Jermain Taylor

Jermain Taylor (born August 11, 1978, Little Rock, AR) is the current undisputed Middleweight champion. Nicknamed "Bad Intentions," Taylor currently has a perfect record of 24-0-0, with 17 wins coming by way of knockout. He is married to former Louisiana Tech and WNBA player Erica Smith-Taylor.

Related Topics:
August 11 - 1978 - Little Rock, AR - Current - Middleweight - Knockout - Louisiana Tech - WNBA - Erica Smith-Taylor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since early in his professional career, Taylor had been touted by many as being the heir apparent to Middleweight king Bernard Hopkins. Taylor dominated all of his opponents, scoring wins over respectable fighters such as Raul Marquez and William Joppy (though both were at the end of their careers). On February 19, 2005, Taylor defeated the previously unbeaten Daniel Edouard via TKO in round 3. With this win, Taylor earned a title bout against Hopkins, the undisputed Middleweight champion who was rated by Ring Magazine as the #1 "pound for pound" boxer in the world.

Related Topics:
Bernard Hopkins - Raul Marquez - William Joppy - February 19 - 2005 - Daniel Edouard - Ring Magazine - Pound for pound

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taylor fought Hopkins on July 16, 2005. Taylor outboxed the slow-starting Hopkins early in the fight, winning the early rounds by using his jab and power punches. Although Hopkins gradually became more active and maintained his dominating defense, Taylor continued to fight aggressively (but ineffectively) and won some of the middle rounds. In the last four rounds, however, Hopkins became the aggressor and battered Taylor, shrinking Taylor's lead on the scorecards. Nonetheless, Taylor survived the late surge and won the fight by close split decision to become the new undisputed Middleweight champion.

Related Topics:
July 16 - 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The decision was somewhat controversial. One judge awarded the twelfth round to Taylor; if he had awarded it to Hopkins, then the fight would have been a draw. Others have said that although Taylor deserved the win based on the point system, the fight demonstrated flaws in the system.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A rematch between Taylor and Hopkins is scheduled for December 3, 2005; Taylor needs time to recover from a cut on his scalp that was caused by a Hopkins headbutt.

Related Topics:
December 3 - 2005 - Scalp - Headbutt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~