Taylor vs Wright: The Battle for Middleweight Supremacy ends on 6-17-2006!!!

[Wacko3205]

The Battle for Middleweight Supremacy ends on 6-17-2006

Alot of questions will be answered in the month of June.

Those questions are mainly unanswered thoughts regarding Jermain Taylor.

Jermain Taylor, recent conqueror of Middleweight legend Bernard Hopkins, is a likeable enough fellow and he's got skills...but IWO, what he lacks is the pedigree. He lacks the ability to finish a fight or a fighter that brings more to the table than he does. The reason that I bring this up is basically off of the results of both fights with Hopkins. He did indeed get the wins, but he wasn't very convincing in either fight.

Again, I like Taylor & he's got a damned fine record (25 wins with 17 ko's) to boast so far. I consider myself a fan...but the fact is that against someone as slick as Hopkins & quite possibley Winky...Taylor doesn't fair so well.

The kid is skilled fundamentally & he does have power...but he lacks in his defensive capabilities & also he seems to have issues with folding under pressure. Instead of standing his ground...he backs up & he does so wide open. Crafty veteran fighters will capitalize on such inadaquacies & Wright is as crafty of a vet as Hopkins is.

Ronald Winky Wright has an impressive record of 50 wins with 25 knockouts and only 3 losses. One could argue the facts that this is a hall of fame worthy record...again...one can argue those facts but one thing that cannot be argued is that Wright is a great challenge for any man in the middleweight division right now & quite possibley he will be a greater test to Taylor's resolve than Hopkins.

The advantage that I see here for Taylor is the fact that Wright lacks the power that Hopkins has. Wright's power lies in the form of a repetitive power jab & Hopkins weapon of choice was an inside right hand throughout the fights that they shared.

If Taylor can use his jab to nullify Wright's jab...I give him a shot at winning this fight in a more convincing manner than he did against Hopkins.

That being said...if Wright fights the same fight that he fought against Tito...the same pace...the same conviction....he's gonna bag Taylor. Granted...Taylor is a bit more intelligent when pressed & age is on his side...I would see it going down much the same way if fair is fair.

Wright's experience & defence will frustrate Taylor as much as it did Tito & Mosley & all the rest that were handed losses.

Compelling match up filled with lots & lots of questions.

By the end of this post...I started coming up with as many questions about Wright as I did with Taylor? How about you?

Thoughts?

[Bomp]

good analysis. Haven't seen enough of both of them to make a certain decision, but I'm going for a winky UD or possibly SD. From the little I've seen and the lot I've read, I don't think either is going to be truly dominant.

I've seen both taylor's b-hop fights, the one thing I noticed was that Taylor seemed very tired at the end of the first fight even though it didn't seem to be that physically demanding. He seemed to get tired from the mental challenge of trying to get past Hopkins defence, and he's going to have a tougher challenge going through winky's defence possibly (as well as winky having more left in the tank than Hopkins agewise).

This is why I see winky pulling away slightly in the later rounds of a close tactical fight as Taylor tires. However all this will be irrelevant if Taylor proves to be just to big and powerful for him.

[Wacko3205]

good analysis. Haven't seen enough of both of them to make a certain decision, but I'm going for a winky UD or possibly SD. From the little I've seen and the lot I've read, I don't think either is going to be truly dominant.

Thanks babe.

I've seen both taylor's b-hop fights, the one thing I noticed was that Taylor seemed very tired at the end of the first fight even though it didn't seem to be that physically demanding. He seemed to get tired from the mental challenge of trying to get past Hopkins defence, and he's going to have a tougher challenge going through winky's defence possibly (as well as winky having more left in the tank than Hopkins agewise).

Good measuring stick those two fights are. Taylor's been totally dominant coming up...but he never really faced anyone that was tactful or experienced in the same way that Hopkins & Wright are.

He did indeed breakdown towards the end of both Hopkins fights...& honestly...I think that that has a lot to do with discouragement.

This is why I see winky pulling away slightly in the later rounds of a close tactical fight as Taylor tires. However all this will be irrelevant if Taylor proves to be just to big and powerful for him.

Good posting.

I agree...& believe you me...I am a damned middleweight junkie.

I aint always right...but I try to cover that weight as much as possible. After one of these two defeats the other...they still got some stiff competition out there in the form of Abraham, Miranda, & my other favorite...Felix 'muthafwockin' Sturm!!!

[Bomp]

cc back at ya

it looks like a promising division, both abraham and Miranda are exciting fighters, I haven't seen any of Strum though. I've got the feeling that Taylor/Wright has got rematch written all over it, so neither will face anyone else til 2007, which is a shame, I'd like to see the winner possibly give Calzaghe a superfight.

