Meldrick Taylor: What Could've Been?

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People often say Taylor could've been an ATG if not for the beating he took against Chavez but I really don't see it. I always see a short stay at the top of the sport for him.

I'm going with the assumption that the claims of his weight problems at 140 were legit. It's definitely not hard to envision him having problems making 140 with his stocky frame. He did make it later in 1994, but I think that was partially because he was simply desperate for a big fight and a chance at personal revenge with Chavez.

If he gets the win over Chavez, or never fights him at all, how much different does his career go? He goes to welterweight, wins the WBA title against Aaron Davis in 1991, but look at the talent level around him. Stable-mate Pernell Whitaker goes to WW a couple years later. Cristano Espana would've always been a touch matchup for Taylor IMO due to his style and dimensions (or Taylor's lackthereof). Ike Quartey and Felix Trinidad rose to the top of the WW scene in 1993/94. Simon Brown would've been a real dangerous opponent for Taylor with his power.

Taylor might've lasted a little longer at the top of the sport since there's less damage to the body, but with his style and the talent around him, I can't see his career going that much different in terms of his stay at the top.

[Seamus]

Durability was going to be an issue with him regardless. Especially in the hot era in which he fought.

[ripcity]

I think regaurdless of what did happen or what could have happened or what should have happened after Chavez knocked him down. The Chavez fight was the beganing of the end for him.

[Briscoe]

I've always thought that Taylor was too stubborn to become an ATG. He could have safely boxed Chavez to a win. Why? Why did he opt to stay close?

[PH|LLA]

I definately think he could have become an ATG.

[techks]

I've always thought that Taylor was too stubborn to become an ATG. He could have safely boxed Chavez to a win. Why? Why did he opt to stay close?
Heart over mind. Meldrick is one of my fav fighters and I'll always be a fan.:good ATG, HOF, or not he's very entertaining and I look forward to getting his career set:bbb

[TheGreatA]

He wasn't big enough to compete at welterweight. Many of the welterweights then were around 6 feet tall, far bigger than Meldrick. He could have only been a force at 140.

[sweet_scientist]

He could perhaps have got a bit more mileage out of his career if he got the right matchups if we assume he never fought Chavez:

e.g.

Camacho/Haugen in 1990 @ 140
Aging Starling in 1990 @ 147
Maurice Blocker in 1991 @ 147
Aaron Davis in 1991 @ 147
McGirt rematch in 1992 @ 147
Whitaker @ 147 in 1993

That's about as good a trajectory for his prime as he would have been likely to see.

Facing guys like Chavez, Tito, Quartey and maybe even an aging Brown would have been disastrous for him.

[TheGreatA]

He could perhaps have got a bit more mileage out of his career if he got the right matchups if we assume he never fought Chavez:

e.g.

Camacho/Haugen in 1990 @ 140
Aging Starling in 1990 @ 147
Maurice Blocker in 1991 @ 147
Aaron Davis in 1991 @ 147
McGirt rematch in 1992 @ 147
Whitaker @ 147 in 1993

That's about as good a trajectory for his prime as he would have been likely to see.

Facing guys like Chavez, Tito, Quartey and maybe even an aging Brown would have been disastrous for him.

Blocker was too big of a risk at 6'2. He was also tough to beat when you couldn't knock him out. Other than that I agree.

[sweet_scientist]

Blocker was too big of a risk at 6'2. He was also tough to beat when you couldn't knock him out. Other than that I agree.

Maybe... I think Meldrick's speed and aggression would have troubled him though. He wasn't the biggest hitter in the world either, which would give Meldrick a chance to get on the inside and flurry away a bit.

[TheGreatA]

Maybe... I think Meldrick's speed and aggression would have troubled him though. He wasn't the biggest hitter in the world either, which would give Meldrick a chance to get on the inside and flurry away a bit.

Looking at the welterweight division of the early 1990's, there really aren't any "safer" opponents for Meldrick than Maurice Blocker so maybe you're right. Being 5'7 sounds like a mismatch against a 6'2 opponent though, not that Blocker was so great that Meldrick Taylor wouldn't have had a reasonable chance against him.

Taylor beat Luis Gabriel Garcia by a split decision in 1991 so perhaps I'd have that fight take place instead of Taylor vs Blocker.

I think he would have given decent showings against McGirt again and Whitaker and thus would likely be viewed as a greater fighter than he turned out to be under that scenario.

[sweet_scientist]

Looking at the welterweight division of the early 1990's, there really aren't any "safer" opponents for Meldrick than Maurice Blocker so maybe you're right. Being 5'7 sounds like a mismatch against a 6'2 opponent though, not that Blocker was so great that Meldrick Taylor wouldn't have had a reasonable chance against him.

