.
And that might be putting it mildly.
“A lot has changed in the past 24 hours,” said Miami-based trainer Pat Burns, who returns to the fold after being fired in 2006 by the Little Rock native. “At this point, I don’t have anything to say.”
That tone was different than one struck Monday by Burns in comments to ESPN. com, which reported the 32-year-old Taylor is training with Burns and in talks with Showtime for an Aug. 13 bout in Little Rock.
In the article, Burns said Taylor planned to return to the 160-pound middleweight division, where he claimed the world title nearly six years ago in Las Vegas after defeating Bernard Hopkins.
The trainer also told ESPN.com that Taylor, who resumed training at a less than-svelte 197 pounds, had trimmed down to 164 with sparring sessions looming as the next step in the fighter’s training.
But, potential opponents and the possibility of a splitsite card with Showtime, which is airing a two-bout bantamweight card the same night as Taylor’s scheduled fight, remain unknown. In fact, at this point it is not certain the fight will take place.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Burns wouldn’t comment on when that information might be forthcoming.
Taylor’s return to the ring has been clouded by two years of struggle after a move to the super middleweight division, where he lost four of five fights and was knocked out late in the 12th round of the final two.
In October 2009, former middleweight champion Arthur Abraham knocked out Taylor in Berlin with a vicious straight right jab that sent Taylor to the floor, where he struck his head on the canvas, resulting in a concussion.
It was a blow that put Taylor’s career on an unwanted two-year hiatus.
Though able to conduct post-fight interviews, Lou Di-Bella, Taylor’s then promoter, was concerned by the fighter’s memory lapses and had him taken to a Berlin hospital, which stirred more questions in the days afterward about Taylor’s future in the sport.
Two months later, DiBella parted ways with Taylor, a move the long-time promoter said at the time stemmed from health concerns over Taylor’s planned return in April 2010.
“I hope that Jermain knows me well enough to know that I took no joy in this. I’m genuinely concerned about him and his well-being,” DiBella told the Arkansas ********-Gazette in December 2009.
DiBella was not available for comment Wednesday.
A month later, Taylor withdrew from a planned Super Six World Classic in April 2010, prompting speculation he planned to retire.
In the aftermath of his loss to Abraham, Taylor sought an evaluation by Little Rock neurologist Scott Schlesinger. And before resuming his recent training, Burns required Taylor to get a second opinion from neurologists at a Mayo Clinic.
“When it comes to a concussion, there is nothing like time,” Burns told ESPN about Taylor’s recovery. “He is still young and we all did a lot of research. The medical reports say he is at no greater risk than any other fighter.”
But Burns would not comment Wednesday about specifics entailed in those reports or whether any potential opponents were hesitant to step into the ring with Taylor.
Federal privacy laws forbid Schlesinger to comment on the extent, nature, treatment or side effects of Taylor’s injury, which reportedly caused some bleeding on the surface of the brain.
In the interim, though, the nucleus of Team Taylor has deteriorated.
DiBella’s exit was followed by the departure of business manager Andrew Meadors, who turned over control of Taylor’s finances to Taylor’s wife.
“After 10 years together, Jermain and I parted ways last March,” Meadors said Tuesday. “It was time for me to get off the bus.”
Asked whether concerns over Taylor’s health and advice to retire fueled his decision, Meadors said, “Boxing is a dangerous sport. I want the best for Jermain and his family, and I wish him the best in future endeavors.”
Calls to Erica Taylor, the boxer’s wife, were not returned.
In addition, Taylor let go of longtime coach and mentor Ozell Nelson, who coached the boxer since he was a teen and later retook the reins in Taylor’s final three fights, starting with an October 2008 victory over Jeff Lacy.
Nelson also did not return calls seeking comment.
In September 2007, Taylor lost his world title on a seventh-round knockout to No. 1 contender Kelly Pavlik. After a nontitle rematch loss to Pavlik, Taylor moved to the super middleweight division.