[Taeth]

I agree it will be a battle of the jabs, and Taylor has a harder and faster jab, but on the other hand Winky's is better timed and he had the perfect defense against straight line fighters like Taylor unless Taylor is too strong. I've seen Taylor throw a few good hooks, and in a few of his fights put up a good workrate so we'll see how this goes. Winky has tricky footwork and quick reflexes so that might be a problem for Taylor because tho Winky's hands aren't as fast as some we saw Hopkins land on Taylor, and he's miles slower than Winky.

[fatsandy]

I have watched both fighters for some time now and IMO J.T didn't have a chance at all until he went and hired E.Stewart . A trainer that knows just how superb W.W truly is. And that J.T can bring his usual fight game on 6/17. J.T will never land the big punches and won't be content with point making punches. Winky has successfully discouraged everyone he's been in the ring with. Most people don't associate W.W as being strong or tough when in fact he has never been beat up or hurt in a fight and can be argued that he has never lost a fight 53-0 sounds impressive to me.
J.T will completely stop punching no later than the 7th round .W.W ud.

[raleights]

Does anyone think Taylor will get it together and start dominating his opposition like he did 3 years ago? Or should we not expect that at all when he fights men such as Winky Wright or Bernard Hopkins?

[Violent Demise]

Wright is going to find out that the punches from the naturally bigger Taylor hurt more than the ones from the smaller Tinidad and Mosley. Taylor in 12 lopsided rounds.

[Wacko3205]

Does anyone think Taylor will get it together and start dominating his opposition like he did 3 years ago? Or should we not expect that at all when he fights men such as Winky Wright or Bernard Hopkins?

I hate to say this...because it sounds like I'm taking up for Taylor...which I am...I like the kid...anyways...I think that he's the same force that he was a few years ago.

I mean...it's only been less than a year since he last fought & that was against Hopkins...the greatest middle in the past decade. Prior to that...the same year...Hopkins. Prior to that...he was knocking out & outclassing everyone that he faced. He'll get back to the old Taylor once he get's back to second hand opponents.

Again...I like Taylor...problem is...he's been fighting my favorite fighters lately & if he get's by Wright...he'll have to fight two of my other favs...Abraham...& Felix Sturm.

Wright being my favorite...Sturm my second.

[Hairdoo]

Its gonna be a close fight either way. Even if Taylor cant figure Winky out and is out boxed he wont be dominated unless Winky shows better hand speed. Anyone know who Taylor is using for sparring partners?

[Taeth]

I've been watching some clips of Winky, and I believe a very straight jab could get past his guard or open him up to cleaner hooks than normal. Also I'm not sure if he can bring his hands down to his chest like he did against Trinidad in there with a much quicker Taylor, and if he has to keep his guard up make no mistake Taylor is powerful and Winky will feel those shots alot more than when Trinidad was hitting him. All that being said I think Winky wins... its not the best thing for the division, but he has a far superior work rate than B-hop and just as good of a defense.

[El Gamo]

CC for the analysis Wack,good job as per usual! I think this is going to be quite a good match,maybe not explosive in leather being thrown wise but very thought provoking and having seen more of Taylor's fights,I have to admit,he was impressive. I think maybe the size could be a factor,maybe Winky has not felt anyone with the power of JT? However,I used to be critical of JT because I was not massively impressed by his showings against B-Hop and maybe he will be tentative here too? Also,in the first fight,he seemed to tire considerably whereas we know Wright is going to maintain his stamina allll throughout. Hmmm.I think it is going to be a tough call but Wright SD/UD.

[amat]

I really can't envision a scenario that includes Taylor winning. I just think Wright is on a whole different level and will control the fight with his jab.

Actually, scratch what I said earlier. Taylor does have a better chance then anybody at beating Wright imo. If he can fire through the middle of the cagey Wright defense then he could win the fight. However, Taylor doesn't throw a very straight right hand. He throws a loopy right hand that wouldn't get the job done against Wright. So unless he can moev side to side to avoid the jab of Wright AND fire between the guard of Wright then he could win the fight but I don't see that happening.

And I know there has been a lot of Taylor haters on this board (since this board is comprised mostly of Hopkins fans), but props to Jermain. Honestl, he didn't have to take this fight. He could have had a homecoming fight in Arkansas against someone like Soliman after beating the P4P #1 and undisputed middleweight champ twice in a row but he took on the dangerous guy in Wright. He has to be commended for that.

[amat]

And I want the two people who voted Wright TKO/KO to own up and explain their terribly flawed logic

[amat]

Wright is going to find out that the punches from the naturally bigger Taylor hurt more than the ones from the smaller Tinidad and Mosley. Taylor in 12 lopsided rounds.

True that. However it won't matter either way when the punches are hitting his arms