Taylor beat Luis Gabriel Garcia by a split decision in 1991 so perhaps I'd have that fight take place instead of Taylor vs Blocker.

I think he would have given decent showings against McGirt again and Whitaker and thus would likely be viewed as a greater fighter than he turned out to be under that scenario.

Without the Chavez fight which left him a bit vulnerable, I'd say he would have made a pretty good fist of it against all those guys listed and would have been looked at as quite a bit better overall. I don't think we should assume the Taylor that fought Garcia & Espana would be the same Taylor that would face a Blocker in 1991 in this hypothetical - though I suppose some might argue that Chavez didn't really damage him significantly anyway, and it was Norris more than anything that put an end to him. I wouldn't agree with that. He definitely lost something after the Chavez fight.

[techks]

Without the Chavez fight which left him a bit vulnerable, I'd say he would have made a pretty good fist of it against all those guys listed and would have been looked at as quite a bit better overall. I don't think we should assume the Taylor that fought Garcia & Espana would be the same Taylor that would face a Blocker in 1991 in this hypothetical - though I suppose some might argue that Chavez didn't really damage him significantly anyway, and it was Norris more than anything that put an end to him. I wouldn't agree with that. He definitely lost something after the Chavez fight.
And Curry, Leonard, and basically Mugabi. Norris at his best was a beast.

[la-califa]

He wasn't big enough to compete at welterweight. Many of the welterweights then were around 6 feet tall, far bigger than Meldrick. He could have only been a force at 140.Exactly! His greatest assets were footwork & blazing speed, which could only be diminished at a heavier weight. Plus as fast as Meldrick was he didn't have the big power punch. Which would be less effective at a higher weight. Also he liked to exxchange punches. and against bigger 147 Lb. fighters, He would feel the effects even more so. Add up all of these factors & the result of Meldrick moving up was inevitable.

[TheGreatA]

Without the Chavez fight which left him a bit vulnerable, I'd say he would have made a pretty good fist of it against all those guys listed and would have been looked at as quite a bit better overall. I don't think we should assume the Taylor that fought Garcia & Espana would be the same Taylor that would face a Blocker in 1991 in this hypothetical - though I suppose some might argue that Chavez didn't really damage him significantly anyway, and it was Norris more than anything that put an end to him. I wouldn't agree with that. He definitely lost something after the Chavez fight.

Whatever Meldrick Taylor may have had left in him as a top class fighter, the Norris fight surely took it away. I never understood the decision to match a former 140 lber against the best 154 lber around. Taylor didn't have the power to bother Norris and Norris, not exactly known for his awesome chin, said he would simply walk through "pillow-punching" Meldrick Taylor, which he did.

Taylor seemed about as good as ever against Aaron Davis but struggled with Glenwood Brown, Garcia. Perhaps welterweight was never his ideal weight but I guess he would have performed better without the Chavez loss in between.

[lora]

I think taylor needed a solid punch to go with the speed and combinations, if he was to become a truly great fighter.Either that or a lot more ring savvy.

Going no higher than Junior Welter would have been a must as well, if we take him as he was.he was very much style over substance at Welter imo, though still a good solid fighter.Even with no Chavez fight, i doubt his tools would have been too effective there.

[Sweet Pea]

Agreed. He'd have been plastered by Espana regardless of the Chavez fight. If people think Chavez gave him a beating, they need to check that one out. Brutal.

[mr. magoo]

One fight that I think is commonly overlooked or even forgotten, was Meldrick Taylor's win over Aron Davis.. Davis was an undefeated welter weight titlist, and Meldrick was on the rebound from his defeat from Chavez.. Taylor was in perhaps his first or second fight since jumping from Jr. Welter to Welter, and frankly, I felt that he looked fabulous in that match. I had him winning just about every round of that fight enroute to a one-sided decision and a new title. The fight occurred in late January of 1991. The reason I remember it so well, was because trajedy struck my family that evening.. My friends and I were enjoying the fight while " living it up a bit ", when my older brother came in my room to tell me that his then fiance and her father had been killed in a plane crash flying over Tennesse.. That was quite an evening..

[Briscoe]

Heart over mind. Meldrick is one of my fav fighters and I'll always be a fan.:good ATG, HOF, or not he's very entertaining and I look forward to getting his career set:bbb

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I think this encapsulates how Taylor fought.

[zadfrak]

I never liked his defense or I guess it'd be defensive mindset.