“He should have never been at 168 pounds,” Burns told ESPN.
By Matthew Harris, Arkansas ********-Gazette
June 30, 2011
LITTLE ROCK — Two days after news of a potential comeback emerged, details about former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor’s return remained scant Wednesday.
And that might be putting it mildly.
“A lot has changed in the past 24 hours,” said Miami-based trainer Pat Burns, who returns to the fold after being fired in 2006 by the Little Rock native. “At this point, I don’t have anything to say.”
That tone was different than one struck Monday by Burns in comments to ESPN. com, which reported the 32-year-old Taylor is training with Burns and in talks with Showtime for an Aug. 13 bout in Little Rock.
In the article, Burns said Taylor planned to return to the 160-pound middleweight division, where he claimed the world title nearly six years ago in Las Vegas after defeating Bernard Hopkins.
The trainer also told ESPN.com that Taylor, who resumed training at a less than-svelte 197 pounds, had trimmed down to 164 with sparring sessions looming as the next step in the fighter’s training.
But, potential opponents and the possibility of a splitsite card with Showtime, which is airing a two-bout bantamweight card the same night as Taylor’s scheduled fight, remain unknown. In fact, at this point it is not certain the fight will take place.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Burns wouldn’t comment on when that information might be forthcoming.
Taylor’s return to the ring has been clouded by two years of struggle after a move to the super middleweight division, where he lost four of five fights and was knocked out late in the 12th round of the final two.
In October 2009, former middleweight champion Arthur Abraham knocked out Taylor in Berlin with a vicious straight right jab that sent Taylor to the floor, where he struck his head on the canvas, resulting in a concussion.
It was a blow that put Taylor’s career on an unwanted two-year hiatus.
Though able to conduct post-fight interviews, Lou Di-Bella, Taylor’s then promoter, was concerned by the fighter’s memory lapses and had him taken to a Berlin hospital, which stirred more questions in the days afterward about Taylor’s future in the sport.
Two months later, DiBella parted ways with Taylor, a move the long-time promoter said at the time stemmed from health concerns over Taylor’s planned return in April 2010.
“I hope that Jermain knows me well enough to know that I took no joy in this. I’m genuinely concerned about him and his well-being,” DiBella told the Arkansas ********-Gazette in December 2009.
DiBella was not available for comment Wednesday.
A month later, Taylor withdrew from a planned Super Six World Classic in April 2010, prompting speculation he planned to retire.
In the aftermath of his loss to Abraham, Taylor sought an evaluation by Little Rock neurologist Scott Schlesinger. And before resuming his recent training, Burns required Taylor to get a second opinion from neurologists at a Mayo Clinic.
“When it comes to a concussion, there is nothing like time,” Burns told ESPN about Taylor’s recovery. “He is still young and we all did a lot of research. The medical reports say he is at no greater risk than any other fighter.”
But Burns would not comment Wednesday about specifics entailed in those reports or whether any potential opponents were hesitant to step into the ring with Taylor.
Federal privacy laws forbid Schlesinger to comment on the extent, nature, treatment or side effects of Taylor’s injury, which reportedly caused some bleeding on the surface of the brain.
In the interim, though, the nucleus of Team Taylor has deteriorated.
DiBella’s exit was followed by the departure of business manager Andrew Meadors, who turned over control of Taylor’s finances to Taylor’s wife.
“After 10 years together, Jermain and I parted ways last March,” Meadors said Tuesday. “It was time for me to get off the bus.”
Asked whether concerns over Taylor’s health and advice to retire fueled his decision, Meadors said, “Boxing is a dangerous sport. I want the best for Jermain and his family, and I wish him the best in future endeavors.”
Calls to Erica Taylor, the boxer’s wife, were not returned.
In addition, Taylor let go of longtime coach and mentor Ozell Nelson, who coached the boxer since he was a teen and later retook the reins in Taylor’s final three fights, starting with an October 2008 victory over Jeff Lacy.