He held that chin straight up in the air & was a guy that got hit clean way too much. With that handspeed of his, I just could never understand why he did not concentrate of defense a little. He held those hands low. Brought them back low. He'd use real good footwork and angles and 5 seconds later he'd stand still and wait for a receipt. He had the tools to not get hit but he just seemed to be a guy that was 90% offense and 10% defense. I thought the guy should've been & was capable of being a 70/30 guy and he'd hold up better and dominate even moreso.

[natonic]

And Curry, Leonard, and basically Mugabi. Norris at his best was a beast.

Norris against COMPLETELY shot fighters was a beast.

[sweet_scientist]

Whatever Meldrick Taylor may have had left in him as a top class fighter, the Norris fight surely took it away. I never understood the decision to match a former 140 lber against the best 154 lber around. Taylor didn't have the power to bother Norris and Norris, not exactly known for his awesome chin, said he would simply walk through "pillow-punching" Meldrick Taylor, which he did.

Agreed.

Taylor seemed about as good as ever against Aaron Davis but struggled with Glenwood Brown, Garcia. Perhaps welterweight was never his ideal weight but I guess he would have performed better without the Chavez loss in between.

I think even in the Davis fight though, despite having a good first half to the fight, he faded quite a bit in the second half, and his workrate was nowhere near what it had been for Chavez. The commentators were even mentioning (from memory) how Taylor had stopped throwing combos, which was uncharacteristic for him.

I may be alone here, but I only had Taylor taking the Davis fight by a couple of points.

That said, perhaps it was just the jump up in weight, I can't say for certain that it wasn't.

[techks]

Norris against COMPLETELY shot fighters was a beast.
I see we got a Norris hater on here:lol:. It's all good man:good

[techks]

I never liked his defense or I guess it'd be defensive mindset.

He held that chin straight up in the air & was a guy that got hit clean way too much. With that handspeed of his, I just could never understand why he did not concentrate of defense a little. He held those hands low. Brought them back low. He'd use real good footwork and angles and 5 seconds later he'd stand still and wait for a receipt. He had the tools to not get hit but he just seemed to be a guy that was 90% offense and 10% defense. I thought the guy should've been & was capable of being a 70/30 guy and he'd hold up better and dominate even moreso.
He never really had defense. Even in the first Chavez fight I felt there were shots he really could've avoided.

[zadfrak]

Those flaws were present prior to that Chavez bout & were things that made for a major weakness in his game.

[BENNY BLANCO]

Norris against COMPLETELY shot fighters was a beast. Norris was a beast in general. I hope you fucking die a bad death......

[PowerPuncher]

He never had the power to get away with such an open defense, call it Phili pride but it was bad boxing. You have to play to your strengths.

In some ways he is similar to Calzaghe and if he had feasted on old men and lesser fighters he could have built a god legacy but never enough to mix it with top level greats

[Bioyhh]

I've always thought that Taylor was too stubborn to become an ATG. He could have safely boxed Chavez to a win. Why? Why did he opt to stay close?

Well, Duva stupidly told him at the bell for the final round that the fight was in the balance and Taylor had to win the round to win the fight. This was ludicrous. Chavez received some gifts in his career, but there's no way he could have been given the decision over Taylor that night.

[techks]

Well, Duva stupidly told him at the bell for the final round that the fight was in the balance and Taylor had to win the round to win the fight. This was ludicrous. Chavez received some gifts in his career, but there's no way he could have been given the decision over Taylor that night.
I felt the same way after watching Pea-Chavez while not knowing the result beforehand:verysad

[itrymariti]

Well, Duva stupidly told him at the bell for the final round that the fight was in the balance and Taylor had to win the round to win the fight. This was ludicrous. Chavez received some gifts in his career, but there's no way he could have been given the decision over Taylor that night.

Hinsight is great. What if the judges had given, say, 2 rounds to Chavez from the first eight (not unthinkable) and then given him 9, 10, 11 and 12 because Taylor decided to take his foot off the gas? Then we'd all be shouting at Duva for telling Taylor to take it easy and costing him the W.

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[brownpimp88]

If he can beat buddy mcgirt, that says something. I mean his resume is on par with Aaron Pryor or Kostya Tsyzu's. Sure having arguello and cervantes on your resume looks nice, but a victory over a young mcgirt at 140 and aaron davis at 140 seems more impressive than beating 2 greats in thier 30's.

[techks]

I think he achieved all he could considering his lack of power and size disadvantage but that says alot. He gave two great fights against Chavez and other good performances. I'm glad to be a fan of his.