Nelson also did not return calls seeking comment.
In September 2007, Taylor lost his world title on a seventh-round knockout to No. 1 contender Kelly Pavlik. After a nontitle rematch loss to Pavlik, Taylor moved to the super middleweight division.
“He should have never been at 168 pounds,” Burns told ESPN.
Taylor comeback up in air
By Harry King, Arkansas News Bureau
July 1, 2011
LITTLE ROCK — The trainer whose presence was such a positive sign for the comeback of Jermain Taylor may no longer be associated with the former middleweight champion.
Based in Miami, Pat Burns did not return a phone call today, but there are signs that he and Taylor have parted ways only days after reports that they had gotten back together.
If that is the case, the break-up could involve a variety of things, including the site of Taylor’s training camp and even Burns’ salary.
It was Burns who rode herd on Taylor when he beat Bernard Hopkins for the middleweight championship in July 2005 and defended his title against Hopkins in December of that year.
After Burns was fired in 2006, Emanuel Steward took over. Under him, Taylor scored two narrow victories, fought a draw and was knocked out. Ozell Nelson was the trainer when
Taylor was knocked out by both Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham about six months apart.
Taylor, 32, has not fought since suffering a concussion when knocked out by Abraham 20 months ago, but there was word this week that Burns had agreed to train Taylor for a comeback fight Aug. 13 in Arkansas.
In the report by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Burns was clearly enthused about Taylor’s conditioning and commitment.
A day after Rafael’s report, Burns was quoted as saying, “A lot has changed in the past 24 hours.”
If Burns and Taylor have split, Taylor might turn to somebody familiar such as Danny Smith, an assistant to Nelson for both of Taylor’s last two fights.
Taylor’s boxing license has lapsed and John Mattingly, secretary of the Arkansas State Athletic Commission, said Friday that Taylor had not applied for a new license. Mattingly said regulations required that the application be filed at least 30 days prior to the fight, so Taylor still has time.
Mattingly also said the commission had not heard from a promoter about an Aug. 13 fight. At one point, Memphis-based Prize Fight was supposed to promote the Taylor fight at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
By Harry King, Arkansas News Bureau
July 1, 2011
LITTLE ROCK — The trainer whose presence was such a positive sign for the comeback of Jermain Taylor may no longer be associated with the former middleweight champion.
Based in Miami, Pat Burns did not return a phone call today, but there are signs that he and Taylor have parted ways only days after reports that they had gotten back together.
If that is the case, the break-up could involve a variety of things, including the site of Taylor’s training camp and even Burns’ salary.
It was Burns who rode herd on Taylor when he beat Bernard Hopkins for the middleweight championship in July 2005 and defended his title against Hopkins in December of that year.
After Burns was fired in 2006, Emanuel Steward took over. Under him, Taylor scored two narrow victories, fought a draw and was knocked out. Ozell Nelson was the trainer when
Taylor was knocked out by both Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham about six months apart.
Taylor, 32, has not fought since suffering a concussion when knocked out by Abraham 20 months ago, but there was word this week that Burns had agreed to train Taylor for a comeback fight Aug. 13 in Arkansas.
In the report by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Burns was clearly enthused about Taylor’s conditioning and commitment.
A day after Rafael’s report, Burns was quoted as saying, “A lot has changed in the past 24 hours.”
If Burns and Taylor have split, Taylor might turn to somebody familiar such as Danny Smith, an assistant to Nelson for both of Taylor’s last two fights.
Taylor’s boxing license has lapsed and John Mattingly, secretary of the Arkansas State Athletic Commission, said Friday that Taylor had not applied for a new license. Mattingly said regulations required that the application be filed at least 30 days prior to the fight, so Taylor still has time.
Mattingly also said the commission had not heard from a promoter about an Aug. 13 fight. At one point, Memphis-based Prize Fight was supposed to promote the Taylor fight at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
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